The Establishment and Role of Western Popular Music in China and Chinese Popular Music

Abstract

This research paper seeks to explain and demonstrate the influence of Western popular music on the music of China.  There will be focus on the traditions of Chinese music and its strong influence on the culture of China including how Western musical influence has affected the culture of China.  The ways Western music has helped Chinese popular music evolve will also be a focus of this paper.The evolution of Chinese music over time, from ancient times to modern day, will also be discussed in depth.

The key characteristics of modern Chinese popular music will be defined and compared to those of Western popular music to show the strong influences.  Traditional Chinese music and popular Western influenced Chinese music both play a role in today’s modern music scene in China and this will also be discussed.  The views and opinions of society in China will also be shared as it pertains to the development of modern popular Chinese music.

To pinpoint the influences and affects of Western music on Chinese music this paper will look at the role of musical instruments and the different types of music that have played in this process of musical evolution.

There will be discussion of traditional musical instruments and the importance they played in traditional Chinese music.Another major focus of the paper will be on the different Chinese musical groups and artists that have come about as a result of Western popular musical influence.  Some popular Western musical groups and artists will also be highlighted regarding the influence they played on modern popular Chinese music. There will also be discussion of how Western musical instruments have helped in the change to modern Chinese popular music.

This paper will show how the fusion of Western popular music and Chinese music has changed many things within the culture in China and how music is viewed in today’s modern China.  Through in depth discussion and research into the evolution of music through time, the role of musical instruments, cultural thoughts and opinions and various musical artists, this paper will show that Western popular music has greatly influenced Chinese popular music but that traditional music is still widely respected in the country.

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