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To promote the art and culture of Cantonese opera to audiences around the world, The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong, with the support of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau of the HKSAR Government, produced Bar Wo Channel: Cantonese Opera Online Course in 2020, a series of 47 episodes of Cantonese opera appreciation material. Through the borderless internet, audiences in different places can watch these 47 accessible yet in-depth Cantonese opera appreciation programmes free of charge at any time. Led by producer Wong Ming-Chuen, the seven-member production team (Law Ka-Ying, Lung Koon-Tin, San Kim-Long, Wong Chiu-Kwan, Chan Hung-Chun, Wan Yuk-Yu and Lai Yiu-Wai) conceived and planned the overall programme content, while a number of artistic directors were each responsible for selecting the material and cast and for the demonstrations in each episode. The 47 episodes are richly varied, each focusing on a different area such as singing, acting, speech, martial arts, make-up and costume. Bar Wo Channel: Cantonese Opera Online Course is truly the best beginner's guide to Cantonese opera, and the first choice for anyone who wishes to learn more about it.
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Episode 1: Singing: Bangzi Sanban (1)

2021-02-28
Banqiang style is divided into two major systems: "Bangzi" and "Erhuang". Today we will introduce and demonstrate Bangzi's first board and Shaban: the first board usually appears at the beginning of a play as a "previous sentence"; the Shaban is usually used at the end of a play as a "next sentence".

Episode 2 Singing: Bangzi Sanban (2)

2021-02-28
Banqiang is divided into two major systems: "Bangzi" and "Erhuang". This session will introduce and demonstrate the knurling types of Bangzi loose board. It often appears in Cantonese opera songs, including short sentences, long sentences and Yi-anti knurling. The characteristic of knurling is that it has melody and no dingban. The actor sings the lyrics first, and the music is accompanied by the music according to the scale sung, creating the effect of singing first and playing later.

Episode 3 Sing: Bangzi Middle Plate (1)

2021-02-28
Banqiang is divided into two systems: "Bangzi" and "Erhuang". This conference will introduce and demonstrate Bangzi middle plates, including front and back line middle plates and ancient middle plates. The format of the middle board has seven characters and cross sentences. The beat is one board and one ding. It is sung from ding to ping, and the singing methods are divided into Ping, Zi and Ba. In addition, the mode of the middle board is changeable, including forward line, reverse line and reverse line, and the rhythm is divided into slow, medium and fast.

Episode 4 Sing: Bangzi Middle Plate (2)

2021-02-28
Banqiang style is divided into two major systems: "Bangzi" and "Erhuang". This session will introduce and demonstrate the Bangzi middle plate, including ordered middle plate, Yi reverse lotus middle plate, reduced character lotus middle plate, etc.

Episode 5 Sing: Bangzi Middle Plate (3)

2021-02-28
Banqiang is divided into two systems: "Bangzi" and "Erhuang". This session will introduce and demonstrate different types of Bangzi, such as three-legged stool, Baqiang Furong middle plate, Huagu Furong middle plate, etc.

Episode 6 Sing: Bangzi Adagio (1)

2021-02-28
Banqiang is divided into two major systems: "Bangzi" and "Erhuang". This session will introduce and demonstrate Bangzi Adagio, including flat, sub-throat Bangzi Adagio, and Baqiang Bangzi Adagio. Bangzi Adagio, also known as "Shigong Adagio", has several singing styles: Ping, Zi, Ba, Roudai Zuo and He Diao. In the sentence pattern of Bangzi Adagio, a four-character activity sentence can be added between the second and third beats, usually one board and three dings.

Episode 7 Sing: Bangzi Adagio (2)

2021-02-28
Banqiang is divided into two major systems: "Bangzi" and "Erhuang". This session will introduce and demonstrate Bangzi Adagio, including Hediao Adagio, Fast and Adagio, and Golden Thread Hanging Lotus. Bangzi Adagio, also known as "Shigong Adagio", has several singing styles: Ping, Zi, Ba, Roudai Zuo and He Diao. In the sentence pattern of Bangzi Adagio, a four-character activity sentence can be added between the second and third beats, usually one board and three dings.

Episode 8 Sing: Erhuang Sanban (1)

2021-02-28
"Sing Bangzi when you win, sing Erhuang when you lose." Cantonese opera Erhuang, one of the two major systems of singing, has a relatively desolate and depressed melody. Today, we will introduce and demonstrate the first board, Sha board and reverse board of Erhuang Sanban: the first board usually appears at the beginning of a play and is the "previous sentence"; the Shaban is usually used at the end of a play and is the "next sentence".

