As time goes by, for thousands of years, Taihang has beautiful mountains and rivers, outstanding people, prosperous literature and art, mellow folk customs, and strong people's sentiments. It has accumulated a profound and unique historical and cultural heritage; it has created many heroic figures who can sing and cry; it has been passed down. Many touching myths and legends have been written.
There is a small mountain village called "Hongdu" deep in the Taihang Mountains that cannot be found on the map. It is surrounded by mountains, sweet streams, fertile grassland, and the people there are honest, simple, hardworking, kind, straightforward and bold. , it is in such a hot land that there is a legendary and true story related to "singing"; from this remote mountain village came out a new era ecological folk song "King of Singers" who is famous on both sides of the Yellow River. "; and created a "mountain village sheepherder"'s grand dream about singing; created a pure and simple, loud and high-pitched, wide range, difficult to imitate, and unique folk song singing style.
He absorbed the cultural nutrition of the thick soil of Taihang Mountain and Fenhe River, and he witnessed a young man’s persistent struggle for his dream; the bitterness and bitterness behind his legendary experience tells us that "God rewards hard work" The truth and his perseverance have set a benchmark for us. The author hopes that his story can be promoted and spread, so that more people can understand and pay attention to the original folk song art, love original ecological folk songs, sing original ecological folk songs, and more I hope it can inspire and enlighten more people.
For generations, Shi Zhanming’s family has lived in Hongdu Village, more than 20 kilometers west of Zuoquan County. It belongs to Shixia Township in Zuoquan County and is buried deep in the mountains. This village is famous for the famous "Battle of Hongdu" during the Anti-Japanese War. But because it is too remote, few outsiders go there. A few years ago, the government planned the construction of new rural areas and required the entire Hongdu Village to relocate. But the fellow villager here, out of his deep attachment and reluctance to leave this hot land, has never left, guarding this mountainous land, and still leads a free life of herding sheep and cattle.
When Shi Zhanming was born, his family was very poor. His ancestors had made a living by herding sheep for generations, and his father was no exception. He was an old sheepherder who had been herding sheep and singing songs all his life. My father is an extremely optimistic person. The word sadness in this life seems to have nothing to do with him. No matter how hard he works, he is looking for happiness. When the agricultural cooperative was disbanded in the early years, his father drove home the few unwanted sheep that were sold in the cooperative and carefully raised them like hens laying eggs. More than a hundred.
My father is a popular folk singer in the local area. The folks in the village call him the "Folk Song Boss". As soon as he goes out, no matter where he goes, his singing can be heard everywhere, in fields and streams. His cheerful singing can always be heard on the edge and in the valley. Sometimes, if someone meets someone on the village road and asks his father to sing a verse or two, he will start singing without hesitation, and more people will gather to join in the fun. Half a day will pass after he sings, but the sheep will run away. He went around eating other people's crops, and his father had to carry his own food to compensate others. My father never complained or cared about it. Even at the age of sixty, he still sang with emotion, tune and flavor.
My mother was hard-working, simple, kind and virtuous. At that time, her family's financial situation was not good, so her mother provided all the food for the family all year round. Firewood, rice, oil, salt, and sauce had to be carefully considered and planned. Today Shi Zhanming can still remember the story about "eggs" when he was a child. One day when he and his brother came home from school, before their mother came back from the field, they secretly boiled three or four eggs to satisfy their craving. But the mother came back suddenly, and when she lifted the lid of the pot, the stuffing was exposed. The mother looked at the eggs in the pot and then at the two greedy children standing in front of the pot. After a while, the mother stroked the heads of the two children and said, "My children, my mother saved these eggs to sell them. We expect to use them to exchange for oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, needles, thread, and brains. This can maintain our family's life. You have grown up now, and you should learn to think about things for the whole family." After the mother said it, she looked deeply. I glanced at Xiao Shi Zhanming. At that moment, my mother's helpless and expectant eyes deeply touched this kid who only knew how to play all day long. At that moment, he seemed to have grown up suddenly. , understood a lot, a kind of power took root deeply in his heart, and he told himself that he must improve the living conditions at home.
