Drumming to beat the band
By Fei Lai |
February 28, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A damp and shabby basement houses all the props for a piece of an intangible cultural heritage: drum and gong performances.
Tang Zhankui, a drum and gong artist, stores many instruments, costumes and props and hopes that the traditional performances will become popular once again and his treasures will be properly housed and appreciated.
Tang heads the Yangpu Workers' Gong and Drum Artistic Troupe.
Funding is what he needs, and attention.
"It costs 500 yuan (US$76) a month to rent a 10-square-meter basement and I can't afford a dry place to store my instruments," says Tang, who is 55. "It hurts to see the instruments and costumes become moldy and useless."
Drum and gong performances used to be indispensable at festivals and carnivals in China, especially in the 1950s. Yangpu District once had more than 40 professional teams, each owned by a factory.
The sounds of drums and gongs are a traditional way to express happiness and hopes for a good future.
Tang started playing drum and gong when he was nine years old, taught by his father, and he had a natural sense of rhythm. He went on to develop his own personalized beats.
Tang and his team used to welcome foreign officials visiting Yangpu District.
But for the last 20 years, the traditional performance has been losing its appeal, losing out to glitzier pop entertainment.
Besides the lack of financial support, the biggest problem is the lack of young people who want to learn the traditional instruments.
"Today, only those in their 50s can play drums and gongs, mostly laid-off workers like me looking for value in life again," Tang says. "We are standing together, trying to find a way for our art to survive. We need more attention, especially from young people."
Glitzy shows
Today's dazzling entertainment is a big reason why drums and gongs don't resonate much, he says.
"In the old days, when little entertainment was available, drums and gongs seemed to have a magical power to draw people out of their homes and into the street where they listened together," he says.
"Today people have become indifferent to old and traditional art. Their interest is almost zero as the world has so many fresh things to offer. Young people would rather spend hours playing drumming video games."
Tang and his fellow players occasionally get paid, for example, when they stage performances at launching ceremonies for enterprises, ground breakings, bridge and road openings, official visits and other occasions.
Tang can summon 80 costumed drum and gong players for a dramatic show.
During rehearsal, Tang and his team keep the beat by clapping their hands so they don't disturb the neighbors.
"When you do it wrong, it's noise, but we're experienced players with a good grasp of rhythm," says Tang.
It usually takes only an afternoon to prepare for a show on the following day.
Gradually Tang and his team have made their name, performing in Shanghai and in other cities around the country.
Ox hide
Revenue from commercial performances allows Tang to maintain the instruments and buy new costumes.
He explains that the top surface of a drum is made from stretched ox hide and given a glossy finish. It needs special care in rainy or damp weather.
The Yangpu Workers' Gong and Drum Artistic Troupe delivers a distinctive sound, a combination of strong and gentle beats that is different from the sounds of northern China and southern China.
Lion dances are becoming more popular than drum and gongs, says Tang, because fewer performers are required and the lion is fun to watch.
Drums are indispensable to the lion dance and Tang now teaches lion dance and drumming once a week at Siyuan Middle School. He has chosen 40 students from sixth and seventh grades.
To choose his lion dancers, he tests their running speed, agility and ability to leap. They need to be smart, inspired and sensitive to the beat.
He asks would-be drummers to play a few beats and Tang can tell if the student is naturally gifted and balances the power in each hand.
"Like playing piano, drumming can also develops kids' brains. As one of the last drum and gong players, I hope to cooperate with more schools and I'm willing to volunteer," says Tang.
"Otherwise, drum and gongs will become extinct," he adds.
Tang Zhankui, a drum and gong artist, stores many instruments, costumes and props and hopes that the traditional performances will become popular once again and his treasures will be properly housed and appreciated.
Tang heads the Yangpu Workers' Gong and Drum Artistic Troupe.
Funding is what he needs, and attention.
"It costs 500 yuan (US$76) a month to rent a 10-square-meter basement and I can't afford a dry place to store my instruments," says Tang, who is 55. "It hurts to see the instruments and costumes become moldy and useless."
Drum and gong performances used to be indispensable at festivals and carnivals in China, especially in the 1950s. Yangpu District once had more than 40 professional teams, each owned by a factory.
The sounds of drums and gongs are a traditional way to express happiness and hopes for a good future.
Tang started playing drum and gong when he was nine years old, taught by his father, and he had a natural sense of rhythm. He went on to develop his own personalized beats.
Tang and his team used to welcome foreign officials visiting Yangpu District.
But for the last 20 years, the traditional performance has been losing its appeal, losing out to glitzier pop entertainment.
Besides the lack of financial support, the biggest problem is the lack of young people who want to learn the traditional instruments.
"Today, only those in their 50s can play drums and gongs, mostly laid-off workers like me looking for value in life again," Tang says. "We are standing together, trying to find a way for our art to survive. We need more attention, especially from young people."
Glitzy shows
Today's dazzling entertainment is a big reason why drums and gongs don't resonate much, he says.
"In the old days, when little entertainment was available, drums and gongs seemed to have a magical power to draw people out of their homes and into the street where they listened together," he says.
"Today people have become indifferent to old and traditional art. Their interest is almost zero as the world has so many fresh things to offer. Young people would rather spend hours playing drumming video games."
Tang and his fellow players occasionally get paid, for example, when they stage performances at launching ceremonies for enterprises, ground breakings, bridge and road openings, official visits and other occasions.
Tang can summon 80 costumed drum and gong players for a dramatic show.
During rehearsal, Tang and his team keep the beat by clapping their hands so they don't disturb the neighbors.
"When you do it wrong, it's noise, but we're experienced players with a good grasp of rhythm," says Tang.
It usually takes only an afternoon to prepare for a show on the following day.
Gradually Tang and his team have made their name, performing in Shanghai and in other cities around the country.
Ox hide
Revenue from commercial performances allows Tang to maintain the instruments and buy new costumes.
He explains that the top surface of a drum is made from stretched ox hide and given a glossy finish. It needs special care in rainy or damp weather.
The Yangpu Workers' Gong and Drum Artistic Troupe delivers a distinctive sound, a combination of strong and gentle beats that is different from the sounds of northern China and southern China.
Lion dances are becoming more popular than drum and gongs, says Tang, because fewer performers are required and the lion is fun to watch.
Drums are indispensable to the lion dance and Tang now teaches lion dance and drumming once a week at Siyuan Middle School. He has chosen 40 students from sixth and seventh grades.
To choose his lion dancers, he tests their running speed, agility and ability to leap. They need to be smart, inspired and sensitive to the beat.
He asks would-be drummers to play a few beats and Tang can tell if the student is naturally gifted and balances the power in each hand.
"Like playing piano, drumming can also develops kids' brains. As one of the last drum and gong players, I hope to cooperate with more schools and I'm willing to volunteer," says Tang.
"Otherwise, drum and gongs will become extinct," he adds.
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