The Performing Arts

 

The performing arts typically refer to music, dance, and theatre.  Traditional music involves the flute, three string lute, zither, drums, and voice.  Modeling from some Shaozhe forms, it uses the pentatonic, or five-tone, scale and often has a minor key sound to it.  Much singing is typically quite nasal and sung very far back in the throat, and is usually accompanied by the three-stringed lute or the drums.  Dance, also usually accompanied by these instruments, is highly prized.  Those skilled in it are often sought for their company at various parties, and sometimes paid very well.  Most dancers also learn the various instruments to be able to accompany others as well, and those who truly want to attract patrons of high status will often be fairly well if not quite well educated.  Those very skilled in their performance are said to be able to achieve a broad range of mystical effects by means of their skills, ranging from the altering of a person’s mood to affecting the very turn of the seasons.