Fu Dakun: A Biographical Exploration and Singing Technique of Xinyang Folk Songs in Henan Province, China

Abstract

There are two research objectives: 1) To investigate the biography of Fu Dakun. 2) To analyze the singing technique of Xinyang folk songs by Fu Dakun. This study employs qualitative research such as interviews and observations of key informants, field investigations, and musicology methodology to analyze music characteristics. The results are as follows:

1) Fu Dakun’s biography is divided into personal life history, learning history, and performance history. Fu Dakun learned Xinyang folk songs from his father and grandfather when he was a child, which made Fu Dakun have a strong interest in Xinyang folk songs. Fu Dakun has sung Xinyang folk songs for more than 60 years, from rural competitions to Xinyang City to Henan competitions, and later participated in CCTV, won various awards and was eventually named the successor of Xinyang folk songs. By summarizing the above three aspects, Fu Dakong has made outstanding contributions to the inheritance and development of Xinyang folk songs, from life to study to participating in competitions and winning awards.

2) Fu Dakun’s Singing Technique has beautiful lyrics and is more colloquial. It describes the living conditions of local working people through the lyrics; the rhythm is fixed, mostly in 2/4 time; the melody mainly uses pentatonic mode; and the melody is pleasant to the ear. He has strong storytelling ability; the Singing Technique uses Gao Qiang, Ping Qiang, Run Qiang, and Zhen Jia singing. It shows Fu Dakun’s unique singing technique.

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