Music heritage and cultural memory of Gür songs in Ordos, China

This study examines the transmission and preservation of Gür songs, a traditional form of Mongolian court music in Ordos, China. The research addresses the critical challenge of safeguarding this cultural heritage due to its limited audience, aging performers, and historical policies that have isolated Mongolian culture. Gür songs face potential extinction because of their limited social dissemination and the aging of primary performers. Historical policies, particularly during the Manchu Qing dynasty and the Cultural Revolution, have significantly impacted the transmission of Gür songs. Recent recognition of Gür songs as a national intangible cultural heritage has not sufficiently addressed these challenges due to minimal documentation and the imminent passing of ‘inheritors.’ The transmission of Gür songs faces multiple challenges, including limited social dissemination, an aging population of inheritors, and the impact of historical policies from the Qing dynasty, which led to cultural isolation. The destruction of cultural heritage during the Cultural Revolution further exacerbated the issue, as Gür songs have since been preserved only through oral transmission, increasing the risk of distortion. Despite being recognized as intangible cultural heritage, the number of inheritors remains limited, and they are mostly elderly, while research and systematic preservation efforts are insufficient. Cultural memory plays a vital role in preserving Gür songs, as it not only concerns the music itself but also the collective identity of the Mongolian community in China. Therefore, the critical challenge is to find a preservation strategy that maintains the authenticity of the music while ensuring its sustainable transmission. This study aims to explore and describe Gür songs through their performance and transmission within the Mongolian–Chinese cultural context, to investigate the sustainability of Gür songs after being recognized as music heritage of Ordos, and to demonstrate possible ways Gür songs can constitute cultural memory through audio and visual recordings. Using a qualitative research approach, this study conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Ordos, China. Collected data include interviews with four key informants, audio and video recordings of cultural performances, high-resolution photographs, secondary data such as music manuscripts, as well as field notes. Data were analyzed through discourse analysis, metaphorical analysis, taxonomic analysis, and music analysis to uncover themes and patterns related to the subject matter. The findings of this study reveal that Gür songs are a crucial music genre that encapsulates significant characteristics of Mongolian culture, functioning as both music heritage and cultural memory for the Mongolian ethnic group in Inner Mongolia. Through detailed analysis, it becomes clear that Gür songs possess unique musical structures and employ both explicit and implicit metaphors in their lyrics, further enriching their cultural significance. Since being recognized as national intangible cultural heritage, Gür songs have experienced rapid development, aiding their preservation and continued practice within the community. Videos produced during the fieldwork were categorized and shared using modern media technologies, demonstrating how Gür songs can be preserved as cultural memory and promoted in contemporary contexts.

Text 122820.pdf Download (1MB) Official URL or Download Paper: https://ethesis.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18682

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