Guci(drumbeat lyrics) usually refers to aQuyiform of reciting and singing with a strong rhythm while beating drum or playing clappers as accompaniment to music.Gucihas a long history and its name originated in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). After the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),Guciperformance became very popular, especially in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Liaoning provinces and Beijing, Tianjin cities. In southern China, most prevalentGucigenres were YangzhouGuciin Jiangsu Province and WenzhouGuciin Zhejiang Province.
Guciin northern China usually has two forms. One is that the performer beats a drum or plays clappers himself/herself. And this form of performance is popular in countryside. The other form is that the performer plays the three-stringed lute while singing and reciting. And, this form of performance is popular in both countryside and cities. After 1840, the two forms gradually merged and formedDagushu,for which the performer beats a drum or plays clappers accompanied by three-stringed lute of other performers while singing and reciting. After generations of development and evolution, various forms ofGucicame into being, including XiheDagu,ShandongDagu,and so on.
Guciin southern China dates back to the period from the early Qing Dynasty to the reign of Emperor Qianlong and it includes WenzhouGuci, LishuiGuciand YongkangGuciand so on in Zhejiang Province. All these forms ofGuciarts are sung in the local dialect and are still popular today.
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