The Transmission of Folk Songs in Southern Shaanxi Province, China

Abstract

The focal point of this dissertation lies in folk songs in Southern Shaanxi, Zhenba folk Songs and Ziyang Folk Songs are united as folk songs in Southern Shaanxi. The research objectives were 1) To study the development; 2) To analyze the cultural and musical characteristics; 3) To explore the problems faced in the transmission process and the transmission methods of folk songs in Southern Shaanxi Province. Researcher used field work and other methods including questionnaires and interviews. 4 scholar investigators, 3 casual investigators and 2 general investigators were selected. The study results are as follows:

Firstly, folk songs in Southern Shaanxi have a long history of population migration. Social environment and other factors had a significant impact on its development. With the society changing, the folk songs of Southern Shaanxi have become the national intangible cultural heritage and are well known.

Secondly, the singing forms of Folk songs in Southern Shaanxi are diverse, the pentatonic modes of Zhi and Yu are the most prevalent. In the terms of melody, progressions and third degrees interval are predominant, many lyrics are mainly five-word and seven-word sentences, and there are many lining words and sentences. Additionally, the glissando note and trill techniques in singing are prevalent. The emotional expression tends to be graceful and delicate, just like the beautiful landscape of Southern Shaanxi.

Thirdly, the spread of folk songs in Southern Shaanxi is a very complicated process. The dialectical relationship between traditional Folk songs in Southern Shaanxi transmission and social development is not contradictory. Tradition injects a soul into social development and lays the foundation. Meanwhile, social progress enriches the essence of traditional music culture, infusing it with new vitality.

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