Imperialism in School Music: Common Experiences in Two Different Cultures

Abstract

Empire, imperialism and colonialism are all terms that defy easy definition. The variety of imperial regimes and colonial situations demonstrates a “patchwork quilt of ad hoc adaptations to particular circumstance” (Osterhammel, 1997, p. 4). However, this paper does not seek to define such phenomena but to explore their effects on the school music that existed within such regimes. Japanese and British imperialism evolved in distinct ways, but the enactment of imperialism in school music was, ultimately, similar. Two different examples of early twentieth century empires will be considered – Taiwan, a colony of Japan between 1895 and 1945, and the British colonies that were to become Australia with their Federation in 1901 (Parsons, 1999). Central to the notion of empire was the imperial ruler, either emperor or empress. Empire and ruler were celebrated by school children in song and pageant, demonstrating the use of music as a vehicle of messages to be inculcated in the young participants.