The Soundtrack of a Culture
For the Dong ethnic group, life without song is like a sky without stars . The Kam Grand Choirs—a UNESCO-recognized cultural treasure—weave music into every stage of life, from lullabies for newborns to harmonies that echo through mountain villages at sunset.
From Cradle to Golden Years
Imagine learning to sing before you can read ! Dong children master complex polyphonic harmonies early, their voices blending like mountain streams. Elders gather under ancient drum towers
, transforming sunny afternoons into symphonies of memory. \"Our songs are diaries written in melody,\" says 78-year-old choir member Wu Meiling.
More Than Music
These choirs aren’t just performances—they’re living history books . Through intricate \"grand songs,\" generations pass down tales of love, harvests, and battles. Recent social media trends (#FolkRevival) have sparked global interest, with TikTok covers of Dong songs amassing millions of views
.
Why It Slaps
In our AI-generated playlist era , the Kam choirs remind us that the best tracks come from human connections. As one young singer told us: \"When we sing together, the mountains themselves harmonize.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com