Folk Music of China. Vol.4 : Folk Songs of Guangxi

Folk Music of China, Vol. 4: Folk Songs of Guangxi

This series explores China’s rich and diverse musical heritage. The songs featured in this recording are folk songs of four of the minority ethnic groups of Guangxi province—Zhuang, Bouyei, Mulao, Maonan. As with Chinese traditional visual arts, the song titles explain their mood and origin.
Located in southern China, Guangxi is one of the five autonomous regions established for ethnic minorities. Han Chinese account for about 60 percent of the population of Guangxi, and the Zhuang people are the majority of the other 40 percent. Guangxi accommodates the largest number of minority peoples of all the provinces or regions of China. Three of the minority groups featured in this album are native to Guangxi: the Zhuang, Mulao and Maonan. The Bouyei, although native to neighbouring Guizhou province, have a significant population in Guangxi. Guangxi shares the border with Guizhou in the north, Guangdong in the east. It also borders Vietnam to the southwest and the Gulf of Tonkin to the south. Guangxi is a mountainous basin. The northern Guangxi region is part of the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau. Headed by the Pearl River, four river systems constitute the main water resources.
1. Guo Shan Qiang, Napo folk song 01:27
2. Verse 1 01:53
3. Verse 2 01:50
4. Verse 3 01:50
5. Love Song (Zhuang Tribe) (sung by Xiufeng Wei) 02:35
6. Love Song (Zhuang Tribe) (sung by Yuxian Bi) 01:55
7. The Steelyard with the Sliding Weight 02:01
8. The Stars and the Moon 01:05
9. Today is a Good Day 01:54
10. It's Been a Long Time Since You Came Around 01:12
11. Love Song Duet (Zhuang Tribe) 02:10
12. Wandering Song 01:04
13. Hesitation 02:07
14. Gathering Joy 01:26
15. Passing Down Traditions 01:03
16. Remembering Bouyei Songs 02:07
17. Learning to Sing 02:01
18. Toasting Song (Bouyei Tribe) 00:36
19. Labour Song (Bouyei Tribe) 01:29
20. Song to Welcome Guests (Bouyei Tribe) 01:22
21. Welcome Toast (Bouyei Tribe) 02:07
22. Excerpt 1 01:31
23. Excerpt 2 01:04
24. Excerpt 3 01:12
25. A December Love Song 01:15
26. An Opening Song, "Take My Boredom Away" 01:31
27. An Opening Song, "Spring Comes" 01:27
28. An Opening Song, "Sing a Song Regardless of the Words" 01:28
29. Watching Flowers Grow 02:47
30. Opening Celebrations for a Joyous Event 01:20
31. The Inquiry (Duet) 03:42
32. No Able Men at My Side 01:20
33. I Join the Troupe 01:13
The Encounter
34. Part I 01:23
35. Part II 01:22
36. A Love Song (Mulao Tribe), 4 stanzas 03:14
37. A Five - Word Song, "Bi Dan Tune" 03:15
38. A Seven - Word Song, "I See a Boy Passing by My House" 01:36
39. A Five - Word Joy Tune, "We Are Both Old" 01:26
40. The Pledge of Love, "Gold Line Tune" 01:04
41. Shua Diao (Playing Tune) 01:01
42. Bi Nong Ne 01:08
43. Huan Zao Diao (Joyful Morning Tune) 01:06
44. Sending Flowers, "Liu Lang Lei" 00:52
45. Pray for Blessings from God, Fei Tao ritual song 01:13
46. A Song of Praise, Fei Tao ritual song with Nuo mask dance 00:54
47. A Toast to the Deities, Fei Tao ritual song 01:32

Total Playing Time: 01:16:10