The Historical Origin of Pingxiang Spring Gong
It is generally believed that the spring gong evolved from the folk "Spring Newspaper". In the old society, before the almanac was popularized, the messengers of spring recited gongs and drums, compiled the 24 solar terms into songs, and went door to door to remind people to sow in time. After the popularity of almanac, the spring gong gradually evolved into a folk art form to congratulate the New Year, convey auspicious news and rap characters' stories. The artist's flowing singing also spread the spring gong to Yichun, Wanzai, Liling and Liuyang in Hunan. 1956, Rong Xiaoshan, an artist of the Spring Gong, performed at the first China Folk Art Festival held in Beijing, creating a precedent for the elegance of the Spring Gong. From 65438 to 0998 and 2002, Pingxiang Luo Chun, as the only representative opera in Jiangxi, participated in the 3rd and 4th China Quyi Festival held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia and Beijing Chang 'an Grand Theater. Spring Gong has become a "cultural card" in Pingxiang. From solo to chorus of two or more people, from simple accompaniment of gongs and drums to accompaniment of erhu, pipa, suona and other musical instruments, Pingxiang Chungong has made innovations in content and form. However, the lack of special funds, lack of venues and facilities, and the lack of connection between professional creators and performers are also the status quo of this folk treasure.
Reed gongs have a history of nearly 200 years in Pingxiang. Because farmers at that time were vague about the seasonal changes, in order not to delay farmers' sowing and spring ploughing, the court sent personnel to the countryside to ring gongs every spring to mobilize farmers to cultivate. With the emergence and popularization of the calendar, the spring gong has lost its practical significance. Therefore, since before liberation, some folk artists who know a little about rap have been knocking on the gongs and drums and singing praises in Pingxiang dialect every year in order to get a few coins from their owners. Spring gongs became a means for the poor to make a living at that time.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, a group of activists of Pingxiang folk rap art made artistic processing on Pingxiang Spring Gong, and their singing changed greatly. In 1950s, Rong Mou, a famous local country artist, knocked Pingxiang Spring Gong to Tiananmen Square in Beijing and sang it in the Great Hall of the People. In order to improve the artistic taste of Pingxiang Spring Gong, Yong Kaiquan, former deputy head of Pingxiang Tea-picking Opera Troupe, wrote ballads for Pingxiang Spring Gong, and incorporated the anti-emotion of Pingxiang Tea-picking Opera into Pingxiang Spring Gong in his singing. Overcome the weaknesses and defects of this kind of music, such as low-key singing and unclear articulation, so that the performer's singing is low and high; It overcomes the situation that the original musical instrument is single and one person "fights" alone, so that some large musical instruments also serve this unique rap art.
"Spring Gong" is sung in Pingxiang dialect, and the basic singing method is seven words. Sometimes, in order to increase the change of rhythm, they will also sing on the crib in traditional Chinese opera. These tones are closely combined with Pingxiang dialect and have strong local characteristics.
According to legend, ordinary artists are afraid to enter Chinese medicine shops. Although the owner is well paid, the names of hundreds of Chinese medicines often make artists flinch. They dare to eat this fat meat when they look at this mouth-watering rich reward. There are only a few "masters".