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Debao Zhuang Mountain Song
by Mo Rui Qiu
This sound clip captures the rhythm, rhyme, and style of the Debao Zhuang mountain songs (山歌). It is based on harmonizing in whole note patterns. In some areas, people sing their antiphonal songs in pairs of two men and two women. However, in Debao (德保) a whole circle of men will sing across to a whole circle of women. Usually, one or two main leaders will create the next line for the song, while the rest will follow along. Though typically it is the older generation who sing these songs, this recording was made by the young men featured in Music that Trumps Punk.

Listen to the Song:


Picture
 
Picture
On a typical day in Debao, Guangxi older people gather in parks to sing “mountain songs” (山歌).

  Huáng Dōng and Huáng Dé: the twins stand on the left and right of this photo. They are unique as young people who are taking an interest in this traditional art.