The “Liao Songs” In Ping Guo, Guang Xi, China

Abstract

This research article is part of the thesis titled “The Liao Songs of Zhuang People in Ping Guo, Guang Xi, China” This qualitative study aimed to analyze the unique characteristics of Liao songs using the methodology of musicology. The data were collected at Ping Guo in Guang Xi, China. The sample group comprised scholars, composers, singers and audiences. The findings revealed the following: Liao songs are composed using 5 musical notes, namely Sol (G), La (A), Do (C), Re (D) and Me (E) in the Pentatonic Scale. The melodic movement is simple using 25- intervals – mainly 23- intervals – and sound prolongation. Two singers perform together; the male singer sings the high scale and the female singer sings the low scale in a duet. The lyrics are composed in Zhuang language according to the Zhuang poetic prosody, with 5 words per line and 4 lines per stanza. The singing focuses on the natural projection of sounds from the throat and mouth. Since chest voice is not usually used, there is no need for the singers to train professionally.