The Yi people in Simao are mainly distributed in Jingdong, Jinggu, Zhenyuan, Pu'er, Jiangcheng, Lancang, Mojiang, Simao and other places. Yi folk music can be divided into three categories: dance songs, ditties and folk songs according to its genre, performance content and singing form.
Song dancing: It is a self-entertainment activity for the masses that integrates poetry, song and dance. Everyone sings and dances to the melody and rhythm of reed pipe and flute music. One person leads the singing and everyone sings the chorus. In terms of lyric content, it can be divided into several types: panqu (arranged tunes), miscellaneous tunes (sanqu), and antiphonal songs (bianqu). "Wanqu" is rich in long narrative poem elements, most of which are summaries of astronomical, geographical and production knowledge, as well as stories and anecdotes from the past and present, such as "Twelve Zodiac Signs", "Father and Son Rely on Soldiers in Battle", etc. "Zaqu" is an improvisational creation that touches the scene and expresses one's thoughts directly. It is usually composed of seven or four sentences or five or six sentences. ?Anticipatory songs? Antiphonal songs between lovers, antiphonal songs between men and women, etc.
Ditty: In terms of lyrics, it can be divided into narrative songs, custom songs, and love songs. "Narrative song" is a method used by the Yi people to record history, events, and experiences, such as "Caihuahuang", "Dingbing Tiao", "Huaitai Tiao", etc. ?Custom songs? Reflect customs, customs, national taboos, and the content and procedures of sacrificial activities from different angles, such as "Sending the God of Wealth", "Worshiping the God of Joy", "Sacrifice", "Wedding Song", etc. ?Love songs? Mainly express the love between men and women. The tune of the ditty is steady and soft, the rhythm is regular and rigorous, the style is diverse, the adaptability is strong, and the singing form is flexible. It can be sung in the mountains, villages, weddings and funerals.
Folk songs: They are divided into labor folk songs, pastoral songs, and roaring mountain tunes. Folk songs are mostly sung in the wild and are not restricted by the environment. They are a kind of self-entertainment tune that expresses the singer's inner thoughts, emotions and life. The rhythm is free, the melody is stretched, abandoned, high-pitched and passionate, with a wide range of sounds, with many decorative sounds and free extensions used. ?Labor folk songs include "Tune of Planting Rice", "Song of Cultivation" and so on. ?Pastoral songs include "Cow Herding Tune", "Sheep Herding Tune" and so on. ?Hooshan tunes include "Zuihuashan", "Huishan tune", "Daguoshan", "Chasing girls", "Guoshan tune", "Along the riverside", "Huanshan tune", "Liangshui tune" ”, “Mountain Climb Tune”, “Xiahe Tune” and so on.
The folk instrumental music of the Yi people includes three types: wind instruments, bowed string instruments, and percussion instruments. It is also used as an accompaniment for singing, dancing and singing.
Wind music: trombone, mouth string, suona, flute, reed, reed stalk, big buzzer, trumpet, etc. Lusheng is often used as an accompaniment for dancing songs. There are five, seven and nine-pipe instruments, which can play the pentatonic scale. The sound of the trombone is loud and deep, and it is often played when asking for a bride. In addition to accompanying dances, trumpet tunes can also be played at wedding venues such as the kanban tune, absentee tune, welcoming tune, farewell tune, guest receiving tune, and worship tune.
Bowed string instruments: major sanxian, minor sanxian, yueqin, four-stringed instrument, erhu, etc. The three-string playing techniques are mostly "rolling" and "plucking", and the tuning techniques are mostly fourths and fifths. There are many sanxian repertoire, some happy and some sad. Popular three-string repertoire includes: Along the River, Erzheyi, Fanshen Tune, Straight Song, Covered Song, Haoge, Going Out Tune, Qianma Tune, Three-Stomping Tune, Three-Jiao Tune, etc.
Percussion music: sheepskin drums, wooden fish, chimes, mangs, gongs, etc. Mainly used for mastering beats, passages and adding atmosphere to the performance.
Folk dance of the Yi people. The Yi people in Simao area have the most abundant dances known as dancing songs and playing songs. There are about more than 100 routines. The popular ones in all counties in the region are: Shanshan song, Shunzan song, Xiaodao Dan, Da Dao Dan, etc. Straight song, monkey grinding, foot-joining song, chicken tapping song, sheep tearing and beating, horse four-hooves, three-stomping foot, sheepskin dance, three-string dance. Popular in Jiangcheng County are Cigarette Box Dance, Qiguniang, Duli Leguole, Yeni Ke, Four-string Dance, Clapping Hands, Aquse, and Dancing God. The characteristics of Yi dance are cheerful and lively.