Environment and Social Psychology

Cultural musical expression and place attachment shaped by natural soundscapes: An environmental psychology analysis of Yugur folk song singing styles

Zixuan Li

Faculty of Music, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Tazul Izan Tajuddin

Nusantara Institute of Creative Arts INSAN, UiTM, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i11.4233

Keywords: Yugur folk songs; natural soundscapes; place attachment; vocal acoustic adaptation; environmental psychology

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Abstract

This study investigates how natural soundscapes of the Qilian Mountain grasslands shape Yugur folk song singing styles and foster place attachment among ethnic communities in western China. Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted acoustic measurements of 42 traditional songs, analyzed vocal resonance patterns through spectral analysis, and administered place attachment scales (M=4.23, SD=0.67) to 126 Yugur singers across four communities in Sunan County. Semi-structured interviews with 18 tradition bearers explored environmental influences on vocal techniques. Results revealed that singers in open grassland areas demonstrated significantly higher chest resonance frequencies (mean 3,350 Hz, SD=186 Hz) compared to valley dwellers (mean 3,050 Hz, SD=210 Hz), with vocal projection distances averaging 1.2 kilometers in pastoral settings. Place attachment scores positively correlated with the use of traditional elongated vowels and auxiliary syllables (r=0.68, p<0.01), suggesting these vocal adaptations strengthen emotional connections to landscape. Eastern Yugur singers exhibited 32% longer breath phrases than Western groups, reflecting adaptation to expansive terrain requiring far-carrying voices. The preservation of environment-specific vocal techniques emerges as crucial for maintaining cultural identity and psychological wellbeing. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating natural acoustic environments in cultural heritage conservation strategies and suggest that traditional singing practices function as mechanisms for environmental bonding and community resilience.

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