Family influence had a great influence on Shi Zhanming. Every night he would snuggle up next to his grandfather and listen to his grandpa’s suona. The ups and downs of the suona sounded throughout the mountain village, clear and loud, ringing in his ears, but He was blown further by the wind, as if there was a force pulling him.
In addition, grandma also has a good voice. Shi Zhanming still remembers a song that grandma often sang called "Go to the door to pick up the shoe uppers, tears dripping on the toes of the shoes." This song left a particularly deep impression on him. She sheds tears every time she sings, releasing her inner feelings. Her singing touched his young heart at that time, and he felt the endless pain and endless tears in his grandma's heart. When Shi Zhanming was very young, he especially wanted to follow his father to the mountains to herd sheep every day, because when he reached the mountains, he could hear his father's folk songs. They were so loud and high, and the bold songs echoed in the valley, which was so exciting.
Almost everyone in the Shi family has been able to play, play and sing for generations. For many years, the village has relied on the Shi family to come to join in weddings, weddings and social gatherings in the first month of the year, and there has been a troupe of wind and singing. Outsiders praise "Shijiaban". In the early days, my grandfather and my fourth uncle were both good at playing the suona. My third uncle played the drums and my aunt played the cymbals. When one of them got married, the next youngest took over. Until later, my fourth aunt played double cymbals and her father was a good singer. Son. This Shijia Ban can really afford everything, or with a few helpers, there is no big event that it can't handle. It also takes care of some local weddings and funerals, playing, playing and singing. It is especially popular with the folks in the ten miles and eight towns. We like it.
When Shi Zhanming was in primary school, the teaching environment and equipment were quite poor. The classrooms were simple and simple. There were no writing books and he could only use polished slates to write. Shi Zhanming loved singing since he was a child, so he said he liked it. She went to the mountains to herd sheep, learn to sing folk songs from my father, and loved playing suona with my grandfather. When he was 13 years old, his grandfather said to him: "If you learn to play the suona, at least you can have something to eat. When I get old and can't play anymore, you can take over my class and carry out the skills that our ancestors have mastered for generations." And my wish will be passed on." Although Shi Zhanming had no professional training, it was a great help to his later career in folk song singing.
Shi Zhanming was in such an environment. He was influenced by his grandfather, grandmother, father and mother since he was a child, and he developed a love for folk songs. The joys, sorrows and joys are all expressed through self-composed and self-sung songs to express a beautiful life and rich thoughts and feelings. He has been singing since he was a child, and he feels the happiness that the original folk songs bring him; he feels that this land and his relatives give him the greatest driving force, constantly pushing him to bring this oldest and most primitive art out of the mountains. , inheritance and continuous innovation; he also understood the true meaning of what Teacher Tian Qing said to him, "Folk songs are good for poor rural areas." The feeling and effect of facing the mountains, letting go of your throat, singing freely and freely are hard to find on that narrow stage. After graduating from junior high school, Shi Zhanming, who had been fond of playing and singing since childhood, did not continue studying. Instead, he went up the mountain with his father every day, following the sheep, running back and forth, constantly shouting, driving thousands of sheep, and the sheep all over the mountains and fields, Within a radius of one kilometer, his shouts must be heard by all the sheep. Therefore, this kind of shouting is the best way to practice your voice. But his mother didn't want him to spend his whole life with sheep like his father, and often nagged: "You only care about herding sheep, you want to be a bachelor for the rest of your life!" Shi Zhanming just smiled honestly. Therefore, he often went out to work. Although he was as thin as his father and no worse than the big-bodied and round-waisted villagers, he still hoped to make a living by relying on his singing talent.
