Qupai

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A qupai (Chinese: 曲牌; pinyin: qǔpái; also called Chinese: 牌子; pinyin: paizi) is the generic term for a fixed melody used in traditional Chinese music. The literal meaning is "named tune," "labeled melody," "titled tune," or "titled song". Qupai are relatively brief, most comprising between 20 and 70 measures in 2/4 meter.^[1] Many qupai are centuries old, but only a few of these have been handed down to the present.^[2]

Qupai are commonly used in Chinese opera, such as kunqu and Beijing opera, as well as by folk and ritual ensembles, including Jiangnan sizhu and Taoist ritual music. Qupai have also been used as the basis for 20th century compositions for Chinese instruments, both solo and ensemble. In these contexts, these stock melodies very often serve as a basis for melodic elaboration and variation. This variation is particularly well codified in the taoqu structure of Chaozhou xianshi music.^[3]

The Baisha xiyue tradition of the Naxi of Lijiang, Yunnan utilizes 24 qupai.