Western China Songs: Folk Songs and Creations (3)

Author: Shi Fu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Edited by Mr. Shi Fu, the "Songs of Western China" series compiles folk songs collected by him personally, folk songs collected and adapted by other domestic composers, as well as songs composed using Western musical elements that reflect the lives of Western people. Compiling such a collection is a monumental and arduous task, but it holds extraordinary significance. Mr. Shi Fu has spent a long time working in Xinjiang, absorbing ample nourishment from Western folk music, dedicating himself to the study of Western music, accumulating extensive knowledge and materials. He has also composed many musical works on Western themes. With great enthusiasm, he has compiled this rich collection of songs, and I am honored to write the preface for this monument-like anthology.
The geographical concept of Western China, in a broad sense, refers to the vast region west of the line from Aihui in Heilongjiang to Tengchong in Yunnan, including most of the Northwest, a portion of the Southwest, and small parts of Northeast and North China. The world-famous "Silk Road" runs from the ancient capital of Chang'an through the Hexi Corridor to Dunhuang, into Xinjiang, across the Kunlun Mountains, and reaches Central and Western Asia. The areas along this route were historically known as the northern deserts and Tibetan regions, and since the Han and Tang dynasties, they have been a place where Chinese and Western cultures have.
On this magnificent and fertile land of Western China, numerous hardworking and sincere ethnic minorities live. With their own hands, they have developed and built this land while also expressing their lives through remarkable musical talent, leaving behind invaluable and abundant musical treasures. Folk songs are one of the most distinctive forms among them. The Western folk songs edited by Mr. Shi Fu are based on his long life in the vast Northwest, collecting folk songs from various ethnic groups along the Silk Road. The "Songs of Western China" is named accordingly, referring to this concept.
The "Songs of Western China" introduces folk songs and composed works from various regions along the Silk Road, providing music enthusiasts with a relatively concentrated source of singing and research materials. The charm and unique colors of folk music from these regions shine brightly in the treasure trove of Chinese music. Many outstanding folk songs have been passed down across China and overseas over the past century, earning the title of "masterpieces of folk songs."
Many of the composed songs in this collection are widely sung by the people. These songs carry the rich fragrance of the Northwest's earth, and their melodies clearly reflect the influence of folk music. The transmission of Western music to the Central Plains and its own development have a long history. Not to mention the distant past, the 1930s marked the beginning of a modern golden age. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Western music entered its second golden age of development. Today, with new opportunities, Western music is undoubtedly stepping onto a new stage.
Under any circumstances, Western music has always developed while preserving its own traditions. Our approach to this history embodies both inheritance and innovation, as the saying goes, "Without the past, we cannot understand the present or create the future." Over the past century, the encouraging developments in Western music have shown the coexistence of "self-development" and "active introduction from the interior." This "source" and "search" form a mutual relationship. The series collection is a valuable historical record, allowing people to understand the state of folk songs in Western China. To share this result with readers is the mission of Mr. Shi Fu in compiling this collection.
Here, I warmly congratulate the publication of this series collection.