1. Weifeng Drum in South Shanxi
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A Weifeng Drum performance takes place in Linfen city. [Photo/VCG] |
Weifeng Drum is a form of folk music that consists of an instrumental ensemble of drums, cymbals, gongs and small cymbals, and is characterized by simple yet powerfully resonating sounds. Originating in Linfen city in North China's Shanxi province, it has a history of over 4,000 years.
The origin of Weifeng Drum dates back to Li Shimin, the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Having put down a rebellion in Shanxi, his army celebrated the victory by banging gongs and drums. Since then, the Weifeng Drum performance has spread far and wide and it is often used in weddings and celebration ceremonies, gatherings and traditional festivities to welcome gods and exorcise evil spirits.
Hundreds of years of refining traditional techniques have given Weifeng Drum its unique sound. This form of creative expression has been refined into a system and the musical instruments were improved and altered through iterations to produce innovative varieties of sound. The percussive instruments include drums, cymbals, and gongs.
While appreciating the commanding sound of a Weifeng Drum performance, one can feel how the music and culture flowed through history and the changes of time, as well as the heroic and enlightened human spirit proudly passed on through generations.
A drum ensemble usually ranges from 30 to over 100 performers, using drums of different sizes. People of all ages can be involved, and in recent years the number of women playing the drums has been on the rise.
It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.
