Gansu is a region in northwest China. The capital is Lanzhou, a city with a vibrant musical life, including many nightclubs. The daoqing folk tradition is an important part of the music of Gansu, especially in Huanxian; daoqing is also found in Yichi in Ningxia Hui and Dingbian in Shaanxi. Daoqing is used to accompany shadow play theater.

Daoqing comes from the Tang Dynasty and was originally a cappella Taoist music. Beginning with the Southern Song Dynasty, however, percussion instruments like the jianban and yugu have been used, and the lyrical themes have moved from Taoist parables to folktales.^[1] Other instruments used include gongs, cymbals, suona, dina, shuibangzi, flute, sixian, bangu and erhu.^[2]

Wild Children, a folk-rock band from Lanzhou but based in Beijing, blended Gansu folk songs with more contemporary sounds until the death in 2004 of its co-founder, Xiao Suo.

[edit] References

• "Shedding light on shadow players". China Daily. http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2004-01/06/content_296020.htm. Retrieved September 1, 2005. 

[edit] Notes

• ^  China Daily
• ^  China Daily

v • d • e Gansu Province History • Politics • Economy • Music Prefecture-level cities Baiyin • Dingxi • Jiayuguan • Jinchang • Jiuquan • Lanzhou • Longnan • Pingliang • Qingyang • Tianshui • Wuwei • Zhangye Autonomous prefectures Gannan • Linxia See also: List of Gansu County-level divisions

This Chinese music article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e