Abstract: Zhu Gongdiao ("All-Mode Tune") is a composite musical narrative art, which shows as singing various modal tunes to various keys, and it was the popular folk opera form in the Song, Jin and Yuan dynasties. Musical narrative scheme of All-Mode Tune develops from decreasing use of keys to increasing use of modal tunes, and alongside this development is the change from lyrics-centred form to operatic form. As a folk art form, All-Mode Tune succeeded the ancient "Tanci" (chanting lyrics) after the "bianwen" (transformative text) and preceded the drama in the present form. Therefore, All-Mode Tune was associated with the two performance space of the circular chanting space and the stage, which evolved into the operatic form of drama as the inevitable result of the developing musical system. Musical scheme is not an external form of the All-Mode Tune but also an indispensible means of its narrative, and its evolution is its way of existence.

Key words: all-mode tune, musical narrative scheme, lyrics-centered form, operaticization of lyrics-centered drama