Episode 9 Sing: Erhuang Sanban (2)

2021-02-28
"Sing Bangzi when you win, and Erhuang when you lose." Cantonese opera Erhuang, one of the two major singing systems, has a more desolate and depressed melody. Today we will introduce and demonstrate Erhuang Sanban. Erhuang knurling, also known as "hechi knurling", is divided into seven characters and cross sentences, and can also have active sentences. The characteristic of knurling is that it has melody and no dingban. The actor sings the lyrics first, and the music is accompanied by the music according to the scale sung, creating the effect of singing first and playing later.

Episode 10 Sing: Erhuang Laishuipan

2021-02-28
"Sing Bangzi when you win, sing Erhuang when you lose", Cantonese opera Erhuang, one of the two major systems of singing, has a more desolate and depressed melody. Today we will introduce and demonstrate the Erhuang flow board, commonly known as the second stream, which is divided into main line, reverse line and Yifan.

Episode 11 Sing: Erhuang Adagio

2021-02-28
"Sing Bangzi when you win, and Erhuang when you lose." Cantonese opera Erhuang, one of the two major systems of singing, has a relatively desolate and depressed melody. This meeting will introduce and demonstrate Erhuang Adagio, including Huilongqiang Erhuang, Long Sentence Erhuang and Anti-Line Erhuang.

Episode 12 Singer: Erhuang/Xipi

2021-02-28
In this episode, we will demonstrate anti-line Erhuang, Yifan Erhuang, Dizhu Erhuang and Yifan Xipi.

Episode 13 Singing: Nanyin

2021-02-28
This gathering will introduce and demonstrate Nanyin. Nanyin is generally divided into Zhengxian Nanyin, Yifan Nanyin, Kuai Nanyin and Liushui Nanyin. In terms of tunes, there are Baozhou tune, Binghun tune, etc. The sentence structure of Nanyin starts with sansan, and the seven-character sentence is sisan. The upper sentence has a oblique tone, the next sentence has a yinping tone, the upper sentence has an oblique tone, and the next sentence has a yangping tone. The cycle starts over and over again, and finally ends with a yangping tone.

Episode 14 Sing: Rap

2021-02-28
Cantonese opera In addition to Nanyin, the Chinese ballad system also includes Muyu, Banyan, shouting songs, folk songs and dragon boat. In this gathering, we will demonstrate each one for you.

Episode 15 Sing: Brand (1)

2021-02-28
This episode demonstrates "Da Sang Zi". "Da Sang Zi" uses a total of eleven brands. The brands are derived from Kunqu Opera or Yiyang Tune, and are often sung in Mandarin, usually with suona or musical accompaniment.

Episode 16 Sing: Brand (2)

2021-02-28
The brand originates from Kun Opera or Yiyang tune, and is often sung in Mandarin, usually with suona or musical accompaniment. In this episode, we will demonstrate for you "I Liu Guo", "Sighing Yan Hui", "Sighing at the Fifth Geng" and "Menglong".

Episode 17 Sing: Ditty (1)

2021-02-28
Ditty can be divided into ancient tunes and minor tunes. In the past, many pieces of music came from Suzhou and Hangzhou. In the later period, many creations appeared in Guangdong. In modern times, Cantonese opera Adopting a lot of Western music and music from different drama genres, this episode demonstrates for everyone the "Autumn Moon over the Pinghu" from "The Dragon Plays with the Phoenix", "Hu Di Man Song" from "Unresolved Enmity at the Phoenix Pavilion", "Farewell" from "Thunder and the Golden Drum and the Sound of the Jade", and "Silver Tears" and "Emperor's Flower" Among them, "Xiang Yao" and "Qiu Si on the Dressing Table" are particularly good at demonstrating the ancient tune "Criticizing Yulang".

Episode 18 Sing: Ditty (2)

2021-02-28
Ditty can be divided into ancient tunes and minor tunes. In the past, many pieces of music came from Suzhou and Hangzhou. In the later period, many creations appeared in Guangdong. In modern times, Cantonese opera Adopting a lot of Western music and music from different drama genres, this episode demonstrates for everyone the "Ten-Embroidered Sachet" from "Snow in June", "Ling Bo Ling" from "Luo Shen", "Walking Horse" from "Striking the Golden Bough", and "Little Taohong" and "Broken Array" from "Left to the Country and Return to Surrender" from "Empress Li".

