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王海南

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[交流] A brief introduction to Chinese Traditional Music

share with you!!!A brief introduction to Chinese Traditional Music
the following text from
http://www.philmultic.com/English/Chinese_music.html
http://www.philmultic.com/English/Chinese_music.html
http://www.philmultic.com/English/Chinese_music.html

A brief introduction to Chinese Traditional Musicperspectives
Liu Fang

The difference and common ground of Classical (literati) and folk traditions from the historical perspective.

Generally speaking, there are two kinds of music traditions, namely classical and folk. Music from the “classical tradition” refers to art music or “sophisticated” music composed by scholars and literati (or intelligentsia) in China’s historical past. Chinese classical music often has thematic, poetic or philosophical classifications and is typically played solo, on instruments such as the guqin, a 7-string zither, with over 3000 years of well-documented history, or the pipa, a lute with over 2000 years of history. Traditional music in the classical sense is intimately linked to poetry and to various forms of lyric drama, and is more or less poetry without words. In the same manner as poetry, music sets out to express human feelings, soothe suffering and bring spiritual elevation. The instruments demand not only a mastery of technique but a high degree of sensitivity (and power) to evoke the subtle sonorities and deep emotional expression that rely on the left hand techniques (such as sliding, bending, pushing or crossing of the strings to produce typical singing effects and extreme dynamic ranges), where synchronized ensemble playing is virtually impossible without losing certain subtlety. This type of music has come down to us as an oral tradition from masters to students, although written scores that combine numbers and symbols representing pitch and finger techniques respectively, have been in use for nearly two thousand years. For instance, the earliest scores for guqin we still have today were from the third century. However it is almost impossible to play directly from the score without first having learnt from a master.

In traditional China, most of the well–educated people and monks (intelligentsia) could play classical music as a means of personal meditation, self-purification and self-perfection, union with nature, identification with the values of sages and divine beings, or communication with friends and lovers. They would never perform in public, or for commercial purposes, as they would never allow themselves to be called “professional musicians”. This is in part to keep a distance from the entertainment industry where performing artists used to be among the lowest in social status. In fact, masters of classical music had their own profession as scholars and officers, and would consider it shameful if they had to make a living from music. They played music for themselves, or for their friends and students, and they discovered friends or even lovers through music appreciation (there are plenty of romantic stories about music in Chinese literature). Up to the beginning of the twentieth century, classical music had always belonged to elite society and it was not popular among ordinary people. Today it is really for everybody who enjoys it, and professional musicians playing Chinese classical music are as common as elsewhere in the world. However, it is still rare to hear classical music in concert halls due to the influence of the so-called “Cultural Revolution” (1966 - 1976), when all classical music was deemed to be “bourgeois” and outlawed, and the spiritual side of traditional arts was "washed out" through the "revolutionary" materialism ideology. As well, the influence of modern pop culture since the 1980s has had a negative impact on the popularity of classical music performances.

The above is a painting from the "Five Dynasty" (907-960 AD) depicting pipa playing

While the classical tradition was more associated with elite society throughout Chinese history, the resources for folk traditions are many and varied. Apart from the Han Chinese, there are many ethnic minorities living in every corner of China, each with its own traditional folk music. Unlike classical music, folk traditions are often vocal (such as love songs and story telling etc), or for instrumental ensembles (such as the “silk and bamboo” group and music for folk dances, and regional operas). The various folk melodies have become a major source of inspiration for the growing repertoire of contemporary music. In fact, in many contemporary compositions, existing folk melodies were simply modified, enriched (creatively through advanced playing techniques and the use of harmonies), and extended. Some were transcribed so successfully that they may be regarded as an important part of the growing classical repertoire; for instance the famous "Dance of Yi People" composed by Wang Hui-Ran for solo pipa. The repertoire is further extended by pieces composed or arranged for multi-instrument ensembles. Needless to say, most contemporary works are quite westernized, particularly those for ensembles and orchestras (set up after the models of the orchestras in the West), which are easily accessible to the general public, yet diverge further away from the classical traditions. As well, there are a growing number of performers and listeners who have begun to seriously rethink the spiritual side of the classical tradition, such that there seems to be a revival of traditional culture as part of a growing interest in Chinese classical philosophy, literature, traditional medicine, Taiji and Qigong. On the one hand, it goes without saying that some of today’s excellent creations will become tomorrow’s traditions; on the other hand, great masters from various musical traditions all over the world have never failed to support the famous statement: “Authentic traditional music remains forever contemporary”.

(Note: The above text was prepared for the lecture & demonstration at the Julliard School on November 19, 2008 in New York, and for several interviews (new papers and radio). I wish to take the chance to thank Dr. Annette Sanger for proof reading and improvement in English. I put the whole text here for exchanging ideas with friends in music who might be interested. Any critics, comments and suggestions are warmly welcome. )


[ Last edited by xia_chong on 2010-7-16 at 09:21 ]
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caohualilmy

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小木虫(金币+0.5):恭喜抢沙发,给个红包
Thanks.
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2楼2010-07-16 07:29:23
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小木虫(金币+0.2):抢了个小板凳,给个红包
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yuaneyuping


fangye0413(金币+1):very nice,thank you~ 2010-07-16 08:48:53
some of today’s excellent creations will become tomorrow’s traditions

many contemporary music has been regarded as some classic,

only it is good, the classical it would be.
4楼2010-07-16 07:59:23
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xia_chong

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I rearranged your text. I hope you would not mind!
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5楼2010-07-16 09:23:32
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王海南

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引用回帖:
Originally posted by xia_chong at 2010-07-16 09:23:32:
I rearranged your text. I hope you would not mind!

thank you ~!!!!
先谋生,后谋爱
6楼2010-07-16 10:13:54
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