Musical Literacy in Chinese Fuyang Folk Songs through the ‘Dui Duo Luo’ Music Piece

Yuyu Tao, Narongruch Woramitmaitree, Sayam Chuangprakhon

Abstract


Fuyang folk songs, rooted in the cultural traditions of Anhui Province, China, represent a vital component of intangible cultural heritage, encapsulating the region’s linguistic, musical, and cultural identity. This study explores the musical literacy in Chinese Fuyang folk songs through the ‘Dui Duo Luo’ music piece. The research investigates the song’s textual, melodic, and performative elements using qualitative methods, including fieldwork, interviews with five key informants, and musical analysis. The findings reveal that the lyrics of ‘Dui Duo Luo’ serve as a repository of local dialects and idiomatic expressions, reflecting the cultural values and everyday lives of Fuyang communities. The melodic structure, characterized by pentatonic scales and rhythmic patterns, facilitates oral transmission and fosters cultural continuity. The performative aspects highlight its communal and participatory nature, such as its duet format and call-and-response interaction. These dimensions collectively underscore the significance of literacy in folk music as a multifaceted competence encompassing cultural awareness, interpretive ability, and artistic appreciation. The study concludes that integrating Fuyang folk songs into educational frameworks can enhance cultural literacy and preserve these traditions amid modernization. Recommendations include incorporating folk music literacy into curricula, leveraging digital tools for preservation, and conducting comparative studies with other regional folk traditions.

Keywords


Fuyang Folk Songs, Literacy In Folk Music, Cultural Preservation, Chinese Folk Songs, Chinese Musical Heritage

Full Text:

PDF

References


Anglada-Tort, M., Harrison, P. M., Lee, H., & Jacoby, N. (2023). Large-scale iterated singing experiments reveal oral transmission mechanisms underlying music evolution. Current Biology, 33(8), 1472-1486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.070

Banda, F. (2019). Beyond language crossing: exploring multilingualism and multicultural identities through popular music lyrics. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 14(4), 373-389. https://doi.org/10.1080/17447143.2019.1645144

Chan, C. S. C. (2018). Sustainability of indigenous folk tales, music and cultural heritage through innovation. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 8(3), 342-361. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-06-2017-0044

Chen, H., & Sensai, P. (2024). Education and Literacy in the Development and Transmission of Chinese Yao Nationality Folk Songs. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(1), 213-220. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.1p.213

Cole, R. (2021). The Folk: Music, Modernity, and the Political Imagination. Univ of California Press. https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520383753

Esdaille, E. A. (2020). The Notion of Song, Identities, Discourses, and Power: Bridging Songs with Literary Texts to Enhance Students’ Interpretative Skills. Columbia University.

Hartenberger, R., & McClelland, R. (Eds.). (2020). The Cambridge Companion to Rhythm. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108631730

Hollister, J. M. (2019). An ethnographic study on the digital literacy practices of role-players in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society, 50(4), 429-467. https://doi.org/10.16981/kliss.50.4.201912.429

Hongyuan, Y., & Smithitam, S. (2024). The Curriculum Design for Vocal Stage Performance in China. Journal of Roi Kaensarn Academi, 9(2), 743-753.

Jian, S., Chuangprakhon, S., & Santaveesuk, P. (2024). Dongjing Chinese Folk Music in Enhancing Musical Literacy and Education. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(4), 151-158. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.4p.151

Kelly, D. M., & Currie, D. H. (2021). Beyond stereotype analysis in critical media literacy: Case study of reading and writing gender in pop music videos. Gender and Education, 33(6), 676-691. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2020.1831443

Laird, J. (2019). Folk-song to formal performance: Interpreting the songs of Jean Ritchie for voice recital. West Virginia University.

Liu, Y., Chonpairot, J., Chuangprakhon, S., & Jian, Z. (2024). Dong Pipa: Chinese Musical Instrument in Literacy Functions and Educational Occasions. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(3), 112-119. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.3p.112

Lulu, W., Sensai, P., & Homhuan, W. (2024). Education and Literacy Transmission of Chinese Pansori in Chaoxian Ethnic Group. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(4), 185-192.

May, B. N., Broomhead, P., & Tsugawa, S. (2020). A music literacy-based rationale for popular music ensembles and experiences in music education. International Journal of Music Education, 38(3), 470-491. https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761420923186

Muthivhi, A. E., & Kriger, S. (2019). Music instruction and reading performance: Conceptual transfer in learning and development. South African Journal of Childhood Education, 9(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajce.v9i1.544

Qin, G., & Zhang, W. (2023). The Flow of Institutional Charisma: Quanzhen Taoism and Local Performing Arts in Republic Shandong and Henan. Religions, 14(5), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14050560

Qu, S., & Xiao, J. (2020). The making of singer-songwriters: exploring the authorship and ethos of contemporary folk music in mainland china. Journal of Popular Music Studies, 32(1), 78-105. https://doi.org/10.1525/jpms.2020.32.1.78

Skerrett, A. (2018). Learning music literacies across transnational school settings. Journal of Literacy Research, 50(1), 31-51. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086296X17753502

Steinbrecher, B. (2021). Mainstream popular music research: a musical update. Popular Music, 40(3-4), 406-427. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261143021000568

Venkatachary, B., & Kawathekar, V. (2018). Understanding the Relationship between Component and Attribute of Cultural Landscapes: Case of Indian Music and Cultural Landscapes. Journal of Heritage Management, 3(1), 112-121. https://doi.org/10.1177/2455929618773390

Wang, Y., & Thotham, A. (2024). Literacy transmission of Chinese folk songs in Southern Shaanxi. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(3), 143-149. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.3p.143

Wu, K. (2023). Cultural Confluence: The Impact of Traditional and Modern Synergies in Chinese Juvenile Musical Theater. International Journal of Education and Humanities, 11(2), 192-199. https://doi.org/10.54097/ijeh.v11i2.13825

Wu, Y., & Chuangprakhon, S. (2024). Preservation and Transmission Guidelines of Salar Vocal Folk Music. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(1), 186-192. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.1p.186

Yembuu, B. (2021). Intergenerational learning of traditional knowledge through informal education: the Mongolian context. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 40(4), 339-358. https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2021.1967488




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.13n.1p.121

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

2013-2025 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.

International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies  

You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.