In the city of Yulin, in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a new cultural base dedicated to the production and performance of Northern Shaanxi folk music was recently established. Recognized as a treasure house of intangible cultural heritage, Yulin has been chosen as the perfect location to nurture and promote this traditional form of music.
China’s venerable China Oriental Performing Arts Group (COPAG), a torchbearer of traditional Chinese performing arts, has launched the new base. The initiative also marks the establishment of the country’s first museum dedicated specifically to the singing arts of Yulin.
Chinese folk culture expert Xiong Gang, highlighted that Yulin is one of the birthplaces of Northern Shaanxi folk songs. These songs are more than just a singing performance; they represent “an epitome of Chinese people’s ‘worker spirit’ resilience” and embody the spirit of the Chinese Red Culture.
According to Jing Xiaoyong, the head of COPAG, the new base aims to seamlessly blend traditional Chinese cultural legacies with the country’s Red Culture history. This will be achieved through a series of events designed to promote Northern Shaanxi folk songs, as unveiled during the launch celebration.
Among the star attractions of 2023 will be Gao Ge (translated as ‘singing out loud’), a folk musical. The Loess Plateau, serving as the creative backdrop, and the unique bright and melodic aesthetics of Northern Shaanxi folk music are the key highlights of this musical. Jing informed the Global Times that the musical narrates the development history of the Communist Party of China through characters like Chinese art workers, dancers, and literati.
The origins of COPAG trace back to 1962 when it was known as the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe. The troupe was founded under the auspices of then Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and has since played a significant role in fostering Chinese cultural exchanges with Western countries. Recognizing the troupe’s contributions, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in December 2022, sent a reply letter to ten artist representatives from COPAG. In his letter, Xi referred to the group as “cultural envoy” and encouraged the artists to uphold high moral standards, improve their artistic skills, adhere to fundamental principles while breaking new ground, and carry forward the values of the new era, promoting the ethos of the Chinese people.
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