A Jingzhou flower-drum opera play

The Jingzhou flower-drum opera is one of the major local operas in Hubei province. It is a kind of country opera that developed from local songs and dances that took on elements from other operas and formed in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) on the Jianghan Plain.

Statistics show that there are still 197 Jingzhou flower-drum opera plays still in existence. The plays have sheng (male roles), dan (female roles) and chou (comic roles).

Jingzhou flower-drum opera music can be divided into the main aria and the ditty. The ditty has an elegant melody and bright rhythm. During a performance, one person sings and the others follow.

The performance is lively and full of local color. Drums and gongs accompany the performance.