A kind of plot, called nostalgia. There is a kind of memory called childhood. Speaking of nostalgia, when it comes to childhood, in the memories of the majority of post-60s, post-70s and post-80s generations, do they often miss some folk culture that accompanies us to spend a lot of happy times? In this issue of the "Local Customs" column, the reporter will take you to understand the intangible folk culture of Hezheng County - "Mimi" to see how many people's childhood memories can be awakened...
In the reporter's memory, Mimi is often a very strange and playful gadget that is active in the hands of the brother next door. As long as he puts the gadget in his mouth and blows it lightly, he can blow out a series of pleasant notes. Later, as I grew up, I discovered that Mimi was actually an instrument that could be used as an accompaniment or to play alone. In our county, when flower singers sing flowers, in addition to using na, erhu, and four strings as accompaniment, there is also a long-standing folk homemade blowing instrument, which makes the sound of "Mimi" and "Mimi" when blowing, and the locals call this instrument "Mimi".
Mimi's method of making it is relatively simple, using only a bamboo and some wicker skin. First cut the fine wool bamboo into a small section about 5 inches long, and then on the bamboo to iron a few cuts suitable for finger pressing, that is, the pronunciation mouth, and then put the whistle made of wicker, poplar, burrs, wheat stalks and other tender skins, pressed to the end of the bamboo, you can play at will, blow out a good song. Before, people's lives were relatively simple, not to mention some recreational activities, and even food and clothing became a problem. In that special era, the masses used some common things in life, including bamboo and wicker, to generate fantastic ideas, make musical instruments by themselves, and in their leisure time, in order to alleviate the bitterness of life and pour out their inner emotions. As a result, Mimi became one of the most favorite musical instruments of the people at that time.
When performing a Mimi blow, put the tube up and press the four holes above the tube with both thumbs and ring fingers, the single tube, the double tube is the same. The sound emitted when blowing is pure and delicate, the tone emitted by the double pipe is grand and simple, because the bamboo pipe is thin and the pipe is short, no matter single, the double pipe also has a high-pitched, loud unique charm, leading the way, its volume is much greater than the horizontal flute. Mimi was originally played by a single pipe, and later imitated the Qiang flute, so it was changed to double pipe and continuous blowing, and this form of blowing can be seen at any time in the state, as well as in the major flower venues in our county and among the herdsmen in the mountains. Mimi from the structural point of view, and Qiang flute is completely similar, are vertical blowing, whether single, double pipe, are four holes to make five tones, and the prototype of Qiang flute is also four holes to make five tones, its structure is the same, especially the double pipe Mimi, the sound emitted is the same as double sound, the timbre is similar to the spring pipe, after the Han Dynasty Qiang people and Han, Tibetan, Hui and other ethnic groups mixed, Qiang flute was developed, from four holes to five holes.
Speaking of Mimi, the reporter has to mention a person here, who is Zhang Yanzhong, a mass member who lives in HeMajia Village, Xinzhuang Township, my county. In November 2015, Zhang Yanzhong, as a folk artist, was awarded the honorary title of representative inheritor of the state-level intangible cultural heritage of Hezheng "Mimi". As a native, Zhang Yanzhong, who grew up running in the mountains and grew up, he has a deep affection for every grass and tree in his hometown. In his spare time, he enjoys singing flowers, writing lyrics, and especially Mimi playing. Usually, he would gather some people in the village who loved the art of musical instruments, sit on the grass at will, sing and blow, not only to please the body and mind, but also to carry forward and inherit this intangible cultural heritage from the folk. In our county, there are many farmers like Zhang Yanzhong, and it is precisely because of them that mimi culture has survived and developed today.
Mimi is really born with the flowers, long-term coexistence, because the flower music is a five-tone scale, Mimi is also a five-tone scale, just suitable for playing the flower tune, so the two complement each other, passed down to this day, enduring. At the annual Songming rock and other flower venues in our county, Mimi leads the way as a solo and accompaniment instrument, forming its unique and irreplaceable artistic rhythm. As a traditional folk musical instrument, Mimi has been loved by people of all ethnic groups so far.
In August 2009, Hezheng "Mimi" was included in the state intangible cultural heritage list. It is hoped that the relevant departments will pay attention to the Mimi culture, further protect and promote it, and let this folk art wonder last a long time and endure in the land of Peace and Politics.