REVITALIZING LILING FOLK SONGS: VOCAL PERFORMANCE PRACTICES AND MUSIC EDUCATION-ORIENTED INNOVATIONS

Abstract

This study investigates the vocal performance practices of Liling folk songs, a representative
form of traditional music from Hunan Province, China, with the overarching aim of preserving and
revitalizing this unique regional intangible cultural heritage. The research is guided by three core
objectives: (1) to document and analyze the original stylistic and structural characteristics of Liling folk
songs; (2) to re-arrange and reinterpret selected traditional works through modern compositional techniques
and contemporary performance strategies; and (3) to create and present new folk-inspired compositions that
extend the cultural and educational value of Liling music traditions.To achieve these aims, a
comprehensive methodology was adopted, integrating literature review, ethnographic fieldwork, interviews
with local culture bearers, and practice-based musical experimentation. The findings reveal that Liling folk
songs are distinguished by their pentatonic-based modal systems, speech-like melodic contours, and
expressive vocal timbres that reflect the region’s linguistic and cultural identity. Through creative rearrangement,
traditional pieces such as The Song of Persuasion for Marriage and Mountain People Love to
Play Dongdong Pan were transformed into concert-ready formats that preserve their cultural essence while
embracing innovative orchestration and stage presentation.In addition, original compositions—including
The Flowering Family of Spring and I Am Waiting for You in Liling—were created by drawing inspiration
from local poetry, cultural symbols, and musical aesthetics. These works were presented in the themed
concert New Sound of Ancient Ballads using a lecture-performance model, which enhanced audience
engagement and deepened cultural understanding. Expert evaluations and audience satisfaction surveys
confirmed the effectiveness of this approach in fostering renewed interest in Liling’s folk heritage.The
study concludes that vocal performance can simultaneously serve as a tool for cultural preservation, artistic
innovation, and educational dissemination. It further advocates sustainable strategies such as
interdisciplinary collaboration, integration of folk song studies into music curricula, and the development of
evaluative frameworks for practice-based research to ensure the continued vitality of Liling folk traditions.