RED DAO IN VIETNAM

"Baozoo, strictly a cappella, is the style of singing of DAO people (pronounced zao), originated from China where they are called YAO, they actually call themselves MIEN, they are subdivided in 8 different groups with 2 different languages. On this cd , you can listen to the local Red Zao singing star LI MAN MEI (tracks 1 to 7), recorded in Ta Phin village north of Sapa in Lao Cai province. When sung in group, the baozoo is usually canon singing, a female leadsinger have her words repeated by one or more other singers, the first track is actually responsive singing between a man and a woman. Li Man Mei , 30 years old, has a high reputation in Baozoo singing among the red Daos, she started to sing Baozoo at 13 and learned it from her parents, used in festivals and weddings, but also in everydaylife in farm working, or evenings when the moon is round, everybody gather at the yard, and lovers start dating in villages. Melodies of Baozoo do not change, only words do in successive generations. Each person can have his or her own composed words for Baozoo suitable with circumstances and context." (notes de la pochette)