Maoshan chant

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Maoshan Haozi

Applicant: Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province

Project No.: 1080

Project No.: Ⅱ - 150

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Jiangsu Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province

Protection unit: Social Affairs Service Center of Maoshan Town, Xinghua City

Introduction to Maoshan chant:

Applicant: Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province

Maoshan chant originated from Maoshan Town, Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province, and is widely spread in Lixiahe area of Central Jiangsu Province. It is said that Maoshan chant is related to Meng Jiangnu's story of finding her husband to the Great Wall. It is said that when Meng Jiangnu went to Shanhaiguan, she saw the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled carrying stones on their backs, and they were too overwhelmed to gasp and moan in front of the supervisor, so she taught them to use the method of "humming" and "asking and answering" to ease their breath and save their effort, and gradually formed the labor chant. The Maoshan native brought Meng Jiangnu's chant back to their hometown.

According to the singing form, Maoshan chant can be divided into water chant, planting seedling chant, weeding chant, carrying chant, milling chant, whipping chant and ox cart chant. Among them, "planting seedling chant" takes the lead, commonly known as "little sister"; from the musical structure, it can be divided into long chant and short chant; from the content, there are chanting the loyalty and filial piety of ancient people, chanting the four seasons' carefree life of farmers, There are also occasions to praise the pure and simple love between men and women, involving the front of the field, the courtyard beside the dike and canal, and gradually entering the stage. Most of Maoshan's songs are sung by one person, followed by others, asked and answered by one person, and sung by one person. The melody of Maoshan chant is gentle and smooth, the music rhythm is bright and powerful, the singing speed is free, the singing form is divided and combined, especially the chorus part has formed the unique folk song characteristics of high and low coordination and freely singing. In terms of singing style, Maoshan people have a steady voice, strong pronunciation, thick voice for men, soft voice for women, clear voice, and flexible tune. It is not only gentle and euphemistic in Jiangnan area, but also rough and high pitched in Northern Jiangsu area.

Maoshan chant is well-known throughout the country and in the world. In 1956, Maoshan folk singer Zhu Xianglin's Maoshan chant came to Zhongnanhai, was received by Chairman Mao and other central leaders, and won a silver medal at the World Youth Festival. Since then, Zhu Xianglin, Tang Xiaoling, Shi bin and others have won awards in various performances with Maoshan songs. As one of the characteristic cultural brands of Xinghua City, "Maoshan Haozi" has been incorporated into music teaching materials and entered the primary and secondary school campuses. At present, there are more than 4000 folk singers in Maoshan Town, and there are Maoshan chant singing teams in every village. Every year, Maoshan chant competition is held in the town.