One song explains a thousand sorrows: Ou Junxiang's Di Shui Nanyin and its libretto

"A Song Explains a Thousand Sorrows - Two Collections of Au Kwan-cheung's Di Shui Nanyin Singers" is planned and published by Au Kwan-cheung Cantonese Opera Society and produced by Lighthouse Publishing House.

The whole book takes Master Au Kwan-cheung's Nanyin art as the main body, and consists of four parts: Nanyin, life, musical instruments, and arias. It provides an in-depth understanding of this ancient Guangdong rap art and a savory appreciation of this highly contagious Macao cultural heritage.

"The good folk songs of Cantonese...the songs do not have to be elegant in words, and the words do not have to be full-leaf. They are accompanied by slang and local accents. One sentence may be sung for half an hour, and the sound is long and graceful, and it returns to its original form. If you are not willing to go all the way, your words will be extremely colorful and your emotions will be extremely intense, making people happy and sad but unable to stop. This is the greatest sign of good." - Qu Dajun, "Guangdong News" (1678)

Nanyin is an ancient tune with a simple singing style. Avoid using too many scales, which will affect the tidy and solemn taste of the songs. The Nanyin accent has a sense of desolation and passion. The form and melody of Nanyin must be coordinated and the meaning of the music and lyrics should be revealed.

The beauty of Cantonese language is largely preserved in Nanyin music and lyrics. Cantonese has nine tones and six tones, making it a rare existing dialect that retains the characters for entering tones.