Author Question: How does the selection begin? Describe the accompaniment pattern being played by the sanxian. ... (Read 16 times)

jCorn1234 · **on:** Jul 25, 2018

How does the selection begin? Describe the accompaniment pattern being played by the sanxian.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

How is Suzhou tanci performed?

What will be an ideal response?

poopface · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The performer (Zhang) speaks in a comic character while the audience responds to his witty description.
The instrumental accompaniment is a repetitive pattern (based mainly on the tones do, mi, sol). The pattern recurs in various transformationssome times in three-beat units, sometimes in five-beat units, giving a rhythmic syncopation to the flow of the music, which is in quadruple meter.

Answer to Question 2

Suzhou tanci is usually performed by a single musician who speaks, sings and plays a musical instrument, usually a three-stringed, long-necked sanxian or possibly the four-stringed lute pipa. If additional players are used, they accompany the singing of the first musician. The story-telling musician usually remains seated by a table, but may make hand gestures, rap the table top with a wood block, or wave a fan.