Panyu Shawan was built in the Southern Song Dynasty. Because it is located on the bank of the half-moon-shaped beach of the ancient bay, it is named "Shawan". Walking into the scattered ancient streets and alleys of Shawan Ancient Town is like opening an ancient book, one brick by one, one tone, one by one, this piece of land with more than 800 years of history is written all over it.

In addition to ancient architecture and folk art, many people don't know that this is the birthplace of Cantonese music, where Cantonese music masters such as He Bozhong, He Liutang, He Yunian, and He Shaoxia were born. Long Duo Jin" and a large number of famous Cantonese music.

From the "Pipa King" He Bozhong to the well-known "He's Three Heroes" at home and abroad, Shawan He has learned from others' strengths and is self-contained, which has had a profound impact on the development of Guangdong music. Shawan is one of the areas with the most historical relics of music in Guangdong. So far, it has retained the performance tradition of the folk "private partnership bureau", and its development and inheritance have endured for a long time.

Culture has inheritance and vitality. Walking in the ancient town of Shawan, we feel that the land where the inspiration of Cantonese music originated, the music is still melodious, long and powerful.

Recently, two inheritors of Cantonese music in Shawan, one old and one young, talked with them and listened to their stories.

Watering the Cantonese music tree with enthusiasm In Shawan Ancient Town, there are several euphemistic and soft music sounds from time to time in the streets and alleys.

Over the years, Shawan has spontaneously formed nearly 10 mass music groups of the Private Partnership Bureau and has regularly carried out activities, performing public performances and participating in competitions at all levels. For example, the music clubs include Shawan Guangdong Music Study Club, Cuiyuan Music Club, Shawan Qingluo Music Square, etc. Each school has also established a youth folk band, guzheng club, wind band, etc., with a strong heritage atmosphere.

He Zipu, a native of Shawan in his 70s

"Guangdong music originated from the land of Shawan, which shows that this land is a fertile land for music and has artistic spirituality." He Zipu loves Guangdong music, and has forged an indissoluble bond with Shawan music since he was a child, and later worked in the district cultural center. Engaged in the cultural work of opera.

How to inherit Shawan's music has always been a concern that he can't let go of. Therefore, he taught folk music in Yucai Primary School for many years and established the Guangdong Music Study Club, which organized the students from the folk band of Yucai Primary School to engage in music inheritance activities. Today, some of them have graduated and started working, and some have married and have children, but every Friday, they gather in Sanren Hall to form a music private partner bureau.

San Nim Hall

The San Ren Hall is named after He Bozhong planted the San Ren tree in it. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, San Ren Hall became a gathering place for the elites of the Guangdong music and quyi circles. A large number of Cantonese music famous songs "Raining Bananas" and "Hungry Horse Rattle Bells" were released during this period. In the eyes of Shawan people, San Ren Hall is a very sacred place. "100 years ago, He's Sanjie composed one after another handed down works here. Now every time you go in, it is with awe. ."

In terms of creation, He Zipu has never stopped for a moment. In 2020, in order to boost morale and inspire spirit in the fight against the epidemic, under the organization of the Shawan Cultural and Sports Center, He Zipu, full of affection, presented three works of music and art for the battle against the epidemic with the most lyrical Cantonese music and the most powerful Cantonese artisan. ——"Praise of the Retrograde", "Nan Yue Xing Lin Chun" and "Dragon Boat", use music to unite people's hearts and use music to inspire fighting spirit.

As the representative city-level inheritor of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage" Shawan He's Guangdong Music Project, He Zipu often compares Shawan Guangdong music to a big tree, "Shawan music has a strong growth force and a weak side, so it is necessary to Cultivate the next generation with heart. When they grow up, young people can also support Shawan Music.”

With the support of relevant departments, beautiful Cantonese music has entered many schools in Shawan, and many excellent orchestras such as Qingluo Music Square have emerged among the people. They will lead Shawan Cantonese music out of Shawan and out of Panyu, making Shawan The branches of music flourish. Let Cantonese music sing on the world stage In the fertile soil of Cantonese music, Qingluo Music Square is a new seedling.

Zhang Jinwei, born in Shawan after 1980s, founder of Qingluo Music Square

"The name of our band also comes from Shawan. Because the mountains around Dishuiyan are collectively called Qingluozhang, Qingluo was once synonymous with the ancient region of Shawan. It is this landscape that nurtured us and inspired our music."

As a native of Shawan, Zhang Jinwei has a natural affinity for Cantonese music. "My father is good at Cantonese music, proficient in a variety of ethnic musical instruments, and can also make Cantonese musical instruments. When I was a child, my father invited friends to play Cantonese music at home every night."

The melodious music is like a magnet, deeply attracting Zhang Jinwei. Seeing his son's fascination with music, his father was very happy and began to teach him dulcimer and gaohu. Zhang Jinwei also became his father's "assistant teacher" and went to the school with his father to participate in the rehearsal and teaching of the school's folk orchestra.

Zhang Jinwei, who was immersed in the sound of music, felt a little regretful when he grew up and saw that there were mainly elderly people in the private partnership bureau. "Many of them were still singing Cantonese opera, not Cantonese music. Cantonese music was purely musical. At that time, That's when the idea of creating a young orchestra came into being."

In 2015, Qingluo Music Square, a small ensemble dedicated to performing, practicing and studying Cantonese music, was established by 7 local Shawan local young people. Everyone, and every member has participated in the elementary school students' folk ensemble and learned to play Cantonese music when they were children, so they have the foundation and interest in musical instrument performance since childhood.

After the establishment of Lefang, Zhang Jinwei became more busy. On the one hand, it is necessary to organize the rehearsal of the band and participate in the performance activities;

Shawan Qingluo Music Square mainly plays gaohu, erxian, bamboo violin, dulcimer, pipa, muruan, Yehu, cello, suona, flute and dongxiao. All the musical instruments, props and costumes of the band are purchased by the members themselves without any sponsorship. "The members of the band have different occupations. Although everyone is very busy, they will show up on time for every rehearsal. Behind this is a love and sense of responsibility for Cantonese music."

"To spread the Cantonese music of Shawan to the national stage and the world stage." This is Zhang Jinwei's pursuit.

In recent years, Shawan Ancient Town has also actively carried out intangible cultural heritage research tours and intangible cultural heritage classrooms, focusing on the theme of Guangdong music in Shawan, integrating Guangdong music into research and learning. Experience, let more children deepen their knowledge and understanding of Cantonese music, fall in love with Cantonese music, and join the inheritance team.