Dylan has also adapted traditional melodies in many of his other albums but kept his lyrics contemporary. Based on British and North American folk music, Dylan developed his own style and played an important role in the revival of folk music in the 20th century. Blowin' in the Wind is an adaptation of the old spiritual song No More Auction Block. Masters of War came from the English folk song Nottamun Town. The Times They Are a-Changin' was influenced by the Irish and Scottish ballads Come All Ye Bold Highway Men and Come All Ye Tender Hearted Maidens.

Unfortunately, China has yet to produce an equivalent of Dylan, who is able to develop songs rooted in the Chinese aesthetics and at the same time incorporate contemporary lyrics.

One reason is that in China, traditional music is not part of mainstream education. Apart from students of music conservatories, others are not exposed much to folk music.

The Ministry of Culture has sponsored Collection of Chinese Folk Songs, a series of anthologies covering over 40,000 folk songs from all over the country. But without accompanying recordings, the books serve little purpose. Folk songs are, after all, sounds.

We don't have the Library of Congress recordings like the Americans do. Field recordings by ethnomusicologists are all archived in academic institutions, off limits to the public.

Folk songs, which used to be passed down orally from generation to generation, are marginalized in this new media age. If they are not recorded and promoted, they will be gone. The overall downgrading of the recording industry has certainly contributed to the agenesis of folk CDs, but it is also sad to note that folk songs are often dealt with contemptuously in China, in the face of imported culture.

Perhaps the government, NGOs and academic researchers should establish a museum or library of sounds to preserve this priceless treasure.

While commercial companies should increase the recordings and promotion of this genre of music. Otherwise, Chinese risks becoming strangers of their own heritage. Through these efforts, who knows, we might be able to see a revival of Chinese folk songs.

Contact the writer at muqian@chinadaily.com.cn

Editor: Xu Xinlei