AN ANALYSIS OF THE MUSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SHANPOYANG IN LONGHUAHUI RITUAL OF SHANXI, CHINA

Authors: Yuan Yunxia & Mohd Hassan Bin Abdullah

ABSTRACT

This study centers on the representative instrumental piece Shanpo Yang, performed during the Longhuahui ritual in Chitu Hua Village, Loufan County, Shanxi Province. Drawing on theories from traditional Chinese music and employing methodologies from ethnomusicology, the research conducts an in-depth analysis of the work’s musical characteristics, including its modal system, rhythmic structure, melodic contour, and formal organization. The primary source materials derive from field recordings and notated transcriptions collected during ethnographic fieldwork.The analysis reveals that Shanpo Yang is fundamentally based on the pentatonic scale, while incorporating localized modal variations such as altered gong and zhi tones. Its rhythm alternates between free-meter passages and metrically regular sections. Structurally, the piece combines cyclical and segmented forms, aligning closely with spatial transitions and the temporal sequencing of ritual activities.This study not only elucidates the regional stylistic features and ritual functions embedded in the musical structure of Shanpo Yang, but also demonstrates how the piece contributes to the organization of ritual time-space and emotional expression through its sonic architecture. By integrating case-specific analysis with a broader theoretical framework, the paper deepens our understanding of the internal logic and cultural context of northern Chinese ritual music. Moreover, the findings offer a practical model for localized musical analysis and provide both theoretical justification and empirical support for the documentation and transmission of ritual instrumental traditions.

Keywords: Longhuahui Ritual, Shanpoyang, Musical Characteristics

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