China's Homeland: Folk Songs and Dances

Author: Yang Ruiqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: This book includes 500 songs composed based on the tunes of various ethnic minorities in China. Most of these songs are well-known and excellent works, covering various forms such as solo, duet, trio, and choral. They exhibit distinct ethnic characteristics, showcasing scenes like the grasslands of the Mongolian people, the shaman dance of the Tujia people, the Miao songs of the Miao people, the Torch Festival of the Yi people, and the Water Splashing Festival of the Dai people—painting a vivid picture of the cultural traditions of the Chinese nation. The book is organized by ethnicity, with two special sections at the beginning and end titled "Common Songs of Ethnic Minorities" and "Songs in Ethnic Styles," respectively. The arrangement is innovative and well-structured, highlighting the theme of "One Great Family of China." It serves as both a selection of songs for enthusiasts and a reference for composers, making it a valuable collection worth preserving.
China is a multi-ethnic country with 56 ethnic groups, most of which are skilled in singing and dancing. Their beautiful melodies weave a colorful wreath, shining and blooming on the stage, filled with captivating charm. Ethnic unity is a fundamental policy of China, and singing for ethnic unity is a sacred duty of musicians. Compiling songs from all ethnic groups is undoubtedly a meritorious act, serving as both a choice for song lovers to perform and a reference for composers to draw inspiration from—most importantly, it accumulates an excellent musical heritage for each ethnic minority.
The 500 songs selected in this book are mostly well-known and excellent works, beloved by song enthusiasts. However, some new tunes and rhythms of ethnic groups are still unfamiliar to the public and need further promotion and recognition in the future. The book includes representative songs from about 50 ethnic groups, with Tibetan, Mongolian, Uyghur, Kazakh, Miao, Yi, and Dai songs being particularly vibrant. Some ethnic groups have fewer songs, so only one or two examples are introduced here.