In the days when he was away from home, Shi Zhanming relied on his naturally good voice. In 1994, because he could play suona and sing folk songs, Shi Zhanming was selected into the Zuoquan County Art Troupe. In the art troupe, his performance Rarely, almost rarely, he was allowed to perform. Because he couldn't speak Mandarin and the troupe thought he was too "unfashionable" and his performances lacked aura, he was fired by the art troupe after half a year.
After being fired, he had some feelings. He believed that this work experience was not a blow but an encouragement to him. He was determined to learn the lessons of being fired and work hard for his career. To find his own path, he knew deeply that if a small art troupe could not stay, it must be because his own conditions were not good enough and he had no bright spots. Therefore, he plunged into the new environment with the confidence and courage to constantly improve himself, perfect himself, and develop himself.
Not long after, he was recruited by the artistic team organized by Yongfo Temple Coal Mine and participated in some small performances. This time, Shi Zhanming fully cherished every performance opportunity and put his mental state into full play. Adjusted to the best, it was highly appreciated by the leaders and recognized by colleagues. This gave Shi Zhanming a lot of encouragement. He originally wanted to develop in the long term this time, but the good times did not last long. Not long after, the art team was suddenly dismissed for unknown reasons. It was cancelled, and of course Shi Zhanming's job would be gone.
At that time, thinking about the parents who were suffering at home, Shi Zhanming was not discouraged in order to improve the living conditions at home. After leaving the county seat, he went to a small private wind and singing group in Qilidian Village to join the class. Performing everywhere, from small mountain villages to larger towns, with a radius of more than a hundred miles, Shi Zhanming's name gradually spread, not only for his suona playing and loud singing, but more importantly, his good character , attach importance to loyalty.
At one performance, the audience liked his performance and kept asking him to perform. Finally, the boss asked Shi Zhanming to sing freely, and added 50 yuan for one more performance. As a result, he kept singing until At twelve o'clock in the night, his throat hurt from singing, but he persisted and never stopped playing. In the end, he earned 2,400 yuan. At that time, this amount of money was not a decimal. It was almost a small amount. The wages of the New Year Sheep. He did not keep the money for himself, but shared it evenly with several other people who were accompanying him in playing, playing, playing and singing. They were all very happy at the time, and they suddenly became famous for their righteousness. Many literary and art societies were vying for it. Want him.
Because he sang well and was kind-hearted and righteous, Shi Zhanming met his wife when he accompanied the group to perform in Dongxiang, the county in 1999. Half a year later, he was straightforward and kind-hearted and married this girl from a foreign village who was more than a hundred miles away from him, who deeply admired his singing voice. This also fulfilled his parents' wish for many years.
My father was too old to climb the mountain, so he divided the family's sheep among his brothers. Shi Zhanming moved around and bought dozens more. He had followed his father to the mountains since he was a child, and he soon became an expert at herding sheep. He used the sheep shovel to throw stones at the sheep, yelled loudly with confidence, and then cracked the sheep whip, commanding hundreds of sheep to obey him. Come and go in the wind and rain, Shi Zhanming wanders in the ravines day after day. According to his words, "When she herding sheep, it is equivalent to 'turning around'. No matter what the weather or season, every day You have to go to work regularly and call it a day!” Although raising sheep is still tiring, in terms of harvest, it is still a good livelihood in the countryside, so all the “elite” people in the village are herding sheep. Times have changed, and no one is like before. She stopped joking about the incompetence of the sheep herders, and my mother stopped nagging her.
As the days passed, Shi Zhanming was tending sheep, but he did not let go of his suona. There were often friends in and outside the village who would inevitably drag him to join in the arrangements for weddings and funerals. The sheep was entrusted to his brothers for a while. But after returning from work, Zhan Ming still feels the same as his father. He feels happy singing in the mountains. He sings freely in the mountains, and his singing voice rises high when he is emotional. It is like shaking a sheep whip hard, and the sound rises up from the ravine. When he reached the top of the mountain and reached the clouds, he didn't feel as embarrassed as when he was on stage. Every time he sang, he always felt that his singing was great.
