Ritual and Music of North China

Shawm Bands in Shanxi

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Music, Theory & Criticism, Ethnomusicology
Cover of the book Ritual and Music of North China by Stephen Jones, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Stephen Jones ISBN: 9781351902984
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: December 5, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Stephen Jones
ISBN: 9781351902984
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: December 5, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

The rich local traditions of musical life in rural China are still little known. Music-making in village society is largely ceremonial, and shawm bands account for a significant part of such music. This is the first major ethnographic study of Chinese shawm bands in their ceremonial and social context. Based in a poor county in Shanxi province in northwestern China, Stephen Jones describes the painful maintenance of ceremonial and its music there under Maoism, its revival with the market reforms of the 1980s and its modification under the assault of pop music since the 1990s. Part One of the text explains the social and historical background by outlining the lives of shawm band musicians in modern times. Part Two looks at the main performing contexts of funerals and temple fairs, whilst Part Three discusses musical features such as instruments, scales, and repertories. The DVD consists of a 47-minute film in two parts, showing excerpts from funerals and temple fairs (complementing Part Two of the text), while a separate section contains a magnificent 1992 funerary performance of a complete shawm-band suite. As a package, the book and DVD illuminate the whole ceremonial context of music-making in rural China, illustrating the ritual-music experience of villagers, with lay Daoist priests, opera troupes, and beggars also making cameo appearances. While the modern stage repertories of urban professionals remain our main exposure to Chinese music, this publication is all the more valuable in showing the daily musical experiences of the majority of people in China. It will appeal to ethnomusicologists, anthropologists and all those interested in modern Chinese history and society.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The rich local traditions of musical life in rural China are still little known. Music-making in village society is largely ceremonial, and shawm bands account for a significant part of such music. This is the first major ethnographic study of Chinese shawm bands in their ceremonial and social context. Based in a poor county in Shanxi province in northwestern China, Stephen Jones describes the painful maintenance of ceremonial and its music there under Maoism, its revival with the market reforms of the 1980s and its modification under the assault of pop music since the 1990s. Part One of the text explains the social and historical background by outlining the lives of shawm band musicians in modern times. Part Two looks at the main performing contexts of funerals and temple fairs, whilst Part Three discusses musical features such as instruments, scales, and repertories. The DVD consists of a 47-minute film in two parts, showing excerpts from funerals and temple fairs (complementing Part Two of the text), while a separate section contains a magnificent 1992 funerary performance of a complete shawm-band suite. As a package, the book and DVD illuminate the whole ceremonial context of music-making in rural China, illustrating the ritual-music experience of villagers, with lay Daoist priests, opera troupes, and beggars also making cameo appearances. While the modern stage repertories of urban professionals remain our main exposure to Chinese music, this publication is all the more valuable in showing the daily musical experiences of the majority of people in China. It will appeal to ethnomusicologists, anthropologists and all those interested in modern Chinese history and society.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book The Psychology of Investing by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Negotiating the Emotional Challenges of Conducting Deeply Personal Research in Health by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Partnerships and Regimes: The Politics of Urban Regeneration in the UK by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book God and the Scientist by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Dateline Havana by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Managing Conflict in the Workplace by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book The Struggle for the Middle East by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Music and Academia in Victorian Britain by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Music Rights Unveiled by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Architecture, Ethics and Globalization by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Politics and Policy Making in Education by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book The Global Advantage by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book A Sociology of Crime by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book The Routledge Handbook of Tourism in Asia by Stephen Jones
Cover of the book Innovation in Play Environments by Stephen Jones
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy