The Biography and Singing Techniques of Xiping Folk Songs by Yu Xinhua

Abstract

In this research, the study has two objectives: 1) Investigate the biographies of Yu Xinhua. 2) Analyze the singing technique of Xiping folk song by Yu Xinhua. This research uses qualitative methods to analyze musical characteristics, Combining fieldwork, interviews, and observation of the key informants. The results of this research are as follows:

Yu Xinhua's biography reveals her early immersion in a culturally rich rural environment where family traditions and folk song heritage shaped her artistic foundation. Her systematic learning journey combined mentorship from veteran artists and self-taught music theory, allowing her to master traditional folk songs while innovating with modern techniques. As a performer and leader of the Xiping Folk Song Inheritance and Development Singing Troupe, she has significantly contributed to preserving and promoting Xiping folk songs, training apprentices, organizing competitions, and publishing collections of traditional songs.

The analysis of four representative songs—Diao Bing Qu, Shi Liu Shao Huo Diao, Nao Wu Geng, and Mai Bian Shi-highlights their distinctive lyrics, rhythm, melody, and Yu Xinhua’s unique singing techniques. Her use of Zhi Sheng singing conveys natural and straightforward emotions, while techniques such as Hua Yin, Ku Qiang, and Duo Zi Chen Ci enhance melodic fluidity, emotional depth, and local charm. The rhythms and melodies of these songs, rooted in the traditional pentatonic scale, reflect the vibrant and lyrical qualities of labor life and rural culture. By integrating dialects and regional nuances, Yu Xinhua's performances exemplify the rich cultural value and artistic appeal of Xiping folk songs, ensuring their relevance and vitality in modern society.

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