The music of Chinese operas is an integral part of the plot. Other artistic forms have direct or indirect relations with music, but never as close as in the case of opera. During its long process of development, the opera has promoted musical reform. There are more than 300 kinds of operas in China, which have developed their own unique styles, depending on local dialects. Their music reflects their differences.

                             Characteristics of Opera Music

In comparison with other forms of music, Chinese opera music, which is integrated with opera, has to meet the dramatic need to demonstrate the characters and create an atmosphere for the development of the story. It has its own special structural form, techniques of expression and artistic skills. It has a strong national artistic style quite different from that of the Western drama and Western musical traditions created by professional musicians. Chinese opera music is a folk creation, and to a great extent it has kept several characteristics of folk music. First, the opera music comes from the local people and is Popular among the people. It has close relations with dialects, folksongs and the music used to accompany recital-and-song performances. Second, opera music is not created by specific musicians; it is an outcome of long periods of development of folk music and group creation through several generations, which represents the artistic accomplishments of the people of many generations. Third, the opera music has been carried forward orally and undergone great changes. Its tunes have changed frequently, owing to the different conditions and dialects of the singers. As a result, the same tune will change into different tunes, with different styles and dialects. The music of the same opera will develop into different schools. Traditional opera music has constantly changed and developed in this way, as did folk music. Fourth, in the historical process of the creation of opera music, the performer is himself the composer, and the process of performing is also a process of composition of music. All operas, including ethnic-minority operas, demonstrate these characteristics of folk music. only the Kunju Opera was later reformed by Wei Liangfu, and its tune and music are determined by specific musicians and composers. But both the drama and the music are different from their Western counterparts. Opera songs are sung by artists flexibly, and reflect folk characteristics. 

Another characteristic of Chinese opera music is its conventions for musical composition, tune systems, the names of the tunes, and gong and drum techniques. It covers a wide range. The singing, reciting, acting and acrobatics of all kinds of operas are connected with the integration and application of musical conventions. Creativity and tradition have been blended after a long period practice.

   Reform and Development of Opera Music

Over the centuries, opera music has had to confront two problems. The first is how to carry forward and develop the traditions of folk opera music, and enrich and improve it. The second is how to reflect new lifestyles and create new images. In the past four decades, opera musicians, actors, actresses and accompanists have achieved great progress in the reform of songs, tunes and accompaniment. Updating traditional operas and creating new ones (using historical or modern plots and themes) is also a constant challenge. There are two methods to be adopted in the process of reform: First, it is necessary to sum up historical experience and adapt it to the existing techniques for the composition of music. Second, Western ways and methods of the composition of music can be adopted and applied to the Chinese opera stage. 

As vocal music is the major tool of expression used to express the personalities of opera characters, reforms in this field should draw on the strong points of other opera roles, other operas, and popular and folk songs, as well as the tradition of recitation-and-song performances. Another demonstration of the reform of vocal music is the modern reorganization of timbre and rhythm in order to develop a new style. The Yuju (Henan) Opera Chaoyang Valley the Luju (Shanxi) Opera Remarriage of Aunt Li and the Yueju (Guangdong) Opera Guan Hanqing demonstrate such a breakthrough.