Episode 19 Nian: Nianbai (1)

2021-02-28
Cantonese opera There is a saying in the industry: "A thousand pounds of mouth can be spoken in vain and four taels can be sung." This shows that recitation is very important. Actors will express their emotions through strong, weak, fast and slow rhythms. This episode will demonstrate the poetry recitation, introduction, heroic recitation and langpai in the recitation system.

Episode 20: Nian Bai (2)

2021-02-28
Cantonese opera There is a saying in the industry: "A thousand pounds of koubai can be sung for four 䡡", which shows that recitation is very important. The actors will express their emotions through strong, weak, fast and slow rhythms. Today, we will demonstrate the gongs and drums koubai, kougu, rhymed koubai, bailan and yuzhuang.

Episode 21 Do: Blanket Work

2021-02-28
Blanket Kung Fu is a Kung Fu performed on carpets. It is divided into hard blankets and soft blankets. It uses several tumbling skills such as tumbling, falling, and beating as training items. On the carpet, it is "tumbling", and in the air, it is "tumbling". The actions in this episode must be guided by professional instructors. Viewers are kindly requested not to imitate.

Episode 22 Do: Waist and Leg Kung Fu

2021-02-28
Waist and leg skills are the basic skills of opera actors. On the opera stage, waist and leg skills are used in routines, body postures and martial arts. The actions in this episode must be guided by professional instructors. Viewers are kindly requested not to imitate.

Episode 23 Do: Technique

2021-02-28
Techniques are hand and arm movements, including pulling, fingering, etc. The fingering techniques vary according to different professions, genders, clothing, status and wear.

Episode 24 Do: Footwork

2021-02-28
"First watch a step, then listen to a mouth." It can be seen that footwork determines an actor's stage style to a certain extent. Footwork is the stage step, and it is also the character's footwork characteristics and expression method in Cantonese opera performance. Body technique and footwork are inseparable. As the saying goes, "the body moves with the steps, and the steps move with the steps." Everything in the footwork originates from the waist, so the use of the waist is very important to the footwork.

Episode 25 Do: Basic Skills (1) Water Kung Fu and Fan Kung Fu

2021-02-28
Today's gathering will demonstrate Shui Kung and Fan Kung: Shui Sleeve Kung Fu requires the coordination and cooperation of fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders. Actors can express their emotions and beauty through water sleeve movements; Fan Kung Fu is one of the basic skills of opera performance. The actor's emotions are conveyed to the fan through the hands to express the character's feelings, personality and emotions.

Episode 26 Do: Basic skills (2) Fingering, dust whisk, and belt

2021-02-28
Today we will demonstrate fingering, dust whisk, and big belt: Fingering is a very important part of Cantonese opera's performance. Fingering can express emotions, anger, sorrow, and joy; the dust brush is changeable, with equal emphasis on hardness and softness; "big belt", also known as "ban belt", is one of the common costumes for short fighting martial arts. When using the big belt, actors must master the strength, amplitude, and angle.

Episode 27 Do: Basic Skills (3) Xu Gong, Water Hair

2021-02-28
Today we will demonstrate Xu Gong and Shui Fa: Xu Gong is an actor's way of expressing a character's inner emotions by playing with his beard. Xu Gong has rich skills, including grooming, picking, and flicking beards, etc. It requires long-term practice to become proficient. Shui Fa is used to express the character's mental state of being wandering, frightened, and helpless.

Episode 28 Do: Play (1)

2021-02-28
"Enter the stage" is a fixed routine for actors to appear on stage. This episode will demonstrate multiple entrance routines, including the entrance of Acacia, the entrance of the middle plate, the entrance of rat tail, the entrance of Nanyin board and the entrance of drunkenness, etc.

Episode 29 Do: Play (2)

2021-02-28
"Entering the stage" is a fixed routine for actors to appear on stage. This episode will demonstrate multiple entry routines, including entering with seven gongs and drums, entering with bells, etc.

