The Attitude of Chinese Youngsters to the Classical Music Phenomenon - Essay Example

CHINESE YOUTH AND ICAL MUSIC Introduction: Music has been one of the most essential parts of art and culture in almost all societies and regionsof the world for centuries; it is therefore it is aptly regarded as the food for heart and soul. The history reveals the very fact that the people belonging to ancient civilisations were lovers of music and dance, and they invented and applied various musical instruments for recreational and amusement purposes. Being one of the oldest civilisations of the world, China is viewed as the pioneer in the fields of music, sculpture, art and poetry, and the Chinese have introduced divergent forms of music during Zhou and Han regimes, which won applause and popularity in different areas of the world. Celebrated Chinese philosopher, mathematician and musician of ancient times i.e. Confucius invented Solitary Orchid and other instruments, which has similarity with the modern music. The neighbouring countries including India, Russia and others also sought inspiration from Chinese music and incorporated the same instruments and tones in their local music. There was a time when China strictly observed political and social isolation and did not muddle up with the outer world. However, her independence in 1949 brought revolutionary changes in the culture of the country and the Chinese people got acquaintance with the outer cultures and traditions. It inspired the Chinese people adopt some cultural traits of western civilisation; western music was also one of these forms of popular culture, which sought its sure headway in this populous state of Far East. The modern era brought tremendous changes in its aftermath and the world witnessed globalisation in the wake of technological revolution. The people experienced wide range of travelling opportunities for educational, health, business and recreational purposes, which helped them inter-mixing of divergent cultural traits in pole-apart countries of the world. The artists also visited western societies and got introduced with classical music of Europe. Consequently, the Chinese youth had familiarity with latest music too including pop, techno, rock-n-roll and others, which mitigated the trend of classical music among Chinese youth. “The Chinese enthusiasm suggests the potential for a growing market for recorded music and live performances just as an aging fan base and declining record sales worry many industry executives in Europe and the United States. Sales for a top-selling classical recording in the West now number merely in the thousands instead of in the tens of thousands, as they did 25 years ago.” (Kahn & Wakin, 2007, p. 2) Thus, classical music may seem to have little impact on Chinese youth in modern era. It also looks evident that the Chinese younger generation has not bothered to explore the genre of classical music.  Plausible reasons could be because of the much hyped and upbeat music rhythms that define today are pumped up lifestyle. In retrospect, classical music is kept more at the back end because of its unappealing look and feel, thus ignoring its positive impacts on health. The purpose of this study is to find out factors which affect the attitude of Chinese youngsters and how they perceive the classical music phenomenon to be today. “The independent music group have developed to a greater diversity: from rock, punk, to electronic, hip-hop, folk, experimental, indie pop, jazz, etc. With less than a year, more than 2,000 bands/ musicians have opened their homepages on Douban.com, among which indie pop, electronic and folk tend to stay on top.” (Zhang & Li, 2009, p.1) There is a need to discuss the opinions of Chinese young people on the subject .Through this research, the majority of Chinese young people will benefit from it. To listen to classical music not only enhance young peoples character and mental levels but also stable emotional and relax.(Juslin,2001) Personal preferences and liking have a strong link to the field of consumer behaviour. Personal choices of the consumer depend on the background they come from and the life style they lead. (Johnson, 2002). With the way the generation is changing with time, we can observe around us that the demographics are also constantly changing for all age groups. There was a time that classical music attracted a lot of young people, but with time there is a gradual shift from this and now the younger generation is getting attracted towards hard rock music and other different types of music. The project will help to find out the factors that will cause the younger generation to get attracted towards music again. Consumer behavior tends to change due to various factors that cause an influence on their decisions. This project will be an investigation towards finding out the factors for influencing the younger generation towards classical music again, the research would be accomplished by collecting data from Robinson Library and looking up some Network information and literature, magazines. Background Music is enjoyed by almost all parts of the population. Each segment has their own tastes