[Well-off China] "Hard-core" Farmers' Choir: Although the culture is low, rely on strength to enter the big stage
[Live] Hongbao Village Farmers’ Choir singing
[Explanation] It is a group of farmers who are singing. Some of them have no academic qualifications and do not understand characters; some of them can't even speak Mandarin, but their singing is exceptionally professional. Recently, the reporter came to Hongbao Village, Dazhanchang Town, Zhongning County, Zhongwei City, Ningxia, and walked into the rehearsal room of the farmers' chorus.
[Explanation] The farmers' chorus of Hongbao Village was established in March 2019. The founder Li Zhenhong, as the former deputy curator of Zhongning County Cultural Center, came to Hongbao Village to participate in poverty alleviation work. In the process of poverty alleviation, he deeply felt that many local farmers have the ability to get rid of material poverty through labor, but spiritual poverty is still a long way to go.
[Concurrent] Li Zhenhong, Chairman of Zhongning Musicians Association, Founder of Hongbao Village Farmers' Choir
What I saw at the time was that although our group of ordinary people got rid of poverty, their spirits were empty. They usually played mahjong, drank, and made trouble at home. Family trouble was family discord.
[Explanation] Li Zhenhong decided to help farmers improve their spiritual life before he retired, so he founded the Hongbao Village Farmers Choir. Although the farmers signed up enthusiastically, many of them had a very low level of education, and they didn't even know one big character. Learning chorus is not easy.
[Concurrent] Yang Jihong, member of the Hongbao Village Farmers’ Choir
I really like singing and I came here to sing. I don't know the words, I don't know the score that I typed (out). Sometimes I just take that score and watch it, (still) no, no, no, I really don’t want to sing it. Finally my baby said: Mom, you sing, I will teach you well.
My daughter recorded the voice (of the lyrics) on my mobile phone, and (she) recorded the voice for me so I couldn't understand the words so that I could learn it, and I would learn each sentence. My son is in the second grade this year, and he has been teaching me in the second grade. I sent my son to school in the morning, and got up early to send it to school. I just sat alone with the lyrics while watching.
[Concurrent] Li Zhenhong, Chairman of Zhongning Musicians Association, Founder of Hongbao Village Farmers' Choir
Most of them are people with a particularly low level of education. But their pursuit of life and art is incomparable to ordinary people. Because they persisted for more than a year, every night. They work during the day, and at 18 o'clock in the evening, they have to go home to cook. The pig farmers feed pigs, sheep, sheep, and chickens. After washing and tidying up, they rushed to our Hongbao village from their respective directions. Their perseverance touched me, and I finally persisted until now.
[Live] The members practice their voices and practice freely.
[Explanation] In the rehearsal room, the reporter saw that even during the break time, the choir members practiced non-stop. This effort made their singing more and more professional. In 2019, the Farmers' Choir went to Yinchuan, Ningxia to participate in the national chorus competition-Yinchuan Yellow River Chorus Festival, and won the third prize in the first competition.
[Concurrent] Cao Li, member of the Hongbao Village Farmers' Choir
I didn't expect that our people could enter such a big stage, which is the biggest stage in Ningxia. That was my first time on a big stage, and I was very excited.
[Explanation] As the choir gradually developed and expanded, it also encountered financial difficulties. Participation in competitions and daily rehearsals require funds.
[Concurrent] Li Zhenhong, Chairman of Zhongning Musicians Association, Founder of Hongbao Village Farmers' Choir
Up to now, we have not had any funding. We participated in the competition and paid for our own money. I went back and forth from the city. I drove over every night and went back more than 11 o'clock. I told the team members that the greater the difficulty, the greater our work. Now it has started, and our chorus has seen the light. They are going to invite us to participate in the Beijing International Chorus Festival this year, and may perform at the Great Hall of the People.
[Live] Hongbao Village Farmers’ Choir singing
[Concurrent] Li Zhenhong, Chairman of Zhongning Musicians Association, Founder of Hongbao Village Farmers' Choir
A well-off life is not a material life. Has your culture improved? It is not only your material, culture, etc. (all) that have been improved, but everyone has enjoyed it. This is called (well-off life).
[Concurrent] Yang Jihong, member of the Hongbao Village Farmers’ Choir
I was 11 years old when I came here, I am 50 this year, how many years (it has passed), when I came here, it was really dirty, there was a lot of sand, there was nothing, I never thought about it. It's so good, and there really is such a good (life), come here to sing. The more I sing, the more I like it, the more I sing, the more I like it.
[Concurrent] Cao Li, member of the Hongbao Village Farmers' Choir
I used to watch mobile games when I was at home and I was very impatient. Ever since I joined the choir, I have gained patience, I love to dress up, and I love to tidy up. I feel that my life is also full of hope.
Wen Mengxin Yang Di Ningxia Zhongwei reports
Editor in charge: 【Qi Bin】