Guban (instrument)
Encyclopedia
The term guban refers collectively to a small drum
and paiban
(clapper
), which are played simultaneously, by a single player, in traditional Chinese music.
The drum, which may be a bangu or some other type of drum with a high-pitched head of small diameter, is played with a stick that is held in one hand, and the clapper, which is called pāibǎn
(拍板), bǎn (板), tánbǎn (檀板, literally "sandalwood clapper"), mùbǎn (木板), or shūbǎn (书板), is played by the other hand. The clapper consists of two flat pieces of hardwood
(either zitan, hongmu, or hualimu rosewood
) or bamboo
that are tied loosely together on one end. It is held vertically by one hand and clapped together, producing a sharp clacking sound. Somewhat confusingly, the clapper is sometimes also referred to, without the drum, as guban.
The guban is used to accompany some genres of shuochang
(Chinese story-singing), as well as in Beijing opera
, kunqu
, and Shaoxing opera. It is also used in instrumental music, such as Jiangnan sizhu
, Chaozhou instrumental music, Sunan chuida (苏南吹打), nanguan
, shifan luogu (十番锣鼓), and Shanxi batao (山西八套).
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
and paiban
Paiban
The paiban is a clapper made from several flat pieces of hardwood or bamboo, which is used in many different forms of Chinese music. There are many different types of paiban, and the instrument is also referred to as bǎn , tánbǎn , mùbǎn , or shūbǎn...
(clapper
Clapper (musical instrument)
A clapper is a basic form of percussion instrument. It consists of two long solid pieces that are clapped together producing sound. A straightforward instrument to produce and play, they exist in many forms in many different cultures around the world. Clappers can take a number of forms and be made...
), which are played simultaneously, by a single player, in traditional Chinese music.
The drum, which may be a bangu or some other type of drum with a high-pitched head of small diameter, is played with a stick that is held in one hand, and the clapper, which is called pāibǎn
Paiban
The paiban is a clapper made from several flat pieces of hardwood or bamboo, which is used in many different forms of Chinese music. There are many different types of paiban, and the instrument is also referred to as bǎn , tánbǎn , mùbǎn , or shūbǎn...
(拍板), bǎn (板), tánbǎn (檀板, literally "sandalwood clapper"), mùbǎn (木板), or shūbǎn (书板), is played by the other hand. The clapper consists of two flat pieces of hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
(either zitan, hongmu, or hualimu rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
) or bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
that are tied loosely together on one end. It is held vertically by one hand and clapped together, producing a sharp clacking sound. Somewhat confusingly, the clapper is sometimes also referred to, without the drum, as guban.
The guban is used to accompany some genres of shuochang
Shuochang
Shuochang is a form of traditional Chinese storytelling , with many regional subgenres; it is also often referred to as "narrative." Shuochang performances usually intermix speaking and singing, and are accompanied by percussion instruments and sometimes also plucked or bowed string...
(Chinese story-singing), as well as in Beijing opera
Beijing opera
Peking opera or Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court...
, kunqu
Kunqu
Kunqu , also known as Kunju , Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area...
, and Shaoxing opera. It is also used in instrumental music, such as Jiangnan sizhu
Jiangnan sizhu
Jiangnan sizhu is a style of traditional Chinese instrumental music from the Jiangnan region of China.-Name:The name Jiangnan sizhu is made up of two parts. Jiangnan is the traditional name for the area south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze river in southern Jiangsu, Shanghai, and northern...
, Chaozhou instrumental music, Sunan chuida (苏南吹打), nanguan
Nanguan
Nanguan is a style of Chinese classical music originating in the southern Chinese province of Fujian , and is also now highly popular in Taiwan, particularly Lukang.Fujian is a mountainous coastal province of China...
, shifan luogu (十番锣鼓), and Shanxi batao (山西八套).
