Traditional Drama 传统戏剧 The North Wooden Clappers 北路梆子

时间：2006年
Date: 2006
类别：传统戏剧
Category: Traditional Opera
地区：山西
Region: Shanxi Province
编号：Ⅳ—20
Project No. IV-20
申报地区或单位：山西省忻州市
Name of Applicant (region or institution): Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province
北路梆子又名上路戏，是山西四大梆子之一，主要流行于山西北部的大同、朔州、忻州及内蒙古、河北的部分地区。清代初期蒲州梆子北上，在忻州当地扎根后，逐渐形成北路梆子。其传统剧目主要有《王宝钏》、《打金枝》、《算粮》、《金水桥》、《哭殿》、《斩黄袍》、《血手印》、《铡美案》、《蝴蝶杯》、《斩十王》、《访白袍》、《回龙阁》、《九件衣》、《杨八姐游春》等两百多个。
The North Wooden Clappers, or Upper Road Opera, is one of the four major Wooden Clappers of Shanxi Province, mainly circulating in Datong, Shuozhou, and Xinzhou in the north of Shanxi Province and part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Hebei Province. Early in the Qing Dynasty, Puzhou Wooden Clappers opera was moving up to the north and, after settling down in Xinzhou, changed gradually into the North Wooden Clappers. The traditional programs include The Story of Wang Baochuan, Beating the Gold Twig, Calculating the Grains, Gold Bridge, Wailing at Court, Executing the Imperial Gown, Bloody Fingerprint, The Case of Beheading Chen Shimei, Butterfly Cup, Beheading Ten Dukes, Visiting White Gown, Returning to Royal Palace, Nine Garments, and Spring Outing of Lady Yang Bajie (about 200 in total).
北路梆子的唱腔结构属于板腔体，有慢板、夹板、二性、垛板、流水板、三性板、倒板、滚白、介板、花腔等的分别。传统伴奏乐器有文、武场之分，文场乐器由梆胡、二弦、三弦、四弦、笙、笛、唢呐等组成，武场乐器由板鼓、马锣、铙钹、手锣、梆子、战鼓、堂鼓、碰铃、小音锣等组成。北路梆子的唱腔深受蒲州梆子的影响，具有高亢激越、淋漓酣畅、稳健粗犷的特点，同时又结合当地的民歌小调，形成“咳咳腔”等自成一体的唱法，带有鲜明的地方特色，充分体现了当地劳动人民质朴淳厚、豪爽大方的性格。
The style of presentation of the North Wooden Clappers belongs to the clapper tone system, including Slow Clappers, Mincing Clappers, Erxing, Chopping Clappers, Flowing Clappers, Sanxing Clappers, Reserve Clappers, Gunbai, Jie Clappers and Hybrid Tone. The instruments for regular accompaniment fall into Quiet Setting and Dynamic Setting: the Quiet Setting includes Banghu fiddle, Erxian, Sanxian, Sixian, Sheng (wind pipe), flute and trumpet while the Dynamic Setting has Bangu Drum, Maluo Gong, Cymbals, Hand Gong, Wooden Clappers, War Drum, Hall Drum, Clashing Bell, and Low-pitch Gong. The style of the North Wooden Clappers has been greatly influenced by Puzhou Wooden Clappers, featuring an excited, resonant, gruff, and measured voice as well as a unique “coughing tone” localized in light of the folk songs, which is of a distinct local color in full embodiment of the integrity, kindness, straightforwardness and generosity of the local people.
在戏曲发展史和地方文化史的研究中，北路梆子具有不可替代的史料价值。但在飞速发展的现代社会，北路梆子和许多地方戏曲一样同时代拉开了距离，那种万人争睹的景况已经一去不复返了。传承乏人、演出市场萎缩等问题长期困扰着北路梆子，这个古老的剧种正盼望着有关方面能对其加以抢救和保护。
In the studies of development history of traditional opera and local cultural history, the North Wooden Clappers is indeed irreplaceable historical data. However, in the modern society that is developing rapidly, the North Wooden Clappers opera is, just like other local operas, losing the great appeal it has ever enjoyed and seems to be “way off” the times. The lack of young people to inherit and the shrinking market of performance are both problems for development of the North Wooden Clappers and it is awaiting preservation and salvation measures to be taken by the competent authority.