Good morning, afternoon, and evening,
I recorded this Chinese folk song today. It’s called “Thirty-mile Village” (三十里铺) from Shaanxi province—a well-known love song in China. I’ve known it since elementary school. My parents used to sing it a lot at home, and my father would change the lyrics to sound funny. We laughed so much whenever everyone sang together in our house. I’ve always thought the world would be a much nicer place if we all communicated through singing :) Imagine arguing through singing. That must be really funny!
In this recording, I stood my Guzheng up and sang into the sound hole in the back. You can hear the long harmonic reverb created by the vibration of my voice resonating through the wooden body (see photo below). If you have an acoustic instrument at home—a piano, guitar, cello, violin, or anything with soundholes or open strings—try singing into the holes or near the strings. You’ll hear harmonics of the pitches bouncing back. It’s very therapeutic for the brain to receive those sound waves.
Translation of the lyrics:
Mention my hometown, its name is known
My home is in Suide, Thirty-Mile Village town
Fourth Sister loves her Third Brother dear
He is the one who holds my heart so near
Through Thirty-Mile Village the broad road runs
The theater’s torn down, a new highway comes
Third Brother is now just nineteen years old
Our days together have not yet grown cold
Third Brother is now just nineteen years old
Fourth Sister is only sixteen, I’m told
Everyone says we’re a match made above
Why leave me halfway, my dearest love?
Wu Fei 吴非
Wufeimusic.com
