Peking Opera Percussion is a collection of high quality drum and percussion instruments used in traditional Chinese Opera, especially the Peking Opera, one of the cultural treasures of China, and Kunqu Opera, known as the „teacher“ or „mother“ of a hundred operas. The library also includes other percussions instruments commonly used in contemporary Chinese music, such as a 4 feet high drum, played in solo and ensemble performances, various gongs and cymbals and the unique Bianzhong that was found the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, an ancient Chinese instrument dated 433 BC consisti ng of a set of bronze bells that were hung in a wooden frame and struck with a mallet.
Like Yellow River Sounds Gu Zheng, Peking Opera Percussion is produced with top notch sampling, editi ng and programming, by local Chinese producers, who have a natural understanding of their culture and a sole passion to express the true quality of Chinese instruments.
To help you find your way into the rhythm patterns of Chinese opera we included many playable midi templates.

Key features

3GB sample library, at 44.1kHz 24bit.
Most Chinese percussion instruments included
Midi grooves included
2 microphone positi ons with dry/wet control
Powered by Best Service “Engine”

Concept

YRS Peking Opera Percussion includes layers in four categories: Jingda, Drum, Bell, Cymbal/Gong. We sampled the most oft en used articulations in Chinese percussion and some layers are sampled with up to 16 velocity layers; allowing absolutely detailed and dynamic
performing.

Screen layouts

Most of the layers have their unique screen layout. You will learn how the real instruments look; while listening to their sound. On some layers, the individual instrument that is actually playing will be highlighted, this will help you to familiarize with the Chinese percussion.
Roll crossfade
Drum layers are mapped with roll crossfade, which can be controlled via CC1. This is a helpful feature to reproduce a realistic crescendo.
Close Mic and Room Mic
All layers have close mic and room mic samples, you can use the dry/wet control to adjust the balance between them.

Instruments

Jingda

This folder contains 2 sets of Peking Opera Percussion which include Bangu, Ban, Muyu, Gong, Cymbal, MIDI files: The lower section are new grooves made by composer Zhang Jian, the higher section are traditional grooves, including various intros and endings, which can be used to reproduce the Peking Opera scene.

Jingda Wen

This percussion set is lower in pitch, which is commonly used in non-acti on type scenes.
 

Jingda Wu

This percussion set is higher in pitch, this set mainly used for action, fight or such kind of scenes.

Drums:

Weifeng Kit

Popular Chinese drum set for local people‘s amusement, such as ceremony, holiday, or just entertainment after work, you may hear the grooves on the street in the evening, while old or mid age people are dancing to it.
 

Drum Set

Full drum set including all the samples in this folder, solo & ensemble.
 

Jiangu Solo

Big Chinese Drum about 4 feet high, single drum played by one player, it has 3 hit positions on the drum skin, plus stick (left & right), rim (left & right), double/triple hits, mute.
 

Jiangu 5P

Big drum ensemble, played by 5 players. It has 2 hit positions on the drum skin, plus stick, rim (fast & slow), double/triple hits, mute.
 

Huapengu Solo

Smaller Chinese drum with a flowerpot shape, single drum played by one player. It has 3 hit positions on the drum skin, plus stick, rim, double/triple hits, mute (left & right).
 

Huapengu 5P

Huapen drum ensemble, played by 5 players. It has 2 hit positions on the drum skin, plus stick, rim (fast & slow), double/ triple hits, mute.
 

Pigu

One set of small drums, a total of 12 pieces, include one shot and their roll crossfade.

Bells:

Bianzhong

This is an important instrument in ancient China‘s ritual and court music. What we sampled is a replica of the original Bianzhong, Marquis Yi of Zeng, which excavated in 1970s and has a history of more than 2000 years. Bianzhong has 3 rows and some bells have the same pitch on different rows, so they have a different tone.
 

Qing

One set of small bell type percussion.

Cymbal & Gong

Gong Luo

Includes 4 gongs with various sizes and pitches
 

Cymbal Cha

Includes 2 cymbals with diff erent sizes.

Cymbal Naobo

2 different cymbals with different sizes.
 

Gongs Other

Various Gongs from different Chinese regions.
 

Yunluo

Small gong set, each of them has a fixed pitch, could be used to play melody lines, sample with 2 kinds of drum sticks.
 

Shimianluo

Gong set placed on a wood rack, with 10 different gongs at varying pitches, they are mainly uses to produce excited atmospheres.

Credits

Producer: Zhang Jian
Executive Producer: Ma Jing
Drum/Perucssion Player: Wang Yi Dong/Wang Jun and team
Recording Engineer: Cao Meng/Jiang Song Song
Editing: Zhang Jian, Ma Jing
MIDI Demo: Zhang Jian
Graphic Design: Ding Jing