MUZI · STAGE · Pipa

Ambush from Ten Sides

The Battle of Gaixia on four strings

Introduction

It tells the Battle of Gaixia from the Han side, and Hua Qiuping's 1818 collection calls it simply Ten Sides

Ambush from Ten Sides is a large martial piece for pipa that depicts the Battle of Gaixia, the decisive fight between Chu and Han, from the side of the victorious Han army. A pipa piece called Chu Han was already popular in the Ming, and in the early Qing the writer Wang Youding described a player known as Pipa Tang performing it with an earth-shaking sound. The earliest surviving score is in the pipa collection compiled by Hua Qiuping in 1818, under the title Ten Sides; the full title comes from a later collection. The standard version in use today has thirteen sections, running from pitching camp and mustering the generals to Xiang Yu's defeat, his suicide at the Wu River and the victorious return, though performers today usually stop after the tenth.

Parts

  1. Pitching CampThe free-rhythm introduction, imitating war drums and horns.
  2. FanfareThe most lyrical section, its tremolo imitating the wind band of a marching army.
  3. Mustering the GeneralsThe Han generals are called to arms in tight, even rhythm.
  4. Arraying the RanksThe Han troops form up for battle in springing, quick-changing figures.
  5. On the MarchThe Han ranks march off briskly, setting the stage for battle.
  6. The AmbushIn taut, halting rhythm, hidden troops close in on the Chu army by night.
  7. Skirmish at Jiming MountainDamped strings give a metallic clash as the two sides meet in a first skirmish.
  8. Great Battle at Jiuli MountainThe climax of the piece: the full fury of the great battle.
  9. Xiang Yu DefeatedXiang Yu is beaten, and the music sinks low after the battle's climax.
  10. Suicide at the Wu RiverXiang Yu takes his life at the Wu River; most performances end here.
  11. Victory Songs of the ArmyThe Han army sounds its victory songs; performances today usually cut from here on.
  12. The Generals Vie for CreditThe Han generals vie for credit, one of the three closing sections rarely played today.
  13. Triumphant Return to CampThe Han army returns to camp in triumph, the final section, rarely played today.