Syllabus - Chinese Instruments

WHAT'S NEW FOR 2027

• The Festival has added virtual Chinese Instruments classes.

 

DEFINITIONS

Chinese Instrument A Chinese instrument is any type of instrument originating from the geographic boundaries of the modern-day People’s Republic of China, along with any type of instrument originating from historical cultures existing within the same boundaries. Festival classes divide Chinese instruments into the following categories:

• Bowed Strings, including huqin instruments such as erhu or shonghu, leiqin, yazheng, and similar;
• Plucked Strings, including guqin, guzheng, pipa, and similar;
• Winds, including dizi, suona, and similar;
• Percussion, including bianqing, bo, yunluo, and similar.

Any other instrument qualifies as a Chinese instrument at the adjudicator’s sole discretion.

Chinese Instrument Duet, Trio, or Ensemble A Chinese instrument duet, trio, or ensemble is:

• Any duet where either or both performers are playing a Chinese instrument.
• Any trio where at least two performers are playing a Chinese instrument.
• Any ensemble of four or more performers, in which at least half of the performers are playing a Chinese instrument.

 

RULES & REGULATIONS

Adjudication Classes in this discipline are adjudicated competitively except where otherwise specified.

Instrumentation Each class in this discipline specifies its permitted instrumentation, in the form of the instrument categories specified above. A participant may only enter a class performing an instrument beloning to the specified category, such as a pipa performer entering a class for plucked strings. If a class specifies Chinese instrument, a performer of any such instrument may enter that class. If a class specifies Chinese duet or trio or Chinese ensemble, the ensemble entering such a class must satisfy the definitions of Chinese duets, trios, or ensembles.

Repertoire Each class specifies the quantity of repertoire selections required for that class in its description. If a class permits performance of more than one selection, multiple selections must be contrasting - distinct from one another in style, mood, tempo, and so on. When in doubt, the adjudicator determines the suitability of a repertoire selection for its class.

Difficulty of Repertoire If a class specifies a Conservatory level, selections performed in that class must match or approximately match its level; otherwise, they must be suited to the technical proficiency of the performer or performers. Repertoire may be drawn from overseas examination syllabi of music Conservatories, such as the Central Conservatory of Music, but is not required to be drawn from such sources.

Accompaniment Repertoire in solo classes must be unaccompanied. Repertoire in duet or trio classes or in enesemble classes may be unaccompanied or accompanied; however, ensembles must supply their own instrumentation, such as keyboards.

Multi-Movement Works When performing two or more movements from a multi-movement work, you combine such movements into a single selection, and may not perform them as distinct selections. These movements must be contrasting where possible. When performing multiple movements from a multi-movement work in a class, you may combine two or more movements from the work together according to the rules specific to the class's category.