A Study of Houba Folk Song of the Tujia from Shi San Village in Chongqing, China

Abstract

The research objectives have three:1) To study the history and development of Houba folk song of the Tujia from Shi San village in Chongqing, China.2) To analyze the characteristics of Houba folk song of the Tujia from Shi San village in Chongqing, China.3) To explore the social function and transmission of Houba folk song of the Tujia from Shi San village in Chongqing, China. This research utilizes qualitative research method, interviewing key informants, and employing musicology's methodology for music analysis in fieldwork.

The results are as follows: 1) The history of Houba folk song is mainly divided into five periods, the form and content of Houba folk song in each period have different degrees of development. 2) The musical characteristics of Houba folk song have improvisationally, harmonious, and beautiful lyrics with a fixed rhythm. The melody is soft and pentatonic mode. Vocal techniques include true voice and true falsetto alternates to create a high, bright, and penetrating sound. 3) The social function and transmission of four social functions: cognitive and education, entertainment, etiquette and communicate, culture and transmission, each reflecting traditional virtues, life philosophy, and strong cultural transmission.

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