Echoes Of Hakka Sounds 78 RPM Recordings Of Hakka Bayin And Tea Picking Opera During The Japanese Colonial Period

Authors: Su Siou-ting & Liu Mei-chi
Publication Date: December 2024
At the turn of the 20th century, the arrival of the phonograph in Taiwan heralded the birth of the island’s recording industry. Beginning with Hakka performer He A-wen and others who traveled to Japan to record, numerous Hakka Bayin (traditional instrumental ensembles) and Tea-Picking Opera artists later joined in, leaving behind a precious auditory record of their era.
This book offers the most comprehensive catalog to date of 78 RPM Hakka music recordings from the Japanese colonial period, meticulously compiled from archives and metadata across institutions. It also provides an in-depth analysis of Hakka Bayin and Tea-Picking Opera, presenting well-structured, richly documented discussions supported by photographs, label images, and detailed musical commentary. Together, these materials guide readers into the vibrant soundscape of Hakka music from the 1910s to the 1940s.
The volume is divided into three parts:
1. Compilation of Hakka Music Recordings from the Japanese Colonial Period — a systematic cataloging of records labeled as “Hakka Opera,” “Hakka Bayin,” “Cantonese Tea Songs,” and “Hakka Language” in Taiwan’s archival metadata, cross-referenced and verified through original label data and surviving audio files.
2. Analytical Study of Hakka Bayin Recordings from the Period — an examination of label texts, repertoire, and performers, revealing stylistic and cultural nuances within instrumental traditions.
3. Analytical Study of Hakka Tea-Picking Opera Recordings from the Period— exploring the repertoire, dramatic structure, and artists behind these recordings, situating them within the broader history of Taiwan’s recording industry under Japanese rule.
Through sophisticated reconstruction and scholarly interpretation, Echoes of Hakka Sounds revives the historical voices and cultural vitality of early Hakka music, illuminating an era when 78 RPM records carried the rhythms and resonances of Taiwan’s living traditions.