For example, Kunqu is different from Peking opera.
Kunqu does not have instrumental interludes.
It is sung one phrase after another; (without interludes)
we (in Kunqu) use the “tune type” format,
unlike Peking opera which has instrumental interludes;
you can take a rest (between phrases).
Kunqu is unending, singing continuously
until the very end.
Kunqu (actors) must have a good voice;
(it) will allow you to express to the utmost.
Whether you are performing “Night Flight”, or “Into the Enemy Camp Alone”,
or “Killing the Tiger”, all of those plays,
that is to say, you must use your voice.
Use a good voice to create the character of Lord Guan.
(In) the Lord Guan play: “Into the Enemy Camp Alone”
The first song “New Water song” is critical.
The lyrics to the “New Water song” is:
“Eastward flows the great river, wave upon wave.
Westward into the wind I sail this light skiff.
Leaving behind the nine-fold fortified palace.
Arriving here to probe the deep den of tigers and wolves.
Brave hearted are valiant men,
To this treacherous mission I come alone, casually strolling with my halberd.
This is two decades of bloodshed of brave warriors, flowing to eternity.”
Look at the spirit of Guan Hanqing’s poetry.
I heard that Professor Hua admires (the line)
“Flowing here for twenty years heroic warriors’ blood.”
(She) likes to hear this phrase.
Guan Hanqing’s poetry is so moving.
I feel goose-bumps myself when I sing.
To sing Kunqu (a singer) must have high notes,
middle range notes, and low range notes.
Only then can you sing well.
If you have high notes, but not the low,
you cannot come down; it won’t do.
If you have both ends, but not the middle range; that won’t do either.
The middle range is the most difficult.
Most difficult is the middle range.
(If you) have the high range, going up is easy.
That is why it is said that the “New Water song”,
including the second aria: “Surging waters and soaring mountains as before”,
the second aria also has high, middle, and low notes.
This is why Kunqu is difficult;
you must be able to sing high.
If you cannot get up there, (your singing) is mediocre.
It is not to say your singing is not good,
(I) do not mean this.
But to be perfect, more complete,
because the voice can render a better portrayal of Lord Guan;
portray his emotion when he is on that river.
For example, at the beginning of the aria “Eastward… this great river…”
it has to get up there.
If you cannot go up there is nothing to be done.
But you must get up there. It only sounds good when you can sing high.
My father told me
this play “Into the Enemy Camp Alone”
transmitted from our forebears to today,
has been enriched by the blood and sweat of generations.
Only by continuous improvement and refinement
can it survive until now and
be preserved on the Chinese opera stage.
“Into the Enemy Camp Alone” in the past
did not have so much dance moves, according to my father.
That is to say, the older version of the play is basically pure singing.
Namely, after making up and putting on the costume, basically there is no moving.
You just sing “Eastward flows this great River…”
As times change
(the play) must change with the times.
Keep up with the times.
Only then will audiences appreciate it,
and like it.
That is why Kunqu is appreciated by more college students now.
I feel that to keep up with the times
we must think differently from the older generation.
(We) must have some breakthrough,
(we) must have innovation. But, we must start with the traditional foundation.
Now I made some additions.
In the old way: “…wave upon wave” (is sung) standing there.
“Wave upon wave” is all right. It sounds like waves.
Now when I sing “wave” I lift my leg.
“Wave upon wave…” like the waves.
It looks like wave upon wave.
Just a fine voice is not good enough;
I feel that there must be movement to match.
Audiences will enjoy it more.
Just standing to sing, is satisfactory enough.
But when I add movement,
I sing all the notes fully; I’m not lazy.
I sing “wave upon wave…” in full voice.
Prof. Wei Hua 華瑋Professor and Division Head
Prof. Kenneth Hsien-yung Pai 白先勇Wei Lun Professor of Humanities
Prof. Lindy Li Mark 李林德Professor Emerita
