Mongolian Folk Songs
01 · Historical Records
Haixi Mongol folk songs still preserve, in their melodies and in their manner of singing, characteristics of Mongol folk songs of the 13th and 14th centuries.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Mongol folk songs are rich in content, free in rhythm, high in pitch and at the same time lingering and graceful in their turns. Haixi Mongol folk songs are a folk art created collectively by the people of the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province and handed down by singing from generation to generation. The Haixi Mongols are the main component of the Qinghai Mongols; eight of the twenty-nine former banners of the Qinghai Mongols now live in Haixi. Haixi Mongol folk songs are sung mainly by the Mongol people living in Wutumeiren Township and Guolemude Town of Golmud City, Keluke Town, Gahai Town and Xuji Township of Delingha City; Zongjia Town, Balong Township and Xiangjia Township of Dulan County; Keke Town, Tongpu Town and Chaka Town of Ulan County; Chaidan Town of the Dachaidan Administrative Committee; Mangya Town of the Mangya Administrative Committee, as well as Qilian County and Haiyan County of Haibei Prefecture; Henan Mongol Autonomous County of Huangnan Prefecture; and Subei County of Gansu Province, and other places. Haixi Mongol folk songs are numerous and widely spread, and are known for soothing, free voices and for lingering, comfortable melodies; they vividly reflect historical survivals, local customs and everyday life, draw on a wide range of subjects, and are rich in content. The Haixi Mongols commonly sing folk songs while herding, at horse races and wrestling matches, when a new yurt is raised, on hunting and military expeditions, and at ceremonies such as infant christening, a child's first haircut and a young person's wedding, expressing feelings of love, homesickness and longing for one's relatives. Haixi Mongol folk songs are varied in vocal style, few in words, leisurely in rhythm and concise in language; they express both the ardent emotions with which the Qinghai Mongol people pursue happiness, good fortune and a beautiful life, and deep feelings of sorrow, longing and remembrance of the past. The closing sections generally carry well wishes such as “May the country be at peace” and “May the Buddha protect us”, collectively reflecting the Mongol people's yearning for and pursuit of a strong nation and a good life. Representative pieces include The Steeds of Hohosuli, Mongolian Plateau and The Willows of Yigaoli.
The Steeds of Hohosuli
Representative pieces include The Steeds of Hohosuli, Mongolian Plateau and The Willows of Yigaoli.
Mongolian Plateau
Representative pieces include The Steeds of Hohosuli, Mongolian Plateau and The Willows of Yigaoli.
The Willows of Yigaoli
Representative pieces include The Steeds of Hohosuli, Mongolian Plateau and The Willows of Yigaoli.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Over the years the local government has actively supported folk artists taking part in folk song competitions and performances such as “Summer of Qaidam”, “People's Stage” and the herders' “Menghe Gala”, raising the level of folk singing and promoting the transmission and dissemination of this heritage item. Haixi Mongol folk songs have a long history, embrace subjects from every sphere of life, and rest on a rich artistic accumulation; they have a broad mass base, reflect the history, production, life, customs, religious belief, ideas and aesthetic ideals of the local Mongols, and are an important vehicle of Haixi Mongol culture, with social functions and cultural significance that cannot be underestimated.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Mongolian Folk Songs · Mongolian Folk Songs · Mongolian Folk Songs · Mongolian Folk Songs · Mongolian Folk Songs · Mongolian Folk Songs · Mongolian Folk Songs · Mongolian Folk Songs.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Guli (as recorded in the official file of the associated inheritor): male, Mongol, born in October 1956, a native of Ulan County, Qinghai Province. He is a first-grade national vocal performer. Because his great-grandmother, grandmother and other elder members of the family were all well-known local Mongol folk singers, he grew up steeped in this music and learned from his forebears, mastering a large number of Mongol folk songs, among them the long tune and the short tune. His singing of Mongol folk songs is highly authentic and strongly coloured by local style. In 1992 China Audio-Video Publishing published and released his first solo album, The Road. Besides singing, he has composed more than thirty ethnic songs such as The Holy Mother and The Richly Furnished Homeland, and has written papers such as “A Brief Analysis of the Ideological Content and the Language Features of Qinghai Mongol Folk Verses”. He takes in many disciples and takes an active part in Mongol folk customs and festivals. Representative inheritor of the fifth national-level batch of the intangible cultural heritage project Mongol folk songs. He has taken part many times in provincial, national and overseas folk song competitions and performances, winning awards.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Haleizhen 04-1533
- Guribasier 05-2111
- Suyaletu 05-2112
- Hanmei 05-2113
- Guli 05-2114
- Aoyunbielige
- Houqinghe
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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