[Explanation] In a rehearsal venue in Lanzhou urban area, Mongolian musician Bailege held a matouqin and closed his eyes to perform the khumai. His long and thick voice carried the breath of the vast grassland.
Born in Bailege, Subei Mongolian Autonomous County, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, he has a natural affinity for music in his bones.
Originating from his love for music, he initiated the establishment of the original ecological band "Chaoge Group" when he was in college. The band is committed to combining the music of nomads with modern aesthetics.
Twelve years have passed, and the "Chaoge Group", which has faded away from the campus greenness, has become more mature and has become famous locally. There are not only the character story documentaries created by CCTV's Chaoge Band, but also many overseas musicians. Come and listen to their original music style.
A few days ago, the person in charge Baileg introduced to reporters in his rehearsal hall that the band mainly consists of national musical instruments such as matouqin, chaoer, tobeshur, Tuva sheepskin drum and ikele, and also adds western instruments such as guitar and cello. Finally, the singing methods such as khumai and long tune are added to show the charm of national music.
[Concurrent] Baileg, the leader of Chaoge Band
Give it a modern treatment, an arrangement, and then make it more in line with the music preferences and aesthetics of today's young people, and then rejuvenate it.
For example, there is a song called "The Rising Sun". This song is a folk song. When we arrange it, we will add some jazz to it. It's very simple (singing), but we now add deng deng deng (singing), and you will sound a little more modern.
[Commentary] Min Zhengyao, a young drummer who played drums since he was a child, recalled his first contact with the "Chaoge Band" on the spot, and there were still tears of excitement in his eyes. In his opinion, it was the first time he heard original ecological music such as Khumai, which made him feel to the soul of music.
In terms of modern arrangements, he combined traditional sheepskin drums with modern drum kits, and adjusted the orientation.
[Concurrent] Min Zhengyao, drummer of Chaoge Band
When they were doing a concert at that time, I went to the concert, and I felt that it was very good at that time. I didn't even get a seat. The original ecology and some Mongolian music, I felt very, very good at that time, and I felt like my heart was melting.
At that time, I thought that if I could try to play the drums for "Chao Ge", it would feel really good.
At the beginning, when I entered "Chaoge", I actually played the tambourine, and then started to play the Tuva drum. Now we may have to transform and combine the Tuva drum with the kit drum.
[Commentary] Chen Zixuan, who is the guitarist in the band, studied Bel Canto as an undergraduate. During his school days, guitar was just a hobby. By chance, he was shocked by the "magic" singing form of Khumai, which can produce two voices, so he used the guitar Joining the band as a hand, this insistence is nearly nine years.
[Concurrent] Chen Zixuan, guitarist of Chaoge Band
When I was shocked by it (Khumai) at first, I thought it was amazing. I have never been exposed to this style before I was 18 years old. When Khumai comes out, you will find that two voices are made at the same time. It will feel very magical.
[Explanation] In the end, the captain Baileg told reporters that the music style has different customs and customs, and the music nourished by Gansu's unique northwest "flavor" is rich, bold and delicate.
Living in this multi-ethnic land may bring new vitality to Mongolian and other nomadic folk music such as "Moon Night" and "Honggur" through modern creation and adaptation.
Reporter Li Yalong Xu Xue from Lanzhou, Gansu
Responsible editor: [Bian Liqun]