Gan Opera

Introduction

Jiangxi's main opera, still carrying the Yiyang tune

Gan opera is the main regional opera of Jiangxi. It arose in northeastern Jiangxi on the basis of the Yiyang tune, one of the four great vocal styles of the Ming, and in the mid-Qing absorbed the Kunqu and luantan styles that reached the province; the Raohe and Xinhe troupe traditions were merged under the name Gan opera in 1951. Its music combines gaoqiang, kunqiang, luantan (xipi, erhuang and others) and nanci; the gaoqiang is the surviving Yiyang tune, sung to gongs and drums, with a solo line taken up by a chorus (bangqiang) and inserted rapid recitation (gundiao). Plays include The Pearl, Zhang San Borrows Boots and Return of the Soul, adapted from Tang Xianzu's Peony Pavilion, and it is performed across Jiangxi.

Timeline

1. 1360OriginIn the late Yuan and early Ming, southern drama blended with local dialect and folk music around Yiyang to form the Yiyang tune, one of the four great Ming vocal styles and the source of Gan opera's gaoqiang.
2. 1750EvolutionIn the mid-Qing, Kunqu and luantan styles reached Jiangxi and were performed alongside the Yiyang-line gaoqiang, giving the form its multi-tune repertoire.
3. 1951ImpactIn 1951 Shi Linghe led the merger of the Raohe and Xinhe troupe traditions, which were named Gan opera.

Heritage Listings

1. 2011National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage3rd batch · IV-144 · nominated by the Jiangxi Gan Opera Theatre