The Hakka musical A Journey in Song is the 2025 annual production of the Taiwan Hakka Folk Song Chorus. Premiering in Northern Taiwan’s Keelung City on August 17, 2025, the Hakka musical celebrates Hakka culture, community spirit, and modern life. Through its heartfelt story and outstanding performances, the musical offered Keelung audiences a moving artistic experience while marking a brilliant milestone in the chorus’s 35-year journey.
About the Taiwan Hakka Folk Song Chorus
The Taiwan Hakka Folk Song Chorus was founded in 1991 by Lü Chin-ming and Chiang Yun-yu. For more than 34 years, it has been dedicated to preserving and promoting Hakka culture. Guided by the philosophy of “unity and collaboration for shared achievement,” the chorus has earned wide recognition for its excellence, including being named an “Outstanding Team” by the Taipei Hakka Affairs Commission’s Hakka Language Education Center, and it continues to receive strong support from the Hakka Affairs Council.
For decades, the chorus has worked tirelessly to broaden the horizons of Hakka culture and showcase the richness and diversity of Hakka music. Its mission is not only to enrich Taiwan’s cultural landscape but also to nurture the next generation of Hakka musical talent. With more than 500 performances across Taiwan and overseas — including in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic — the chorus has pioneered a new vision for Hakka culture, offering fresh interpretations of traditional Hakka mountain songs to audiences worldwide.
About the Hakka musical production
A Journey in Song is the Taiwan Hakka Folk Song Chorus’ latest production. It’s a delightful Hakka musical that uses a lighthearted narrative to guide audiences through Taiwan’s Hakka villages, inviting them to savor the unique local culture and traditions.
While rooted in Hakka heritage, the story draws from everyday experiences and emotions, making it accessible and relatable across generations and ethnicities. More than just an artistic performance, the production serves as a living portrait of Taiwan’s diverse cultural landscape and a heartfelt continuation of Hakka cultural transmission.
The performance, cast, and Hakka spirit
The cast features seasoned performers who sing and act with authentic Hakka dialect, skillfully using the musical format to bring out the full dramatic and emotional tension of the play. Their performances are natural, vibrant, and versatile — sometimes humorous, sometimes deeply moving — showcasing the expressive power of Hakka performing arts.
For this landmark 35th anniversary, the chorus has poured decades of cultural depth and artistic mastery into the production, offering audiences a truly memorable experience that celebrates both Hakka tradition and creative innovation.
A Hakka tribute to Keelung
Keelung, the first stop of the nationwide tour, holds a special place in the hearts of the performers. To honor the Rainy Port City, A Journey in Song features a specially composed piece titled The Little Melody of the Rainy Port. Written by Lü Jin-ming, honorary citizen of Keelung and co-founder of the chorus, the song expresses the deep affection of the Hakka people for their hometown and their enduring love for Taiwan.
This localized tribute added an emotional layer to the performance — resonating with the Keelung audience, who responded with warm applause and heartfelt appreciation.
About Hakka mountain songs
Hakka mountain songs (客家山歌) are the soul of Hakka culture, deeply tied to the history of Hakka communities living in Taiwan’s mountain regions. Traditionally sung by Hakka settlers during farm work or leisure, these songs convey raw human emotions — joy, sorrow, longing, and love — through powerful, far-reaching vocals.
Improvised lyrics often reflect daily life or romantic expression, and the genre is categorized into three main styles: Lao Shan Ge (老山歌), the oldest and freest form; Shan Ge Zi (山歌子), melodic and refined; Ping Ban (平板), the modern form with fixed rhythm, often used in theater.
Hakka mountain songs are equally famous for their duet style, where men and women exchange verses in witty, flirtatious dialogue. This tradition once gave Hakka women rare autonomy in choosing their partners. Whether sung as a solo or a duet, these songs remain a vibrant symbol of Hakka resilience and cultural vitality.
The Hakka musical journey continues across Taiwan
Following its premiere at the Keelung Cultural Center, the Hakka Musical will continue with performances in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Taichung. This tour marks a pivotal chapter in the Taiwan Hakka Folk Song Chorus’s 35 years of artistic storytelling. It stands as a heartfelt celebration of the timeless beauty and vitality of Hakka culture.
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