of music, they may vary from soulful to rock, pop and even classical music. Now with the mass media and the Internet, makes music appreciation and consumption of any age more quickly, effectively and comprehensively. In the last few years, in China large and small concerts are also more and more appear on the TV screen. Charts, concert, concert, and more music-related terms for most students, and Stephanie Sun, Jay Chou, and other singers and groups those are all too familiar with music, very few people like classical music less. The section liking classical music is reducing and especially in the Chinese younger generation. Data available of the entire mass of the Chinese orchestra depicts that the information is less concrete considering any aspect related to its audience. The symphony orchestra has diversified instruments; with time the composers have to work with complex things and their works written are more intricate that are suitable to the artistic needs required (Melvin, 2004).Traditional music has become obsolete in today’s lifestyle, and the essence of music is focused more towards the bodily rhythmic movements and the catchy notes that provides, rather than the main influence and quintessence of the form of classical music. The need for classical music has been eradicated and the thirst for pop music is both commanding and influential. Classical music is considered as the most primitive form of music. Sadly, the most Chinese youth today gives no importance and holds no desires to learn classical music. In many cultures the study of classical music was a must but youth nowadays are losing interest in learning this genre of music. Classical music, which had been previously considered as the largest achievement of epoch, was gradually replaced by pop, rock, folk music in the modern society. At present return to classical music is very important, because it will promote revival of traditional cultural values and help contemporaries to understand culture and world outlook of the past generations. This topic is differently appreciated by artists and musicologists. Sheila Melvin and Jindong Cai in “Phapsody in Red” discover development of Western classical music in China of twentieth century. This historical period was difficult for national culture, as there were many coup detat, rebellions, national liberation movements and communist revolution. The authors demonstrate positive impact of Western classical music within instable socio-political context. Shanghai National Orchestra became the first large centre of classical music, as Shanghai was an administrative centre of British Empire in China. This example proves that western instruments and musical preferences can easily merge with Chinese classical music and theatre. Success of pianist Mario Pad and Chinese musician Tan Shuzen showed that the above music had a large target audience in 1910 – 1930th in China. Thus, it became an integral part of Chinese culture, education and music, as China was under continuous influence of Europe countries. In the book “Flying Dragons, Flowing Streams” Ronald Riddle draws a parallel with integration of Western music in life of Chinese Americans. Chinatown became the place of mixture of two different cultures and a gradual assimilation started. Western popular and classical music had been coexisting with Chinese classics in 1930th – 1950th. “In the late 1970s both Western classical music and arrangements of Chinese melodies were rehearsed and performed by the Chinese American Youth Orchestra, conducted by Timothy Chan and sponsored by the Chinese Cultural Foundation.” (Riddle 1983, p. 208). The orchestra consisted of young Chinese Americans and successfully performed throughout the USA. Thus, Chinese Americans incline to Western pop and classical music, but try to remain their national culture in the new motherland. Melvin and Cai regard the period of the Hundred Flowers Movement (1957) and the Cultural Revolution as decadence of Western classical music in China. Impact of foreign music was pernicious for Chinese youth, that’s why all educational institutions, orchestras and schools related to Western classical music were destroyed and forbidden. Harrison (1963) states that plenty of classical pieces of music are related to Christianity, church service and religious rites. “The ritual of Christian worship and the architecture that housed it provided both a framework for the arts and an aural and visual representation of Christian history and belief.” (Harrison & Hood 1963, p. 10) Thus, there was a strong reason for Mao Tse-tung’s regime to forbid it. Interest of the youth towards the best music was artificially suppressed. On the contrary from previous authors, Juslin and Sloboda (2001) discover perception of music on emotional and intuitive level. Western classical music attracts the Chinese due to a stable system of values. Integration of the above music into Chinese conservative culture reminds an exchange of values. It brings novelty in Chinese life style and promotes broadening cultural outlook. REFERENCES: http://www.scribd.com/doc/14550321/China-Youth-Trends-and-Biz-Implications-by-China-Youthology Read More