Leting Dagu
Location: Leting of Hebei Province
Artists: Han Zhixue (75), Wang Liyan (70)
This ballad-singing art, popular in Hebei, originated in Hebei's Leting County where locals are said to be good at singing. Its repertoire includes many classical Chinese literature works like Journey to the West.
During the Qing Dynasty, Leting dagu always held the main statue in the quyi circle and had a profound influence in China's north countryside. In history, many artists, such as Wen Rong, Zhao Yonghuan, Lv Zhanshan, Chen Junshan, Zheng Yunlai, and Wang Peichen made a great contribution to the development of Leting dagu.
Leting dagu enjoyed a good reputation in the capital due to the famous actor, Wen Rong. It is said that he obtained recognition from a prince, who bestowed the official name of "Leting Dagu" for Wen's performance. From then on, Leting dagu has been an important branch of old Beijing's traditional talking and singing art.
The one who put Leting dagu to a new peak was the famous actress Wang Peichen. She created a new school of Leting dagu with a Beijing dialect. Therefore she was influenced by Leping's local force and changed the name of her disc (are you referring to compact disc?) to Tiepian Dagu.
Han Xiangpu was one of the successors of East Leting dagu. By absorbing others' strongpoint, he became a great master of his time.
However, over time, people's taste changed and Han Xiangpu's performance were no longer welcome. The only record he left became Leting dagu's extinct music.
Author: Ivana
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