Angelic voices of a farmers' choir

Xiaoshuijing Village is located at an altitude of 2,350 meters in Yunnan Province's Fumin County.  All of its 470 plus villagers belong to the Miao ethnic group. In the 1930s, foreign missionaries set up a church here and formed a choir.

In Xiaoshuijing Village, many farmers are also singers. The most ordinary things become radiant with the singing of the simple villagers. The singing style has been passed down from generation to generation. The lyrics are in the Miao language and the elements of Miao folk songs are integrated, making this farmers’ choir unique and non-replicable.

Over the past century, the Western choral art has constantly evolved, but in Xiaoshuijing Village, it has retained the traditional skills and methods of older Western church choirs. Today, many domestic and foreign musicologists come here to study the choral art. The villagers’ amazing voices make many people think they must have accepted professional training, but here any villager who loves music and has a good voice can join the choir.

The Xiaoshuijing Ethnic Farmers’ Choir has maintained about 60 members since its establishment. Currently, the youngest member is 13 years old and the oldest member is over 40. Professionally, it is a four-part mixed choir, and the singing method is neither bel canto singing nor folk singing.

None of its members have received professional training, and their skills have been passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. In particular, the four-part a cappella singing has reached a high level and is referred to as a “living fossil of Baroque choral music” by international vocal music experts.

“The choir practices for one or two hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings,” said Li De, deputy head of Xiaoshuijing Ethnic Farmers’ Choir.  Without professional training, it is a unspoken understanding that has glued members into one.

In recent years, the Xiaoshuijing Ethnic Farmers Choir has become increasingly well-known. It has attracted many domestic and foreign tourists to visit the village.

Angelic voices of a farmers choir

Xiaoshuijing Village is located at an altitude of 2,350 meters in Yunnan Provinces Fumin County. All of its 470 plus villagers belong to the Miao ethnic group. In the 1930s, foreign missionaries set up a church here and formed a choir. In Xiaoshuijing Village, many farmers are also singers. The most ordinary things become radiant with the singing of the simple villagers. The singing style has been passed down from generation to generation. The lyrics are in the Miao language and the elements of Miao folk songs are integrated, making this farmers choir unique and non-replicable. Over the past century, the Western choral art has constantly evolved, but in Xiaoshuijing Village, it has retained the traditional skills and methods of older Western church choirs. Today, many domestic and foreign musicologists come here to study the choral art. The villagers amazing voices make many people think they must have accepted professional training, but here any villager who loves music and has a good voice can join the choir. The Xiaoshuijing Ethnic Farmers Choir has maintained about 60 members since its establishment. Currently, the youngest member is 13 years old and the oldest member is over 40. Professionally, it is a four-part mixed choir, and the singing method is neither bel canto singing nor folk singing. None of its members have received professional training, and their skills have been passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. In particular, the four-part a cappella singing has reached a high level and is referred to as a living fossil of Baroque choral music by international vocal music experts. The choir practices for one or two hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, said Li De, deputy head of Xiaoshuijing Ethnic Farmers Choir. Without professional training, it is a unspoken understanding that has glued members into one. In recent years, the Xiaoshuijing Ethnic Farmers Choir has become increasingly well-known. It has attracted many domestic and foreign tourists to visit the village.