Bei Xixiang xiansuo pu 北西廂弦索譜

Bei Xixiang xiansuo pu 北西廂弦索譜 "Music tablatures for string accompaniment for the northern version of the Western Chamber" is a collection of musical tablatures for Wang Shipu's 王實甫 (c. 1260-c. 1336) theatre play Xixiangji 西廂記. The collection was compiled during the Qing period 清 (1644-1911) by Shen Yuan 沈遠.

It includes the scores (gongche puzi 工尺譜字, a special reading) of 20 suites and a chapter explaining for methods of tuning the strings of the three-stringed lute (sanxian 三弦). Quite remarkable are playing signs under the score that indicate how to move the fingers, like 扌 for 掃, 卜 for 分, or 丁 for 打. The tunes are not identical to other collections of melodies for the Xixiangji, like the Xixiangji quanpu 西廂記全譜 of the Qingyetang Hall 清葉堂 or that in the collection Taigu chuanzong 太古傳宗.

Figure 1. Tablature from the Bei Xixiang xiansuo pu 北西廂弦索譜

Tablature for lute accompaniment to the aria Shang hua shi 賞花時, key xianlü 仙呂, from the theatre play Xixiangji, with transcription into the Chinese linear notation system (jianpu 簡譜) and the Western five-line staff system. From Bai (2021b).