Search - Various Artists :: Music of Yi People in Yunnan

A wonderful collection of folk music

Michael J. Mazza | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 09/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Music of Yi People in Yunnan, China" is a marvelous collection of instrumental folk music. According to the CD's liner notes, the Yi people are a relatively small ethnic group within China.The CD contains music performed on a variety of traditional instruments: the shuye, a sort of flute made from a leaf; the yueqin, a four-stringed lute; the yanhe, a a small percussion instrument; the hoho, described as "a kind of Jew's harp" that is usually made out of brass; the tili, a wind instrument; and more. Some of the performances are solos on a single instrument, and some combine instruments.It's hard to describe the rich variety of music on this CD. The songs range from playful to somber. These instruments have very unique sounds. The shuye is very high-pitched. The hoho has a "twangy," metallic sound that made me think it sounded like something out of science fiction. I especially liked tracks 8 and 9, which had a particularly elegant, lyrical quality.The first time I listened to this CD, much of it was just too "different" for me to appreciate. But on repeated listenings, this wonderful ethnic music has really grown on me. If you're one of the people who was turned on to Chinese music by the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" soundtrack, check out the music of the Yi people."