Peking Opera: musical instruments

The few musical instruments in Peking Opera have two functions: one, to direct stage movements, and the other, to accompany the singing. Percussion instruments are used to direct movements. They consist of a small wooden drum, a small gong, a large gong, a pair of cymbals and a pair of clappers. Occasionally, a reed instrument called a suo na is also used to accompany a certain action on stage. 

Of all the instrumentalists, the drummer and the fiddler are the leading members of the orchestra. Today, let’s have a look of the string instruments. String instruments are used to accompany singing. These are jing hu (2-stringed fiddle), er hu (second 2-stringed fiddle), yue qin (round mandolin) and san xian (a three-stringed lute). In addition, a pi ba (a multi-stringed lute) is sometimes used to accompany certain female singing roles.