Xipi
One of Peking opera's two main tune families — bright and springy, pushing the emotion forward
Related
Xipi is one of the two main tune families of Peking opera (and of Han opera and others); with erhuang it forms "pihuang". Its melodies are brighter and more propulsive, often used for excitement, joy and action; erhuang is steadier and deeper.
Xipi is likewise a family of modes: through metrical patterns it can become a relaxed slow aria or an urgent fast one, even a flowing passage. The difference from erhuang is not "which is faster" but mode, contour and emotional colour; in one play the two alternate like two tones of voice.
Read deeper → erhuang
Sources
- 西皮腔的板式、情绪性格与皮黄合称，参《中国音乐词典》与 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "China" 相关条目；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.