Chinese Musical Culture in the Global Context – Modernization and Internationalization of Traditional Chinese Music in Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Music is an essential part of the Chinese culture, and through its long history of development, a broad spectrum of style and a wide variety of genres have emerged. After the dissolution of the imperial China in the last century, traditional Chinese music has undergone a process of modernization: this includes the formation of the modern Chinese orchestra, reformation of traditional musical instruments, and establishment of “standard” repertories of Chinese music. Besides, as more and more Chinese composers and musicians studied and performed abroad in the recent decades, Chinese musical culture has not only been introduced to the world, but also interacted with other cultures in many different ways: using traditional Chinese instruments alongside the Western instruments in contemporary compositions, synthesizing Chinese and Western musical elements, and incorporating Chinese literatures, philosophy, painting, and other cultural ideas in composing Western contemporary music, to name a few. Through the efforts of music directors, performers, composers and instrument manufacturers, Chinese musical culture was not only modernized, but also internationalized. This chapter aims to examine how the development of the modern Chinese orchestra, reformation of Chinese traditional instruments, and the creation of musical works by contemporary Chinese composers have contributed to the modernization and internationalization of Chinese musical culture in the recent decades.