The System Of Melodies In Shandong Qinshu

This thesis is oriented on traditional Chinese music. The system of melodies in Shandong qinshu includes three forms lianquti, zhuquti and the hybrid system. The hybrid system can be further divided in two kinds: qubanti and zhuchati. Lianquti makes use of series of labeled melodies to sing stories. In the edition and performance practice, the evolution followed the rule of unity within difference and resulted in the formation of a specific suite-like structure. In the late Qing dynasty, through long-term artistic practice, under the influence of related narrative-singing and operatic genres as well as other cultural elements, qinshu artists chose a certain limited number of representative melodies from the vast early repertory, and obeying the requirement of difference within unity as a technique of melodic development, drew an inspiration from banqiang melodic systems, absorbed some melodic characteristics from other narrative-singing and operatic genres. As a consequence, they developed the zhuquti system, and also combined it with the Shandong qinshu idiosyncratic function of the melody-series, thus creating the hybrid form.The thesis is divided in four sections. The first three sections comprise in-depth analysis of selected melodies, separately describing the qupai of the lianquti, zhuquti and hybrid systems and the specificities of their organization. Thereafter, summing up the representative repertory of Shandong qinshu from different periods, a short conclusion is made about the historical development of these three systems. The fourth section elaborates on the cultural elements which most significantly influenced the formation and devlopment of Shandong qinshu musical system.The impetus for the formation and development of the three systems came from the contradictory requirements of difference within unity and unity within difference, thus reflecting the dialectic principles of the genre. Through analyzing them, it is possible to define the characteristics of artistic creation of different people in different periods, and to sketch the history of Shandong qinshu and the mutual relations between different local narrative-singing and operatic genres in the Shandong province.