Baima He sanxian gu qu 白马河三弦古曲 from Gansu, northwest China

A performance of a Baima River sanxian ancient piece (Chinese: Baima He sanxian gu qu, 白马河三弦古曲), also known as sanxian tanchang (三弦弹唱, literally “singing while playing the sanxian“), a genre of traditional vocal music with ensemble accompaniment from Tielou Tibetan Ethnic Township (铁楼藏族乡), southwestern Wen County (文县), southern Longnan (陇南市), southeastern Gansu province, northwest China (bordering Sichuan province to the south and west). The name of the ensemble and the ethnicity of the performers are, unfortunately, unknown. Not much information about this tradition is available. The performer at the far left is named Chen Jiyan (陈继彦), who is from Ruanqiaoba (软桥坝) village, Tielou Tibetan Ethnic Township. As of 2011 77.3% of the population of Tielou Tibetan Ethnic Township was of Han ethnicity, with the remaining 22.7% being of Tibetan ethnicity. The piece being performed here is entitled “Yun Dan Feng Qing“ 《云淡风清》 (The Clouds are Light [and] the Breeze is Gentle). The instruments include two sanxians (三弦, 3-stringed long-necked fretless lutes with snakeskin covered soundboxes), along with two porcelain saucers played with chopsticks as percussion instruments. All of the performers also sing (the lyrics, as well as in which language they are singing, are unknown). According to Mr. Wang Boqi (王伯岐), the former principal of Wen County Chengguan Middle School (文县城关中学), who has devoted many years of research to this art form, sanxian tanchang was introduced to Tielou Tibetan Ethnic Township in the early Ming Dynasty, when folk performers from Shanxi (山西) and Shaanxi (陕西) provinces migrated to Wen County. The genre retains a high degree of popularity and is commonly performed for festivals such as the Chinese New Year as well as life cycle events such as weddings or funerals. Probably filmed in Tielou Tibetan Ethnic Township (铁楼藏族乡), southwestern Wen County (文县), southern Longnan (陇南市), southeastern Gansu province, northwest China, c. March 25, 2015. The exact location of filming is unknown. 白马河三弦古曲{云淡风清} More information: 云淡风轻