Year 4 Music: Cantonese Opera 2

"Bailan" (白欖) is a unique form of stage craft in Cantonese opera. It is easy for children to perform as it is similar to many traditional children rhymes. The basic structure invovles a 3-word / 5-word / 7-word phrase; rhyming is also an important criteria of writing a bailan.

白欖是粵劇元素“唸”中的一種。基本結構多為三﹑五或七字的押韻句子句。以下是粵劇“花田八喜”中的白欖選段。

“花田八喜”白欖選段 (4:10 起)

One can also find a modern version of bailan in TV shows. Click HERE for an example.

除了在粵劇的臺上﹐我們也能在現在的電視劇中看到白欖。你可以按此觀看劇集“師傅有禮”中蓋鳴暉示範的白欖。

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum has permenant exhibition on Cantonese opear. Click HERE to visit its website and know more about it.