Gaoqiang (high pitched tune)

Gaoqiang is a type of theatrical performance with variety of tunes evolved from Yiyangqiang in Ming Dynasty and Qingyangqiang subsequently. During its hundreds years of evolution, branches of Yiyangqiang have changed drastically. Now they are combined in different degrees with local music from diverse areas, hence the various Gaoqiang style of different areas has been formed. 

 

Gaoqiang is one of the three tunes of opera in Changde. With over thirty basic tunes and seventy other tunes, Gaoqiang is performed with a vocal accompaniment. Based on local art forms such as dance and songs performed during sacrifice, it is developed by adopting tunes of productions in earlier times like Yiyangqiang and Qingyangqiang. There are different roles involved, namely, male, female, painted-male and clown. It is prevalent in west side of Dongting Lake, along the Wuling Mountain, Chenshui River and Yuanshui River, even as far as southwest of Hubei Province and east of Guangxi Province. In 1986, it was renamed Wuling Drama. Gaoqiang’s most thriving time is said to spread from the period under the reign of Emperor Wanli in Ming Dynasty to the period under reign of Emperor Qianjia in Qing Dynasty. As an organic carrier of local culture in Changde, Gaoqiang provides vivid materials for the research of promoting and evolution of local operas’ tunes. 

 

In 2006, Changde Gaoqiang was included in the first batch of national intangible culture heritage items.