Salar people have unique literature and art. Mainly based on folk rap literature. Say, including stories, myths, legends, fables, proverbs and jokes. Very rich, and the language humor is implicit. Singing, including salar songs, banquet songs and flowers and other folk songs. "Sala Qu" is a lyric folk song sung by Sala people in their native language. It is composed of many short poems with independent significance. Popular songs such as "Brazil's Old Walk" and "Salar Saisibuga". "Banquet Song" is a traditional singing song when getting married. Sarah's "Flower" is a folk song sung in Chinese, and the lyrics are generally four sentences. Influenced by Tibetans, its tone is generally trill and euphemistic. The only musical instrument of the Salar nationality is the Kouxian, which is usually made of copper or silver and looks like a horseshoe.
Salar people also divide folk songs into "family songs" and "wild songs". The distinction between "family songs" and "wild songs" has two meanings, one is in form; The second is the content. The restrictions on different forms are slight, while the restrictions on different contents are strict. Therefore, "wild songs" can only be sung outdoors and avoid elders and relatives.
Salar folk songs can be divided into labor songs (chant), Yuer (traditional love songs), flowers, banquet songs, religious songs and children's songs according to their contents and musical characteristics. Among them, labor songs, banquet songs, religious songs, narrative songs and children's songs belong to the category of "family songs"
Sala Qu is a long lyric poem sung by the Sala people in their own national language. Each capital consists of several short poems with complete meaning, or tells a story, expresses some feelings or creates an image. Most of the content shows the pursuit of love and the yearning for a happy life for young men and women. The melody is rap, which is quite different from the folk songs sung by other local ethnic groups and has a unique style.
Salar Banquet Song is a folk song and dance that Salar people sing in Chinese for fun whenever there are full guests and laughter in the wedding ceremony. It is an overall reflection of the national culture, religion, life customs and national characteristics, and an important basis for studying the material form and spiritual form of the nation. Banquet songs are free in singing form, rich in lyrics and beautiful in tune. There are improvisational songs and traditional songs handed down from generation to generation, most of which are accompanied by simple dance movements. Sarah's banquet songs are all songs sung by men, but women don't sing banquet songs, except that "Sahus" is a cry tune for girls to get married.
Salar "Flower" is a folk song sung by Salar people in Chinese, which is mainly popular in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Gandu in Hualong County, Dahejia and Liujiaji in Gansu Province. Sarah's "flowers" are loud and bright, free and unrestrained. The internal organization of Sarah's "Huaer" mode is diverse, and the layout of the mode tonality is quite logical, artistic and expressive. Influenced by Tibetan folk songs, the Salar "Huaer" is very euphemistic and melodious, with vibrato when singing, and most of them add Salar and local dialects to their sentences, forming a unique style.
Salar labor songs are produced by the Salar people in the long-term collective labor process, which are closely consistent with the labor rhythm. They are not melodious, mostly in the form of leading the crowd and combining, with high-pitched and bright tones, rough and heroic northwest plateau style, and active atmosphere, which plays the role of entertaining and relieving fatigue. There are mainly Lamu chant, logging chant, ferry chant, harvesting chant, flail chant, wall chant, tile chant, etc.
Salar children's songs are lively and interesting, which are mostly related to children's life and games. Through singing, children can indirectly or directly understand the surrounding environment and develop their intelligence, which can be described as knowledge songs. Its artistic characteristics are short melody and easy-to-understand lyrics.
"Yu 'er" is a traditional love song sung by the Salar people in their own language. Because of the taboo and opposition of feudal ethics, this kind of love song is sung in fields, fields, mills and other places behind people's backs, and it is strictly forbidden to sing in village houses. "Yu 'er" reflects the young men and women of Salar nationality's pursuit of free marriage.