Episode 30 Fight: Southern Style Program (1) Hand Bridge

2021-02-28
Today we will demonstrate the hand bridge. The southern style hand bridge is a style of unarmed fighting. It requires the bridge hand and waist horse to be strong and powerful, and the movements are in place and clean. They cooperate with each other when fighting, and the punches are to the flesh, showing a fierce martial arts scene. It is transformed and used on the stage as a performance, which is one of the characteristics of the traditional Cantonese opera martial arts field.

Episode 31 Fighting: Southern Style Program (2)

2021-02-28
Cantonese opera The handles are divided into "southern handles" and "northern handles." Today we will demonstrate the southern handles. The first move of most southern styles of fighting is "one, two, three", that is, the two sides use their tassels to make "up, down, up" three blows.

Episode 32: Do: Southern Style Program (3) Fighting and adding officials

2021-02-28
The Grand Frame is Cantonese opera's unique physical performance program, which is equivalent to the "Qi Ba" and "Walking Side" of Peking Opera. The southern style Grand Frame emphasizes hard, clean and powerful moves, and is accompanied by Cantonese opera's big gongs and drums. It is very powerful. In this gathering, we will demonstrate the freehand Grand Frame, the Peach Blossom Girl's Grand Frame, and the Thirteen Sisters Grand Frame (wenluo). The addition of male officers and female officers is one of the traditional operas of Cantonese opera. The whole process is accompanied by specific gongs and drums. There are only body movements and no lyrics. The male officers are demonstrated by Lu Hongguang, and the female officers are demonstrated by Xu Yueming. She uses her body to compose the four characters "First Grade Madam".

Episode 33: Do: Southern Style Program (4) Horse Matching Scenery and Dianhan Scenery

2021-02-28
Horse matching is a traditional Cantonese opera performance. The horse matching process is performed through virtual movements. Li Yaowei and Liang Feitong will demonstrate male and female horse matching respectively. Dianhan is one of the traditional scenes of Cantonese opera. The story tells that the emperor is in the Golden Palace, conferring the top prize, the second prize and the top prize.

Episode 34: Do: Southern Style Program (5) Bite arrows and worship, ghosts and ghosts, and birthday wishes

2021-02-28
Law Ka-Ying and Lung Koon-Tin played the roles of Zhang Zhong and Kwong Ruilong respectively, demonstrating one of the ancient scenes of "biting an arrow to make a sworn vows". This ancient scene is characterized by a large number of spoken words and specific lyrics to the spoken words. Ghost Dandan comes from Cantonese opera Luhuadang, a traditional scene. When the actor playing Zhang Fei appears, he will open his hands and appear with two of his subordinates, as if he is carrying a shoulder. "Birthday Greetings" is one of the traditional operas of Cantonese opera, and it is also a Cantonese opera beginner who must learn how to perform ostentation. The servants and Mei Xiang will congratulate the master on his birthday.

Episode 35: Do: Teaching Materials under Hand (1) Opening the Classroom, One Bundle with Three Marks, Clamping Sticks, Beating Sticks, Flower Door, Gong Border Flower, Qi Dong, Seven Hammers

2021-02-28
The grand trial drama is a unique performance of Cantonese opera. Today, the assembly will demonstrate the opening of the court, a bundle of three bids, and the clamping sticks and boards used by the presiding officer to torture and extract confessions. This episode will also demonstrate the performance procedures for the appearance of Hua Men and Luo Bian Hua Chu, as well as the appearance of Qi Dong and Qi Chui.

Episode Thirty-six Do: Teaching materials for my subordinates (2) Getting on and off the sedan chair, offering sacrifices to flags, walking anacondas and snakes, and harvesting flowers and water

2021-02-28
Cantonese opera There are many virtual performance actions. Today we will demonstrate getting on and off the sedan chair. Cantonese opera There are often scenes of martial arts battles in traditional performances. The band will play the "Lip Drop" sign and "Small Open Door" sign to match the actors' flag sacrifice ceremony. After the flag sacrifice, the soldiers will walk on the round platform and enter their clothes, then pass through the backstage luggage box and rush back to fight the enemy. This is the traditional Cantonese opera walking anaconda. Cantonese opera attaches great importance to pomp and circumstance, and performs important roles. There are many actors on stage to support them. In this episode's demonstration of He Hua Chui Shui, you can enjoy the scene where the protagonist appears with more weight.

Episode 37: Light white and deep red with new makeup

2021-02-28
In this episode, Huang Chengbin and Tang Meiling will demonstrate the makeup and dressing of Xiaosheng and Huadan.

