Instrumental Connectives

There are three major types of instrumental connectives large instrumental connectives (da guomen), small instrumental connectives (xiao guomen), and halfline instrumental connectives (banju guomen). The first type is longer than the latter two; the standard instrumental connective for each metrical type in each mode is usually its large instrumental connective. The shorter instrumental connectives may consist of an excerpt from the large instrumental connective, or may be a simplified version of the entire large instrumental connective. Both large and small instrumental connectives may serve as prelude, interlude, or con cluding instrumental connectives; halfline instrumental connectives most fre quently occur as interludes, and are usually found in the erhuang mode. Because the display of song skill in the expression of emotion is usually performed in synthesis with danceacting, instrumental connective serve a third function; in addition to establishing, and maintaining atmosphere and emotional color, and to clarifying meaning by punctuating dou, instrumental connectives also accom pany the danceacting movements of the stage performers. 

When longer sec tions of danceacting movement are appropriate, large instrumental connectives are played. And when shorter sections of danceacting movement are called for, small instrumental connectives are performed. In some instances speech is inter jected during instrumental connectives as well.