Flowers on the Battlefield are More Fragrant

Abstract

New Songs of the Battlefield (Zhandi Xinge) is a five-volume anthology of songs published from 1972 to 1976 during the latter half of the Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1976). The songs were designed as new artistic works to promote political campaigns and ideologies. Rarely mentioned in English or Chinese language texts, the songs have long been overlooked for their overt political content from the Cultural Revolution period and perceived lack of attention to artistic merit. Yet the songs had a far-reaching impact on Chinese society and many are remembered today. I present eight musical examples for documentation and analysis as not only a record of music in modern China but also as an account of the unique historical, political, and social period in modern Chinese history. A typical response while pouring over the 556 songs of the anthology is how the songs, their themes, content and language all reveal the history of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Key political campaigns and ideologies of the period are clearly presented in song titles and text. Musically, the songs span a broad range of compositional style, including militaristic chants, mass songs, lyrical ballads, work songs, children's songs, and songs of various ethnic groups. This article offers insight into the anthology through specific musical examples and their political and historical context; the examples may be utilized as reference material for the historic period. English translations, transliterations, and staff notation of original Chinese language and cipher notation source materials are presented in an attempt to make the materials available to a new audience, reaching beyond those familiar with the Chinese language. To begin, major cultural policies that informed the music and arts of the Cultural Revolution period are introduced in relation to the anthology. Then, I provide a brief introduction to the music and arts of the Chinese Cultural Revolution