The Musical Characteristics Of Chinese National Opera

Chinese national opera refers particularly to that sort which imitates Chinese opera in the form of expression, and assumes the characteristics of Chinese traditional music in the style of music. Chinese national opera, as a mode of Chinese opera which is of local cultural respects, came into being in the 20^th century through the communication of Chinese and western culture. It is continuously developing and perfecting itself in the process of seeking for the special Chinese characteristics. The appearance and development of Chinese national opera is of historical necessity. Chinese national opera has unique form of expression, indicating the synthesis of music structure and the function of play, and possesses the special aspects of music-play. The music of Chinese national opera makes full use of the elements of Chinese traditional music, thus it represents considerably the national style. The characteristics of Chinese national opera are: First, according to the structure-principle of "ban qiang ti" of opera music, it moulds the characters and develops the dramatic conflicts through the change of "speed- metrical formula", and through comparing and foregrounding the drama of music. Secondly, it adopts the tones of Chinese folksongs in the respects of mode, tonality, rhythm, metre, timbre, and it imitates the accompany singing,side singing and accompany with musical instruments of the Chinese opera, selects its orchestra, the mixture of Chinese and Western. Utilizing the Chinese national vocal music, therefore it makes prominent the national styles of music. Thirdly, while it constructs large aria and emphasizes the drama of music by using the structure-principle of "ban qiang ti", it using the tones of folksongs, also creates small aria of the structure of ballads. In this way it foregrounds the lyric, and indicates the combination of the drama and the lyric. Finally, it designates in the form of expression the mixture of Chinese and western culture, by utilizing the principle of the change of opera music mode and the method of developing the motif in European opera.