Guangdong Folk Music

Guangdong Folk Music

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Guangdong folk music includes Dabayin, Narrative singing, Cantonese music and the Cantonese operatic song in classic singing style. They are worthy of preservation because of their retention values. Dabayin is also called Gong Drum Ghost (锣鼓鬼) or Percussion in a Cabinet in the local community. When Cantonese Opera was banned, the Bayin troupes used Suona in different sizes to mimic the vocal ranges of Sheng (male) and Dan (female) roles in Cantonese Opera. Narrative singing is one of the essential elements of the ballad-singing system in Guangdong, and can be subdivided into South Sound(南音), Moyuge (木鱼), Orderliness(板眼) and Longzhou(龙舟). Among them, South Sound and Moyuge have been inscribed onto the listing of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Cantonese folk music is distinguished by the South China temperament. The Cantonese operatic song in classic singing style involves the ancient provenance of the Central Plains, where Chinese traditional theatre originated. Today almost those Cantonese Opera productions are performed in the Cantonese dialect, and not many actors can sing with the correct enunciation and vernacular traits in the classic singing style. Traditional theatre needs to be passed on from mentor to mentee with one-on-one attention; as old veteran musicians bow out, there are no followers to carry on their legacy. It is necessary for the present generation to safeguard these Cantonese folk music that are on the verge of extinction.

（I appreciate the co-presenter of Xiqu Centre for providing the above information. Please let me know if it is against the copyright.）