Chuzhou Multi-repetitious Gong-drum Ensemble is a kind of traditional blowing and percussion music. It is mainly used for religious supernatural, Taoism and folk customs and ceremonies. The number of the Multi-repetitious Gong-drum Ensemble ranges from eight to twelve, and the number of instruments used ranges from ten to thirty.
Chuzhou Multi-repetitious Gong-drum Ensemble has a long history. During Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, Huai’an famous folk artist Sun Minqing organized the Kunqu music that circulated in palace and had been popular in Chuzhou for many years, and he added the gongs and drums percussion instrument to become the Chuzhou Multi-repetitious Gong-drum Ensemble (also known as Goku). In the last years of Wanli (about 1620), it was popular in Suzhou. The performer “Tang Ming” was quite common in urban and rural areas, and it contained the customs of the ancient Jianghuai area.
The music of Chuzhou Multi-repetitious Gong-drum Ensemble is divided into three parts: the first part is the instrumental music, the second part is the singing tune, and the third part is the percussion. The performance forms of the Multi-repetitious Gong-drum Ensemble are divided into two categories of the gong and drum ensemble playing with percussion instruments and the silk bamboo gong and drum with the orchestral instruments. The instrumental music has a beautiful melody and a strong ancient charm. The libretto of the singing tune is highly literary, and most of them are the positive and optimistic and reflecting people pursue a better life.
The rhythm of the percussion for gongs and drums is different from the modern opera and folk percussion rhythm. It is characterized by a steady rhythm, clear light and heavy distinctions and various rhythms alternately produced by various instruments, which is unique.