江南丝竹

        Sizhu-Traditional Stringed and    Woodwind Instruments in South China

        江南丝竹是指流行于中国江苏南部、上海、浙江西部一带的器乐曲。由于乐队以丝弦和竹管乐器为主，所以称为丝竹乐，至少在清代1860年以前已流行于民间。在这些地区的城市和农村都很流行丝竹乐，但风格完全不同。城市丝竹乐的风格典雅华丽，加花较多，流传很广；而农村则常用锣鼓，气氛热烈，风格简朴。江南丝竹的最大特点之一，就是演奏风格精细，乐曲多来自于民间婚丧喜庆和庙会活动的风俗音乐，有的是长期流传于民间的古典曲牌。其中著名的江南丝竹八大曲显尽江南秀美柔婉之风，富有情韵。江南丝竹音乐的产生和延续，对民族音乐史的研究及戏曲、民俗文化、群众文化的发展都有重要的作用。江南丝竹是江南水乡文化杰出的代表之一。

Sizhu, the traditional stringed and woodwind instruments, enjoyed a great popularity in southern Jiangsu province, Shanghai and eastern Zhejiang province in China. Styles of Sizhu music varied in rural area and urban area. The style of Sizhu music in the urban area was elegant and gorgeous while that in the rural was simple and enthusiastic. Sizhu music was noted for its exquisite performance style. Its music mainly originated from folk music played in the temple fair performance or traditional activities such as wedding, funeral ceremonies, and some songs transformed from classical folk tunes. With unique vitality, the famous top eight songs of Sizhu vividly embodied the temperate and gentle beauty of South China. The Sizhu music is an excellent representative of culture of ancient town in the southern Yangtze River area. The origin and spread of Sizhu music in South China contributes greatly to the research and development of drama, theatre and folk culture.