Episode 38 Clothing (1)

2021-02-28
In this episode, we will take a look at how actors put on headgear and costumes. In the industry, there are professional costume wearers commonly known as "suitcases" who put on costumes for the actors. Let's take a look at many demonstrations of different costumes! These include Wen Yuyu's demonstration of the Fuzi scarf and male python worn by martial students, Xu Yueming's demonstration of the phoenix-crowned female python worn by Hua Dan, and Chan Hung-Chun's demonstration of the appearance of minor officials worn by ugly students.

Episode 39: Clothing (2)

2021-02-28
In this episode, we will take a look at how actors wear headgear and costumes. There are professional costume wearers commonly known as "suitcases" in the industry who put on costumes for the actors. Let's take a look at many demonstrations of different costumes, including Wei Tuo, Guan Gong, Zhang Fei, etc., and Zheng Yongmei will demonstrate how to pierce your feet!

Episode 40 Three Tables and Six Chairs

2021-02-28
Cantonese opera There are many virtual arrangements on the stage, and a table and two chairs can be used to place many endless scenery. In this episode, a stage technician from Cantonese opera, commonly known as the "stage entrance", demonstrates to us how to use simple tables and chairs to place different scenes.

Chapter 41 Sing: Pai Zi (3)

2022-02-28
In this episode, we will introduce to you "Celebrating Birthday on Xianghua Mountain". "Celebrating Birthday on Xianghua Mountain" is a traditional opera of Cantonese opera, and it is also a play performed by the troupe to celebrate the birth of Master Hua Guang. "Happy Birthday on Xianghua Mountain" is composed of different brands of music, most of which are used to match the actors' entrance, movements and movements. Among them, the two most special ones, "Liangzhou Preface" and "Three Spring Brocades", were originally lost. However, in 2017, The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong was invited by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and reconstructed by Master Gao Runhong. Both are singing brands, singing in Mandarin, that is, Zhongzhou rhyme.

Episode 42 Sing: Pai Zi (4)

2022-02-28
This episode introduces you to "Bitian's Birthday". "Bitian's Birthday" is a traditional example of Cantonese opera, and it is also the first play officially performed by each Shengongxi. There are three signature songs in "Bitian Happy Birthday", "New Water Order", "Nine Turns" and "Rui Ai", all of which use "singles" and "cymbals", the percussion instruments specially used for the opera, to follow the melody accompaniment and coordinate with the actors' performances.

Episode 43 Sing: Pai Zi (5)

2022-02-28
In this episode, we will introduce "The Jade Emperor Ascends to the Palace". "The Jade Emperor Ascends to the Palace" is a traditional example of Cantonese opera. According to legend, Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty dreamed of traveling to the Moon Palace, and occasionally saw the Jade Emperor ascending the palace. He was so stunning and unforgettable that when he woke up, he ordered his children in the Liyuan Garden to rehearse the play. "The Jade Emperor Ascends the Palace" has several famous songs, including "The Wen Point Lowers His Lips", "Pink Butterfly", "Pomegranate Flower", etc. The above famous songs are used to coordinate the actors' entrance, movements and movements.

Episode 44 Sing: Major Key

2022-02-28
The major key is traditional Cantonese opera aria music, and the ancient form of traditional Cantonese opera is composed of hard bows and beats. Each major key has its own bridge and plate, and it has a multi-section structure that can be up to eight sections long.

Episode 45 Others: Guangdong Music (1)

2022-02-28
Cantonese music is an instrumental music popular in the Pearl River Delta area of Guangdong, China. It is one of the representative categories of traditional Han instrumental music ensembles. It has crisp and bright timbre, smooth and beautiful melody, and lively and cheerful rhythm.

Episode 46 Others: Guangdong Music (2)

2022-02-28
Cantonese music is an instrumental music popular in the Pearl River Delta area of Guangdong, China. It is one of the representative categories of traditional Han instrumental music ensembles. It has crisp and bright timbre, smooth and beautiful melody, and lively and cheerful rhythm.

Episode 47 Others: Spiritual Music

2022-02-28
Spiritual music is a special cultural phenomenon presented in the development process of Guangdong music. Rhythms such as syncopation and second half of the beat are often used, and creative techniques such as progression and jump are used. The musical language is obviously more Westernized. Because of the strong rhythm, the audience shakes their heads and feels happy, so it is called spiritual music.
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