When "Primitive" Met "Modern"

Modern music is originally from the primitivism. With its development in various stages, it suffers a bottleneck. What people criticize severely are it is indifference, dull and also far away from the audience.Fortunately, the vivid of music which modern music lacks most is abundant in the folk music. In addition folk music contains a large number of elements for modern music to unearth and exert.In this thesis, there are there symphony works-"A Wonder of Naxi "of Zhu Jian-er,"Wuffor Symphony Orchestra)"of Jinxiang and "The Map (Concerto for Violoncello, Video and Orchestra)"of Tan Dun. Author will focus on the integration of ethnic elements in southwest area into modern composition techniques by analyzing those three symphonic works and summarize the characteristics that can provide references for music creation.There are many minority ethnic groups reside in southwest of China. Since ancient times, culture in southwest of China is the intersection of culture in Central Plains, Southeast Asian and South Asian. Different types of culture can be collision, fusion and mutation there, so southwest of China has a very unique regional cultural identity.In recent years, with the increasing comprehensive national power of China, a number of excellent modern symphonic works involved the elements of ethnic groups in southwest attracted more and more attention. Of course, contemporary Chinese composers in three generations play an important role by hard working and tireless exploring in the field of professional music creation.Composer Professor Jin Xiang mentioned that folk music can be divided into upper, middle and bottom layer in his article named "’three traditional levels of folk music". He also pointed that the upper level music belongs to morphological category, middle level belongs to logical category and the bottom level belongs to philosophy and aesthetic thinking category. This thesis analyzes those three orchestral works on different emphases based on the view in "three traditional levels of folk music". Composers create music according to different needs or personality and then select a choice. Some focus on the tunes, some focus on the interval, some focus on rhythm, some focus on the sound, and some focus on structure, even some focus on the image.This paper mainly analyzes music score and video related to find the integration of southwest minority ethic elements and modern composition techniques in those three symphonic works mentioned before. Introduction:Described the Argument basis, Literature review and Content of this thesis.Chapter1:Overview of southwest China and Southwest Minority Music.Chapter II to Chapter IV:Analyze the fusion of southwest minority ethic elements and modern composition techniques in those there symphonic works-"A Wonder of Naxi"of Zhu Jian-er,"Wu(for Symphony Orchestra)"of Jinxiang and "The Map (Concerto for Violoncello, Video and Orchestra)"of Tan Dun from different aspects such as Structure,Pitch organization, Rhythm and Sound characteristics.Chapter V:Compare the similarities and differences of the three works involved the fusion of southwest minority ethic elements and modern composition techniques, and take an emphasis on the aesthetic horizontal comparison.Chapter VI:Describe the integration of southwest Tujia elements and modern composition techniques which reference from author’s another works named "Primer· Fugue· Nuo", specially in two chapter of the Yunnan-Guizhou.This thesis summarizes the integration of ethnic groups in southwest elements and modern composition techniques according to above works. Combining analysis with practice, author realizes that, on the one hand," Primitive " factor in Southwest Minority Music contains "Modern", on the other hand, the "Modern" factor contains " Primitive ". They are the products of southwest minority elements and modern composition techniques."Primitive" and "modern", this pair seems to represent both ends of things, but they can achieve unification during the course of music creation. Combined the traditional gene with modern thinking, works can attract the audience.Modern music creation will be well established and vigorously developing with our precious traditional culture. It is also the valuable enlightenment this paper gives us.