Changli Chuige in China 昌黎吹歌

Leading instrument of Changli Chuige(昌黎吹歌Chānglí chuīgē) is the suona horn that is accompanied by a barrel-shaped drum and a set of earthen bowls. And in a big performance, the national instruments, such as the sheng, huqin, flute, xiao and pipe. Changli Chuige whose timbre is pleasant and pure is the representative of Chuige of the East Hebei. Changli Chuige usually hands down from father to son. However, some people learn it when they are very young and become a entertainer after three years. The Chuige entertainers are mostly half-peasant and half-entertainers. They only perform when there are weddings, funerals, festivals, temple fairs and days of jubilant. Driven by the economic benefit, they communicate frequently and also compete closely. Therefore, the art of Chuige is improved step by step, and the music plays are much more than before.

The suona(唢呐suŏnà) horns used in the performance of Changli Chuige fall into four kinds that are the high-tune haidizi, vice-high-tune sanjizi, medium-tune ergan’er and low-tune dagan’er. The performance of these suona horns can absolutely express the feelings of happiness, anger and sadness. The music plays of Changli Chuige divides into three types, which are the Yangge music, Hanchui music and Paizi music. And these music can get a vivid, pleasant effect after they are improved by “tongue learning”, “antiphonal performing”, “cadenza performing” and “words omissing”. The famous entertainer Chen Yucheng whose music play such as Double Sentence and Music of Hundreds of Birds were cut discs was regarded as the “king of the suona horn” and is influential in the national instrumental music circles.