Mountain ditties, also known as folk songs, are a form of artistic expression common to residents living in the mountains. Their tunes are often high-pitched and loud, with free and long rhythms. They are used by working people to express their freedom. A type of folk song that expresses emotions.

The most common content in traditional folk songs is the eulogy of love and the expression of suffering in life. The lyrics of folk songs are mostly improvised, and their simple feelings, bold imaginations and clever metaphors are vivid, sincere and touching.

1. Frank and straightforward expression method and passionate and unrestrained musical personality.

No matter whether the lyrics of folk songs are subtle or tortuous, their musical expressions are frank and straightforward. They do not use roundabout or euphemistic expression methods, but vividly reveal the meaning expressed in the lyrics. Sometimes, even the unfinished meaning of the lyrics can be expressed clearly.

In terms of musical character, folk songs are passionate and unrestrained. The highest note of the whole song often appears at the beginning of the tune, which is full of enthusiasm and allowed to pour out freely without the need for multiple layers of foreshadowing and emotional restraint. Even though the content sung is tragic, the music of folk songs is not delicate and deep, but expresses inner emotions in a concentrated and strong manner, making it easy to move people.

Folk songs express the strong emotions that the singer has accumulated for a long time and have to express, so its music does not pay too much attention to formal modification. The expression technique is relatively simple and has a clear emotional purpose.

2. Free and long rhythm and beat.

Folk songs mostly have irregular beats, long and free rhythm. This is mainly reflected in two interdependent aspects:

First, in the part where the lyrics are stated, the rhythm of folk song music is close to the rhythm of natural music, with the purpose of speaking directly and clearly what is in the heart; After the phrases or sentences of the lyrics, that is, at the end of the melody's sections and phrases, folk songs often have free extensions, in order to express the emotions in the heart.

The regular intensive rhythm of the lyrics and the free extended notes in the emotional arias form a sharp contrast between density and relaxation, regularity and freedom, and due to the frequent and diverse alternation of the two, it makes The music of folk songs sometimes has a kind of dramatic conflict and passion, and sometimes it expresses a prose-like artistic conception like flowing clouds and flowing water, which strengthens the expressive power of the music.

3. High-pitched tunes.

Generally speaking, folk songs have the characteristics of many jumps, large ups and downs, wide range and high range. This is especially reflected in the folk songs of the north and west. The highest note of a folk song often appears at the beginning of the song, which is full of passion and has the function of calling and attracting attention.

Extended information

Classification of folk songs

Folk songs can be divided into three categories: general folk songs, field folk songs, and herding folk songs.

Generally, folk songs are widely distributed in Han areas of China, such as "Xintianyou" in northern Shaanxi, "Hua'er" in Qinghai, and "Drive the Slow Ox" in Anhui.

Field Yangge folk songs are mainly used in work such as rice transplanting and driving. It is a kind of folk song sung by special "Yangge gangsters" in the fields in order to inspire the workers' emotions and improve their efficiency.

Herding folk songs are folk songs sung by herders to shout at their livestock or to amuse each other by asking questions. They are mostly sung by children. They have lively tunes, lively lyrics, and interesting lyrics, often with shouting lyrics. ?

Types of folk songs

Types of folk songs are unique names for local folk songs in different regions. Common types include "Xintianyou" in northern Shaanxi and "Mountain Song" in Shanxi , "Mountain-climbing tune" in Inner Mongolia, "Hua'er" and "Youth" in Qinghai, Gansu and other places, Hubei's "Five Sentences", Sichuan's "Morning Song", Anhui's "Zhuijinghong", etc.

The ones that are still popular today include Meng Jiang's female tunes, such as "The Moon Bends over the Nine Provinces"; beautiful flower-cut tunes, such as "Back to My Mother's Home"; and embroidered purse tunes, such as "Walking to the West Exit".

For example, the folk songs of Zhangjiajie include "Sister Hua", "Little Sister", "One Sparrow, One Head", etc., as well as "Wangniu Mountain Song" of the Tujia Nationality in Guizhou, and "Ga August" of the Dong Nationality. ", "Zhuang Jiamei" of the Zhuang ethnic group, etc. Others include "Dazhi Folk Songs Crossing the Horizontal Row", "Midu Folk Songs", "Pairing Birds", "When Will Sophora Flowers Bloom", "Malan Folk Songs", "Folk Songs Sing Spring Every Year", "Folk Songs Marriage", " "Unforgettable Stream" etc.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Folk Song