An online database of traditional folk songs and songbooks has been launched by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature as part of efforts to preserve the country’s folk literature.
“Two years in the making, the database aims to preserve the gradually disappearing art of folk singing for future generations,” NMTL Director Lee Jui-teng said at the unveiling Jan. 21 at the Tainan-based museum.
“Folk songs and songbooks constitute a precious heritage as they have served to keep our collective memories alive,” he said.
Traditional Taiwanese folk songs are rhymed and performed in a way that combines singing and recitation, accompanied by local stringed instruments, the museum said.
According to Tu Chien-fang, a Holo Taiwanese language specialist and songbook collector, folk songs, as well as Taiwanese operas, are equivalent to an encyclopedia on Taiwan, and are of great academic value.
“Folk singing tells stories and provide information for grassroots audiences,” Tu said. Famous songs tell the early history of the Han Chinese immigrating to Taiwan, and at the time of their origin often served as news sources, he added.
“In earlier days performances were an important source of knowledge and entertainment for people, many of whom also learned to read with the songbooks,” he said.
More than 700 songbooks with explanatory notes and biographies of eight folk singers have been made available online, thanks to the efforts of the Taiwanese Romanization Association, the museum stated. For details, visit http://koaachheh.nmtl.gov.tw/bang-cham/thau-iah.php. (THN)