During his long and lonely life as a shepherd, he often sang loudly to the beautiful mountains and rivers and the ethereal nature, creating a tragic, high-pitched and unique folk song singing style. When 2002 arrived, Shi Zhanming's fate took a turn for the better. His memory of this year is special.
In April 2002, because Shi Zhanming won the second prize in the county’s fire singing competition, he was selected by the county to be sent to Beijing to participate in the Zhongshan Music Hall’s “Plateau Cantabile—China’s Remote Minorities” A special performance of Zuoquan Folk Song Xiaohuaxi Concert "Journey to Find the Roots of National Music". At that time, he couldn't even speak a word of Mandarin. He was so happy that he held a sheep and turned it around in circles and somersaults several times. He sold a few sheep to pay for his travels, and went to Beijing wearing cloth shoes. When he came to Beijing for the first time, of course he wanted to see Tiananmen, the Great Wall, and the Great Hall of the People. But he was thinking about the more than 400 sheep that he kept at home, and there were more than 100 lambs that had just been born. As he stood on the stage, he was still thinking about his little lambs. So as soon as he opened his mouth, he went off-key. Although the audience didn't know it, he burst into tears after he came off the stage. But the song "A Basket of Oil High on the Mountain" won thunderous applause and cheers. When the applause lasted for a long time and the audience shouted for another one, he thought he had not sung well, so he bowed deeply and turned around. I don't know what happened backstage.
It was the host who pulled him out from behind the scenes and sang a few more a cappella songs to the audience before he was able to exit. At this time, Shi Zhanming deeply felt the audience's recognition of him and their love for folk songs.
In October 2002, Zuoquan County held the "September 18th" event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the death of the famous anti-Japanese general Zuo Quan and the Liao Dynasty. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the county's renaming as Zuoquan County, the County Cultural Bureau organized a seminar on the development of Zuoquan folk songs and Xiaohua Opera, and organized a folk song performance to express condolences to the music experts who came from Beijing. At first, the county asked professional singers to sing a few folk songs. However, the famous musician Tian Qing did not sound local, so he asked an authentic folk singer to sing them. The county said that Shi Zhanming was asked to sing. Shi Zhanming won the second prize in the Naoshehuo Folk Song Competition in April. Shi Zhanming's singing left a deep impression on many people. When Shi Zhanming's singing sounded in front of Tian Qing, Tian Qing was shocked: There are such good folk songs in the world! Such a good singing voice! He immediately decided to ask Shi Zhanming to go to Zhejiang with him to participate in the country's first original ecological North-South Folk Song Competition.
So under the strong recommendation of Teacher Tian Qing, Shi Zhanming once again walked out of the mountain village and participated in the "China's First Original North-South Folk Song Competition" sponsored by the Ministry of Culture. He was the fifth contestant, wearing a sheepskin coat and holding a sheep whip. As soon as he came on the stage, he flicked the sheep whip and started singing. After singing, there was no sound from the audience. After a while, there was thunderous applause, which shook the whole place. Who is this person? At that time, the female host of the arena competition asked Teacher Tian Qing. Teacher Tian Qing said, to be honest with you, I just brought him out of the mountains a few days ago, and he entered the finals directly without going through the preliminary or semi-finals.
Shi Zhanming thought, "I'm here to sing, not to compete," so he sang very easily. He won the title of one of the "Top Ten Folk Singers" with his unique and purely "wild" singing voice. Soon, Tian Qing also asked Shi Zhanming to give a lecture to the students of the Central Conservatory of Music. He thinks this is the real Chinese folk song! Real Chinese voice! He wants his students to feel the natural sounds from the countryside!
Shi Zhanming, who didn’t even know simple musical notation, walked into China’s highest music hall with a sheep whip. This is something he has never thought about for generations. In this music hall, he had no musical ideas, but he conquered everyone in this hall with his singing. He and his singing were like a tornado blowing from the mountains and fields, sweeping through every heart and every corner of this palace. Get these students excited, excited, and enthusiastic. Shi Zhanming suddenly became their idol.
