Lusheng music (Miao people's mangtong Lusheng)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Lusheng music (Miao people's mangtong Lusheng)

Applicant: Danzhai County, Guizhou Province

Project No.: 628

Project No.: Ⅱ - 129

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Guizhou Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Danzhai County, Guizhou Province

Protection unit: Danzhai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center

Introduction to Lusheng music (Miao people's mangtong Lusheng)

Applicant: Danzhai County, Guizhou Province

Lusheng is a multi pipe reed instrument popular among Miao, Dong, Shui, Gelao, Yao, Zhuang, Yi and other ethnic groups in Southwest China. It is composed of Sheng pipe with spring, Sheng Dou, blow pipe and resonance tube. When playing, hold the body with both hands, gently press the finger holes of the left and right rows of Sheng pipes with thumb, index finger and middle finger, with blow pipe in the mouth, and make the sound by blowing and exhaling. Lusheng has a unique pitch, which can produce octave, fifth, sixth, fourth harmonic and triad effects.

Miao people's mangtong Lusheng music and dance is a unique folk art, which is mainly spread in all Miao villages in Danzhai County of Guizhou Province and parts of Leishan, Rongjiang, Sandu county and Duyun City nearby. Lusheng, the earliest musical instrument of Miao nationality, has a long history. Its origin can be traced back to the ancient musical instruments Sheng and Pao. In the process of long-term war and migration, mangtonglusheng has always been an indispensable daily utensil for Miao people. The Miao people who settled in Danzhai have kept the traditional customs for generations, making the music and dance of mangtonglusheng keep the original religious function.

There are 16 people in each team, including 3 Lusheng and 13 mangtong. When playing, the Lusheng leads in front, the awn tube follows behind, and plays and dances, forming a circle in a clockwise direction and slowly moving forward. The Miao people call it "the drum club with one heart, stepping on the Sheng hall with one step". As one of the ancient musical instruments of Miao nationality, the main function of mangtonglusheng is to entertain gods. It is mostly used in large-scale celebrations, ancestor worship, funerals and other activities, especially in funerals. When participating in large-scale celebrations, the mangtonglusheng is often accompanied in the activities of welcoming and seeing off the ancestral drum, exciting the bull in the bullring, cheering in the arena, etc. Mangtonglusheng has many repertoires, among which the tunes used for sacrifice include nostalgia, invitation and parting, and the tunes used for funeral include passing by, entrance, sadness, farewell, comfort and parting.

The Miao people's mangtong Lusheng music and dance has a unique way of playing, solemn and solemn melody, distinct national music style and regional characteristics, and occupies a very important position in the Miao people's cultural life. It is an important part of the Miao people's culture in Danzhai, and has high artistic and folk research value. As a typical folk art, mangtong Lusheng music and dance has been passed on orderly among the Miao people for a long time. For nearly half a century, the popularization of modern civilization has diluted the influence of national traditional culture. Based on this situation, the prospect of Miao people's mangtong Lusheng dance is not optimistic, and it is urgent to strengthen the rescue and protection measures.