Songs of the Naxi of Southwest China

Residing in the Yunnan province of south-western China, the Naxi are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group, numbering around 320,000. Despite their relatively low population and remote location, the Naxi have a rich and diverse folk heritage, drawing on their agricultural lifestyle, and proximity to both Chinese and Tibetan religious practices. Following the suppression of traditional culture during the Cultural Revolution, and waning interest from the younger generation in recent decades, Naxi performing arts are considered an at-risk heritage.

The present recording is a joint effort between respected singer He Jinhua, Naxi scholar Yang Fuquan and ethnomusicologist Helen Rees as an attempt to preserve and document Naxi folk songs that have been passed down through oral tradition. Among the collected repertoire are work songs, drinking songs, wedding laments and more, all delivered by He Jinhua in a stunning central performance. The emotional range of the material is matched by Jinhua’s myriad vocal techniques, with joyfully soaring falsetto flips segueing into the anguished sobbing of funeral songs, the lone voice punctuated by occasional moments of jaw harp. Also featured are two collaborative arrangements with composer Daniel Ho, whose accompaniment to the folk melodies is tasteful and considered, with ‘Transplanting Song’ – for voice and piano – proving to be a particular highlight. Special mention must be given to the CD liner notes, which contain extensive background information on each song, as well as ample cultural and linguistic context, and in-depth ethnological information on Naxi culture.