Yi Folk Songs
01 · Historical Records
Pan County Yi mountain songs circulate mainly in the Panbei area of Pan County, Liupanshui City, Guizhou Province, among which the mountain songs of Yuni Township of Pan County are the most representative. The older generation has kept these ingenious techniques alive through oral transmission from mouth to heart; by content, Pan County Yi mountain songs fall into love songs, drinking songs, work songs and narrative songs, and by performing form there are solos, duets of two, group antiphonal singing, as well as collective unison singing and simple two-part chorus.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Pan County Yi mountain songs are an important part of the traditional culture of the Yi people. They circulate mainly in the Panbei area of Pan County, Liupanshui City, Guizhou Province, among which the mountain songs of Yuni Township of Pan County are the most representative. By content, Pan County Yi mountain songs fall into love songs, drinking songs, work songs and narrative songs. By performing form there are solos, duets of two, group antiphonal singing, as well as collective unison singing and simple two-part chorus; the time and occasion of singing are fairly free and flexible, and even the language of many lyrics is half Han and half Yi or purely Han. The structure of the lyrics is most often four lines of seven characters, and there are also forms of four lines asked and four lines answered. The tunes are winding and melodious, and the local people call them the 'la-shan tune'. Mountain songs come out of the Yuni River, carried away by people on foot and loaded on horses. Three horses have gone ahead, and behind there are still nine loads of baskets. These lines vividly sing out the rich variety of the Yi mountain songs. Pan County Yi mountain songs have distinctive singing techniques, such as resonance of throat and head cavity and the mixing of head and chest voice, which give them a charm of their own. They play an important part in strengthening ethnic unity and building a harmonious society.
La-shan tune
The tunes of Pan County Yi mountain songs are winding and melodious, and the local people call them the 'la-shan tune'.
Throat and head resonance with mixed voice
The distinctive singing techniques of Pan County Yi mountain songs, such as resonance of throat and head cavity and the mixing of head and chest voice, give them a charm of their own.
Simple two-part chorus
The performing forms are solos, duets of two, group antiphonal singing, as well as collective unison singing and simple two-part chorus.
Four thematic categories
The four subject categories by which Pan County Yi mountain songs are classified.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The time and occasion of singing Pan County Yi mountain songs are fairly free and flexible, and the language of many lyrics is half Han and half Yi or purely Han; the structure of the lyrics is most often four lines of seven characters, and there are also forms of four lines asked and four lines answered. The tunes are winding and melodious and are called the 'la-shan tune' by the local people. The local proverb runs: 'Mountain songs come out of the Yuni River, carried away by people on foot and loaded on horses. Three horses have gone ahead, and behind there are still nine loads of baskets.' It vividly sings out the rich variety of the Yi mountain songs. Pan County Yi mountain songs have distinctive singing techniques, such as resonance of throat and head cavity and the mixing of head and chest voice, which give them a charm of their own.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Yi Folk Songs.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The older generation has kept these ingenious techniques alive through oral transmission from mouth to heart. Through its antiphonal form, Pan County Yi mountain songs advocate respect for the old and care for the young, affection between husband and wife, harmony among neighbours, diligence and goodness, mutual dependence and harmony between human beings and nature; in today's interaction between individuals and between groups they have broad educational significance, and the Yi people continue to carry on the fine traditions of hospitality and friendliness in modern society.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Yu Xueguang 05-2121
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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