Muyu Song

As a dialectical folk song, Dongguan Muyu Song originated in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, with a history of more than 400 years. It is mainly accompanied by stringed or percussion instruments such as small gongs and drums, or simply without accompaniment. The basic verse structure is the hepta-syllabic form which is easy to understand. The texts are mostly drawn from historic stories, folk tales, as well as from Buddhism stories. At present, there are more than 500 Muyu Texts in existence, mostly of considerable length and having been recomposed. The tune and rhythm of Muyu Song is rather free and melodious, enjoying high popularity among common people. On the second day of the second lunar month, 2006, a Muyu Song talking-and-singing performance was held during the opening ceremony of Dongkeng "Labor-selling Festival". By adding new content and form to the 400-year-old Dongguan Muyu Song, it was well received by local people and attracted remarkable media coverage.

Hakka Folk Songs

The beautiful tunes of Hakka folk songs are said to come from Shi Jing(The Book of Songs). It emerged during the Tang Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,000 years. After moving south from the Central Plains to Dongguan, the Hakka people chose to live in mountainous regions in order to protect themselves from wars and to avoid being harassed by other communities. When they worked hard in the mountains and in the fields, or when they wanted to express their joys, angers, or sorrows, they would sing songs to convey their feelings.

Hakka folk songs are popular in Dongguan's mountainous areas. The Hakka people in Qingxi Town, Zhangmutou Town, etc., have been renowned for their gifted folk singing from a very early time. On festive occasions, various folk song performances or competitions are held, turning the events into lively gatherings and joyful celebrations. In 2004, Qingxi Town successfully hosted an invitational Hakka folk song contest of four provinces (Jiangxi, Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi), making the ancient Hakka folk songs shine with renewed glamour.

Qingxi's Hakka folk songs can be roughly divided into solo, duet, and folk opera. Solos are expressions of personal thoughts and feelings. Duets are mostly love songs, which constitute the majority of Hakka folk songs. Folk operas are derived from Hakka folk songs by combining modern operas with traditional folk songs. It employs a flexible form of telling stories by singing with actions, making it extremely popular among common people.