Northeast Drum Song is a form of singing and recital with drum accompaniment which is popular in three provinces in Northeast China: Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang Province. Prevailing in Shenyang City where Fengtian Prefecture was established in the late Qing Dynasty, Northeast Drum Song was also known as "Fengtian Drum Song". It was called "Liaoning Drum Song" after Fengtian was renamed Liaoning. Originated in the middle period of the Qing Dynasty, Northeast Drum Song had its initial performing mode as one performer's singing and recital with the accompaniment of small three-string by himself, with his legs being bond with "Clappers". Accordingly, it is also called "String Recital". It was afterwards evolved into such performing mode as one performer singing and recital in Northeast China's dialect with accompaniment of drum and clappers and other performers accompanying with large three-string and other musical instruments.
There are two versions about the origination of Northeast Drum Song. One is that Huang Fuchen (artist of String Recital in Bejing) made performance in Shenyang and originated Northeast Drum Song by absorbing local folk songs and ditties during Qianlong Reigning Period of the Qing Dynasty. The other version is that artists of "Village Drum Song" in the west region of Liaoning made performance in the capital and originated Fengtian Drum Song during Daoguang and Xianfeng Periods of the Qing Dynasty. Aria of Northeast Drum Song was evolved from that of String Recital and Pupil Recital by making reference to the arias of Yueting Drum Song, Drum Song of Beijing (Story-telling in Beijing dialect with drum accompaniment) and Song-and-dance Duet.
Integrated with some arias of Peking Opera, Drum Song of Peking and folk songs in Northeast China, Northeast Drum Song is featured by abundant melodies, fluent aria and comparatively high expressive force. Cored with medium and lengthy singing and recital and themed with drama, novel and legend, it has become a form of art popular with people. Northeast Drum Song has its major performing mode as one performer's beating drum and clappers with another performer's or several perfumers' singing with accompaniment. The major musical instrument used in the performance is Sanxian (3-string Chinese guitar played with a plectrum), with 4-string Chinese fiddle, lute, dulcimer, etc. as the auxiliary instruments. The drum beaten by the performer is also called "Recital Drum" which is oblate in shape, covered with leather on both sides, placed on drum rack, and beaten with drum arrow made of bamboo. Clapper is divided into two types: one is composed of two blocks of board made of rose wood; the other is comprised of two half-moon-shaped copper or steel sheets, commonly called "Mandarin-duck Board". Musical structure of Northeast Drum Song is of accented beat style, with the basic form of lyrics being upper-lower phrasing with seven words.
There are around 200 passages of traditional repertoires of Northeast Drum Song, of which about 150 passages are preserved till now. They may be classified into three types: Pupil Passage, Three-kingdom Passage and Plebeian Passage. Pupil Passage is primarily themed with novels and popular dramas in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, featuring elegant and literarily talented lyrics. A few of works reveal the realistic life of the Qing Dynasty. Three-kingdom Passage includes repertoires describing Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang as well as five talented generals at the service of Liu Bei: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun. Plebeian Passage refers to popular lyrics compiled and performed by folk artists, which are extensively themed. A huge number of modern repertoires came into existence after the liberation of China.
