Written by: Cheng Wanli
Posted on: May 13, 2015 |
Qitai Ballads are inspired by local culture, indigenous tunes and enchanting tales originating from the regions of Shanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. With extensive themes touching upon different social aspects, a Qitai Ballad can be taken as a small encyclopedia of the local customs and everyday lives spent by the people of these regions. Its content can mainly be classified into 8 columns: ‘labor ballads’ include ballads of farming, fishing, hunting, tea collecting, carrying, tamping, ramming, mining and crafting; ‘current affairs ballads’ reflect on contemporary political affairs; ‘folk ballads’ talk about seasons and climate, protocol and etiquette, festivals and ceremonies, drinking songs, etc; ‘love affair ballads’ carry themes of first meeting, admiration, marriage, farewell, remembering the significant other after separation, bitter love, fleeing forced marriage, etc; the ballads on history and legends contain references to historical events, figures, and other stories; and finally, ‘children’s ballads’ talk about game songs, lullabies, tongue twisters, etc.
The lyrics of Qitai Ballads mainly consist of local dialects, slangs and miscellaneous rhyme words. The local vernacular has a significant role in daily communication of the local people, and keeps evolving in dynamic ways with time. The Ballads are performed in various forms such as solo singing, playing, duets, singing in unison, rapping, etc. Instruments serve to accompany the melody and heighten the atmosphere; however, talented musicians may often create their own particular version of a song using innovative techniques with their instruments, while singers may use their vocal ingenuity to create different versions.
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