Musical Composition Literacy and Arrangement Techniques in Chinese Pop Music

Huifeng Bi, Natthapong Prathumchan

Abstract


This study explores the musical composition literacy and arrangement techniques in Chinese pop music. The research investigates how traditional Chinese musical elements and modern global influences are synthesized in contemporary Chinese pop music. The objective is to investigate and analyze the musical composition literacy and arrangement techniques in Chinese pop music, specifically focusing on the song “Qi Mei Di” by Guo Ding. The study was conducted through a qualitative research design involving an instrumental case study, which focused on a detailed examination of a single song and involved semi-structured interviews with three key informants: a composer, a music producer, and an arranger directly involved in the Chinese pop music industry. The data analysis includes thematic coding of interview transcripts and content analysis of the song “Qi Mei Di,” examining its musical structure and arrangement techniques. The results reveal that Guo Ding’s work exemplifies the integration of traditional Chinese music with modern pop sensibilities, highlighting emerging trends in Chinese pop music towards greater complexity and sophistication. This research contributes to understanding how musical literacy is developed and applied in Chinese pop music. It suggests that future studies should explore the impact of digital technology and music education on these practices. The findings have implications for educators and practitioners in music composition and arrangement, particularly in non-Western music traditions.

Keywords


Chinese pop music, Musical Literacy, Composition, Arrangement Techniques, Cultural Hybridity

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bei, M., & Jian, L. (2024). The Development of Jazz in China and Its Intercultural Influence on Chinese Pop Music, from the 20th Century to the 21st Century. African and Asian Studies, 23(3), 254–282. https://doi.org/10.1163/15692108-12341626

Bombardieri, K. (2024). “More Than Just Composers”: Teachers’ Identities as Music Creatives and the Impact on Teaching Composition. Nota Bene: Canadian Undergraduate Journal of Musicology, 17(1), 24-50. https://doi.org/10.5206/notabene.v17i1.17195

Carl, R. (2020). Music Composition in the 21st Century: A Practical Guide for the New Common Practice. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781501357619

Carroll, C. (2019). ‘Illiterate’musicians: an historic review of curriculum and practice for student popular musicians in Australian senior secondary classrooms. British Journal of Music Education, 36(2), 155-171. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265051719000196

Cayari, C. (2021). Popular practices for online musicking and performance: Developing creative dispositions for music education and the Internet. Journal of Popular Music Education, 5(3), 295-312. https://doi.org/10.1386/jpme_00018_1

Chen, V. M. C. (2022). From ‘Chinese Music’to ‘Guoyue’: Shanghai Musicians and Translated Traditionality, 1919-1937. Music & Letters, 103(3), 493-531. https://doi.org/10.1093/ml/gcab092

Cook, N. (2021). Music: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780198726043.001.0001

Dai, S., Zhang, H., & Dannenberg, R. B. (2024). The Interconnections of Music Structure, Harmony, Melody, Rhythm, and Predictivity. Music & Science, 7, 20592043241234758. https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043241234758

De Clercq, T. (2024). The Practice of Popular Music: Understanding Harmony, Rhythm, Melody, and Form in Commercial Songwriting. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003331155

He, X., & Sornyai, P. (2023). Cultural Studies and Heritage Education of Nanyin Performance Art in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 11(4), 141-150. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.11n.4p.141

Ho, W. C. (2019). Citizenship education and music education: exploring the crossroads between globalisation and localisation in Taiwan. Music Education Research, 21(3), 228-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2019.1598347

Ho, W. C. (2023). Culture, Creativity, and Music Education in China: Developments and Challenges. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003351313

Jones, A. F. (2020). Circuit Listening: Chinese Popular Music in the Global 1960s. U of Minnesota Press. https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctvxw3p2k

Law, W. W., & Ho, W. C. (2015). Popular music and school music education: Chinese students’ preferences and dilemmas in Shanghai, China. International Journal of Music Education, 33(3), 304-324. https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761415569115

Li, A. (2024). The historical evolution of the popularization of classical music and the development of the fusion of multiple musical styles. Herança, 7(1), 113-125. https://doi.org/10.52152/heranca.v7i1.810

Li, D., & Choatchamrat, S. (2024). Preservation and Literacy Transmission of Pipa and Guzheng Duets in Pu Dong Style. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(1), 133-139. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.1p.133

Loh, M., & Sing, L. Y. (Eds.). (2020). Traditional Chinese Music in Contemporary Singapore. Pagesetters Services.

Prats-Arolas, I. (Ed.). (2024). Cognate Music Theories: The Past and the Other in Musicology (Essays in Honor of John Walter Hill). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003311690

Swindali, T. (2020). Music Elements: Music Theory, Songwriting, Lyrics & Creativity Explained. Tommy Swindali.

Tobias, E. S. (2015). From musical detectives to DJs: Expanding aural skills and analysis through engaging popular music and culture. General Music Today, 28(3), 23-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1048371314558293

Vasil, M. (2019). Integrating popular music and informal music learning practices: A multiple case study of secondary school music teachers enacting change in music education. International Journal of Music Education, 37(2), 298-310. https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761419827367

Wang, Q., Coemans, S., Siegesmund, R., & Hannes, K. (2017). Arts-based methods in socially engaged research practice: A classification framework. Art/Research International: A Transdisciplinary Journal, 2(2), 5-39. https://doi.org/10.18432/R26G8P

Wang, S. (2023). Operatic Tradition and Its Transnational Refashioning: A Case Study of The Banquet (2006). In From Stage to Screen: The Legacy of Traditional Chinese Theatre in Chinese Martial Arts Cinema Soundtracks (pp. 109-155). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7037-5_6

Wei, W., & Thotham, A. (2024). Literacy through Composition Techniques in the Chinese Yan Huang Style of Composer Bao Yuankai. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(2), 130-136. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.2p.130

Wu, Y., & Chuangprakhon, S. (2024). Preservation and Transmission Guidelines of Salar Vocal Folk Music. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 12(1), 186-192. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.1p.186

Yang, Y., & Welch, G. (2023). A systematic literature review of Chinese music education studies during 2007 to 2019. International Journal of Music Education, 41(2), 175-198. https://doi.org/10.1177/02557614221096150

Zager, M. (2021). Music production: A manual for producers, composers, arrangers, and students. Rowman & Littlefield.

Zhang, Q., & Negus, K. (2020). East Asian pop music idol production and the emergence of data fandom in China. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 23(4), 493-511. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877920904064




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.12n.4p.175

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

2013-2024 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.

International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies  

You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.