Yichang Sizhu Orchestra revives a centuries-old cultural heritage
2024-08-22 14:08:47
Journalist: Song Xiaoxiao
Photographer: Fu Beibei
Translator and English editor: Chen Zai
The Yichang Sizhu Orchestra is currently training students at a Yichang Sizhu Music training center in the Yiling District.
Photographer: Fu Beibei
Translator and English editor: Chen Zai
The Yichang Sizhu Orchestra is currently training students at a Yichang Sizhu Music training center in the Yiling District.
Group photo of Yichang Sizhu Orchestra members
Sizhu, which means "silk and bamboo" in Chinese, encompasses string and wind musical instruments. The term "silk" refers to the traditional material historically used for strings in China, while "bamboo" refers to the material used for Chinese flutes like the dizi and xiao.
The Yichang Sizhu Orchestra has been actively engaged in initiatives like "Sizhu into Schools" and "Sizhu Lectures" in recent years. Through these activities, they train more than 600 students each year, aiming to promote the preservation of this traditional art form.
Orchestra member teaches her granddaughter the yangqin.
Yichang Sizhu, a highly entertaining musical genre, is commonly performed in tea houses, at weddings, funerals and temple fairs. Its repertoire is diverse, featuring ancient and beautiful melodies that highlight unique local characteristics.
A member is playing the sheng.
A member is playing the ruan.
Yichang Sizhu, with a history of almost 150 years, has been listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2006.
