In the depths of the loess, there is a group of arrogant men with woolen handkerchiefs on their heads, wearing sheepskin vests, face up and puffing their faces, holding poles with both hands, whistling in their mouths, and bright copper bowls. The wind blows and diffuses.
This is Zichang Suona, music from the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi. In 2009, Zichang Suona was invited to the UK to perform at the 60th Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Zichang Suona has a long history and has been passed down from generation to generation, and it can be called "a must in northern Shaanxi". It has a long stem and a large bowl, bright timbre, strong bass, straight treble, high volume and strong penetrating power. It is known as "blowing fifteen miles in one breath". Humanity is on full display. Suona, tambourine, gill ventilation, long-lasting playing, frequent interlacing of strength and weakness, indeterminate lengthening and shortening, and unpredictable reduction by adding more, can achieve an effect that is like flowing water, fascinating and incomparable with other musical instruments. The use of two long and short suonas in the same performance is unique in the country.
For a long time, Zichang Suona has been active in the folk in groups of five, forming a wind and percussion team. Although the number of these folk bands is small, the musical instruments are loud and lively. Celebrations, celebrations, and yangko dances are all accompanied by whistleblowers. The prelude to the marriage of men and women, "The Great Swing Team", makes people's ears warm, their faces hot, their hearts are drunk, their minds are crazy, and they can be beaten desperately. When a person died and was buried, the song "Bitterling Ding" was like crying and complaining.
In recent years, Zichang Suona's playing and performing arts have been greatly improved. In terms of performance form, from the "Old Class Five" playing in groups of five to group performances with hundreds of people leading the action, it is majestic and enthusiastic; from free performances in the streets and courtyards, to music according to the score From the simple traditional playing of two large suonas playing two octaves high and low, to the ensemble of suona, sea flute, pipe, sheng and flute; from the relatively simple percussion music of drums and gongs, gradually It has developed to a new style of playing with drums, small drums, hand bowls, and Beijing gongs; from the previous only playing traditional music cards, it has developed to selectively playing folk songs or popular songs according to different occasions.
Today, Zichang Suona has become a famous cultural business card in Zichang City. On June 29, 2006, Zichang Suona participated in the cultural evening held in Yan'an during the China-Russia Cultural Exchange Year, and performed on the same stage with the Red Flag Song and Dance Troupe of the Russian Ministry of Defense. On July 22 of the same year, Zichang Suona won the highest award of Chinese folk literature and art - "Shanhua Award" in the 7th National Folk Literature and Art Mountain Flower Award Competition. In 2009, Zichang Suona was invited to the United Kingdom to participate in the performance of the 60th Edinburgh Military Music Festival, becoming a major cultural brand of Yan'an City going global. In the same year, Zichang Suona was included in the list of intangible cultural heritage protection in Shaanxi Province. In 2011, Zichang Suona went to Russia to perform at the Moscow International Military Music Festival. On December 23, 2013, Zichang suona performance appeared on the stage of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Zichang suona not only has a broad mass base, but also has a high reputation in the province and even the whole country, and has become a "cultural business card" to show the development of Zichang.