Nan Yin Courses
by
Siong Leng Musical Association (湘灵音乐社)


Nan Yin, which literally means “The Music of the South”, can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220). Originally palace music, it has preserved the characteristics of ancient music. Civil turbulence then forced court musicians to migrate south.

One group settled in Sichuan in South-west China while another group moved to the South-Eastern coastal province of Fujian. It was in the historical city of Quanzhou that Nan Yin flourished and evolved into the form as we know it today.

Nan Yin has been ascertained by musicologists to be among the oldest and best preserved of musical art forms in the world, having a complete musical system and a unique set of notation of its own.

The chief musical instruments used in a Nan Yin performance have not changed in form or appearance for hundreds of years. They are namely, the erxian (a two-string fiddle), the dongxiao (a vertically-held six-hole bamboo flute), the pipa (a pear-shaped four string lute, said to have originated from Persia), and the sanxian (a long-necked three-string fretless string instrument whose sound box is covered with python skin).

The singer usually takes her place at the center of the ensemble, holding a clapper in her hands to mark the first beat of every measure. A full array of Nan Yin musical instruments would include hand-bells, gongs, cymbals, woodblocks, as well as a set of short hand-held bamboo pieces know as sibao which are made to vibrate against each other at high velocity. The sibao is unique to Nan Yin and has not been know to exist in other musical art forms.

Now, we have courses open to public, for adults and children. Our highly experienced professional staffs are here to offer courses:
(1) Introduction of Nanyin (Elementary)
(2) Instruments of Nanyin Pipa(琵琶), Sanxian(三弦), Dongxiao(洞箫), Erxian(二弦).
(3) Nanyin Vocal

Please feel free to contact us with 8399 5682 (Miss Cai) or send E-mail to slmusic@singnet.com.sg.


28.02.2009