Bai zu diao 白族调 narrative singing of the Bai people 白族 of Yunnan, southwest China

A brief video focusing on the transmission of Bai zu diao (白族调), a genre of traditional accompanied narrative singing of the Bai people (Chinese: Bai zu, 白族) of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州), northwestern Yunnan province, southwest China. It is presumed that the performers are singing in the Bai language. The names of the songs or stories being performed are unknown.

The individuals featured in this video include the famous dancer and choreographer Yang Liping (杨丽萍, b. 1958) and her student Xiao A Peng (小阿鹏), both of whom are members of the Bai ethnic group.

The accompanying instrument used in this performance is a locally made long tou sanxian (龙头三弦, 3-stringed long-necked fretless plucked lute with skin-covered soundbox) with hexagonal soundbox and carved dragon head. The soundbox of the long tou sanxian is traditionally covered on the top and bottom with multiple layers of tissue paper (Chinese: mian zhi, 棉纸), although sheepskin is sometimes also used.

Filmed at Yang Liping's unique private residence, located on Yuji Island (玉矶岛), on Erhai Lake (洱海), an alpine lake in Shuangrong Town (双廊镇), Dali (大理市), Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州), northwestern Yunnan province, southwest China, at the time of the Chinese New Year, perhaps c. January 28, 2017. Xiao A Peng is from Jianchuan County (剑川县), northern Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州), northwestern Yunnan province, southwest China.

In 2020 the tradition of Eryuan Xishan Bai zu diao (洱源西山白族调), centering on Xishan Township (西山乡), Eryuan County (洱源县), north-central Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, northwestern Yunnan province, which is located just to the south of Jianchuan County, was included in the Fifth Batch of the List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Dali Prefecture (大理州第五批州级非物质文化遗产代表性项目名单).

春天来了 杨丽萍归故居 师徒同堂传承白族调

More information:
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cg...
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ma...
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E7%99%B...
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%BE%9...
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%B8%B...
https://www.sohu.com/a/437706320_170373
https://www.sohu.com/a/376087760_170373
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%8F%8...