Folk feast bewitches Beijing audience

It was a heartwarming scene as 5-year-old Lan Mijia from the small village of Xiage in Zhaoxing town, Liping county of Guizhou province, took the stage at Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts on Tuesday.

With innocence shining in her bright eyes and tentative steps, Mijia began to sing, her beautiful voice filling the auditorium with the sound of the traditional Dong ethnic folk song Xiao Shan Yang (Little Goat), a melody rich in the essence of her heritage. Mijia's giggles punctuated the performance, adding a touch of joy and spontaneity that captivated the audience.

"The song is about a mother goat feeding her kid, which kneels down to drink her milk. It delivers a message about respecting and feeling grateful to our mothers," Mijia said in an interview before her performance in which 6-year-old Wu Zixi, who is from the same village, also took part.

The two girls were part of a concert by the China National Traditional Orchestra Choir and its children's choir. Titled Travel With Folk Songs, the concert exemplified the orchestra's dedication to preserving China's diverse musical heritage.

It was part of the NCPA August Chorus Festival, which ran through Sunday and included 18 concerts by 10 choirs from China, the United Kingdom and Georgia.

"Mijia is a star in our village because of her musical talent. She was able to sing as soon as she could walk," says Zhang Qian, who works at Zhaoxing's cultural center and was responsible for bringing Mijia and Zixi to Beijing.

"It's the first time the two girls have left the county. Their parents can't speak Mandarin fluently, so I am traveling with them," Zhang adds. "We are members of the Dong ethnic group, which has a long tradition of singing and dancing. We have a saying that 'rice nourishes the body and songs nourish the soul'. We are also working hard to collect all our folk songs and teach our children to sing, passing on culture and knowledge through music."

According to Zhao Cong, a veteran pipa player and president of the China National Traditional Orchestra, the musicians and singers spent a week in Guizhou province in July to seek inspiration from local folk music. Xiao Shan Yang was discovered by 14-year-old songwriter Liu Xiaobai, who is a student at the middle school affiliated to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

"I listened to Mijia perform the song in her home and I was soon captivated by the melody, although I didn't know what the lyrics said," says Xiaobai, who plays piano and majors in composition and conducting. "I combined the music that I wrote during the trip to Guizhou with the song, which portrays the people of Guizhou and its beautiful natural scenery."

Zhao says: "It was one of the highlights of the concert. Mijia's innocence and beautiful voice brought the traditional folk song to life, enchanting the audience with her genuine delivery. Her performance illustrated the profound connection between folk music and cultural identity."

The concert featured adaptations of folk music from different parts of China, including Yunnan province and Northeast China. Traditional instruments like the suona (a double-reed woodwind instrument), erhu (a two-stringed bowed instrument), pipa (Chinese lute), sheng (a wind instrument) and the morin khuur (horse-head fiddle) were featured in the concert.

"It was more than just a showcase of talent; it was a testament to our ongoing efforts to celebrate and sustain the rich tapestry of Chinese folk traditions," says Zhao. "By using the power of music to evoke the landscapes and cultural essence of different regions, the choir invites the audience to experience China's vibrant and dynamic heritage."

The China National Traditional Orchestra co-organized the International Folk Song Festival between July 20 and 24 in different parts of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture of Guizhou province, including Liping county, Kaili city and Leishan county. Choirs from around the world took part in the event.

"Folk songs often carry deep cultural and historical significance, reflecting the traditions, values and stories of a place. Their melodies, rhythms and lyrics can evoke the atmosphere, landscapes and daily life of a region, allowing listeners to connect emotionally and mentally with a place's essence," Zhao adds.