Window on Taiwan ─ Linnei Township, Yunlin County

Description：Linjhong Community Longevity Club formed a Chinese Music Club. In the free time, they practiced and performed to have fun. Where there is a ceremony, amusement, festivals and even funerals, they performed gracefully. Mr. Liao, Cing-Siou in music club said that there are thirteen kinds of music, Beiguan Vocal Music, Nanguan Vocal Music, Big Drum Group and Music of festivals and mourning. There are differences between festivals and funerals.

Ceremony：Thirteen Music is also called as thirteen tunes and named by using thirteen kinds of instruments. This is often used in festivals and funerals. The tune of Nanguan Vocal Music is long and graceful and without drums. Because of different instruments, it can divide as Langjyun Music and Nanguan Music (Nanguan is also called flute guan). It composes by above 5 to 12 or 24 musicians. It always performs on the ceremonies and joyous occasions.【Beiguang Music】is originated from the north of the Yangtze River. The instruments are beside to Nanguang orchestral instruments. Big gongs, big drums, suona horns are also included. So, it is noisy and interesting. Beiguang divided as Beipai Music and Backcourt Music. Back Court Music is performed in the backcourt and also called Big Drum Group, Big Drum Enjoyment that is popular in the central and south of Taiwan. Every time when welcomes gods and has ceremony, Big Drum Group is seen in the group. The used instruments are only drums and gongs. When parading, one person plays the drums in the central, other four persons play gongs in the all direction and two persons hold flags in the front. This is the origination of folk music. Gongs and drums are noisy to have a jolly time. Festival and Funeral Music are divided as Festival music and funeral music. Both of them are without lyrics and played by instruments. The instruments are gongs, horns, eight-music, three-music drums, small gongs, clappers and so on.