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.