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Bei Xixiang xiansu pu 北西廂弦索譜

Nov 16, 2013 © Ulrich Theobald

Bei Xixiang xiansu 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.

Source:
Cao Anhe 曹安和 (1989). "Bei Xixiang xiansu pu 北西廂弦索譜", in Zhongguo da baike quanshu 中國大百科全書, part Yinyue wudao 音樂•舞蹈 (Beijing/Shanghai: Zhongguo da baike quanshu chubanshe), 48.