In November 2002, at the first "Shanxi Loess Style Peasant Singer Competition" in Taiyuan, the provincial capital, Shi Zhanming won the first prize with "Huahua Tune".
In 2002, although the success of this year brought little benefit to Shi Zhanming's family, 2002 was a critical year when the singing career of the sheepherder Shi Zhanming suddenly changed.
Subsequently, in 2003, the China National Traditional Orchestra invited Shi Zhanming, a Shanxi folk singer, to join artists from Northern Shaanxi Xintianyou, Tibetan folk songs, and Mongolian long tunes to form the "Voice of the Yellow River" and participate in the Great Hall of the People "The Country Is So Beautiful - New Year Ethnic Concert" was held. Shi Zhanming once again caused a sensation with his song "Playing Jujube". The media in the capital widely publicized his deeds with the title "The King of Sheepherds and Singer Appears in the Great Hall of the People".
On August 11, 2004, the Shanxi original ecological concert "Peach Blossom, Red Apricot Blossom and White" was successfully held at the Zhongshan Park Concert Hall in Beijing. Shanxi singers such as Shi Zhanming and Liu Gaiyu dedicated their lives to the Beijing audience. A wonderful performance.
Since 2005, he has participated in performances organized by the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center many times, and has been specially invited to be a "visiting professor" by the China Conservatory of Music many times.
In 2006, he was officially recruited into the army by the Art Troupe of the Political Department of the Second Artillery Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army after being recommended by Professor Tian Qing, deputy director of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Center of the Ministry of Culture, doctoral supervisor and researcher at the Chinese Academy of Arts. And serves as an original folk song soloist.
Since then, his performances have continued and his honors have continued. He has been invited to participate in CCTV's famous literary and artistic columns 16 times, and "Folk Songs of China" even featured him in a special interview. So far, he has created another singing legend in the Taihang Mountains.
In 2014, Shi Zhanming, as a dream master, appeared on the stage of the "2014 Farmers Online Spring Festival Gala" and "2014 Online Farmers Celebrate Lantern Festival" evening parties, singing "Shandan Danhua Blooms Red" with an original singing voice. and "Shanxi Folk Songs" conquered every audience. From a "sheepherd" in a mountain village to the current king of folk songs in northern and southern China, from an ordinary folk singer to today's famous folk singer, from Shanxi Zuoquan to the capital of Beijing, talking about this legendary experience, apart from Shi Zhanming's own diligence Through hard work, he said that he is also very grateful to the several "noble people" who have helped his singing and performance career continue to mature and improve.
Teacher Tian Qing is one of the most grateful people. It was he who accidentally discovered him during research and allowed him to come out of the mountains and allow his singing to truly reach the hearts of people all over the country. In addition, Teacher Tian Qing also gave him careful guidance and meticulous care in professional singing techniques and career development. He said that he still has many shortcomings and shortcomings. In future practice, he must sing well, constantly learn new knowledge, master new skills, constantly acquire more knowledge, perfect himself, and improve himself. , in order to live up to Teacher Tian Qing’s trust and cultivation in him.
Teacher Guo Weiwei is the vice chairman of Shanxi Zuoquan Photographers Association and the chairman of Zuoquan County Henglong Coal Industry. He gave great help and support in the editing, shooting, production and publishing process of Shi Zhanming's album. In Lao Guo's view, he helped Shi Zhanming not to help him personally, but to pass on the native art of his hometown forever and let more people learn and appreciate it. He felt very honored, so he helped Shi Zhanming as always. . In addition, he also mentioned that the famous writer Liu Hongqing, Zuoquan Cultural Bureau Shi Xiangtao, Wang Lin and many other people have given him great support and help in his performances and life. Therefore, Shi Zhanming said that he will not disappoint the expectations of his hometown folks, and will definitely go on the singing career step by step, win glory for his hometown, perform for the people of the country, and sing every song well.