There are many very strange customs in rural areas, which may be a bit difficult for people today to understand, but they have been passed down and have become a fixed custom, just like in rural areas. Just like a funeral, every family needs to invite those "musicians" who play suona in advance, and then they will play from the beginning of the funeral to the end of the funeral. During the funeral, they will also rest, one after another.
Some people may not understand why music must be played during funerals. Isn't this disrespectful to the deceased? In fact, this is not the case. Most of the people invited for funerals play a fixed rhythm, which is called mourning music for short.
I think that in some areas of China, these specific "musicians" have a very appropriate name. They are called chuijizi. Why are they called that? Although they are also a form of band performance, compared with authentic bands, their income is pitifully low and their status is relatively low, so people jokingly call them "poor as ghosts". In fact, the word ghost is Evolved from a homophone, it is the so-called Qiuci in ancient times, and it is not a sarcastic name.
The music they played was to bid farewell to the departed, and this farewell method has been popular in rural areas. This may also be part of the expression of filial piety, from beginning to end.
Then it’s different when it comes to weddings. Generally, more upbeat music is played at weddings, and uh, now, families who have the conditions will invite so-called resident singers. In fact, they are some relatively paid singers. It seems extremely boring to build a platform for low-level singers to sing and dance on. Anyway, I think this kind of fixed traditional custom will not disappear in recent years and may continue forever.