A Study On The Artistic Style In The Polyphony By Chen Mingzhi

Master Chen Mingzhi is expert in composing polyphony music. Among the large number of his works with unique style and great artistic charm, polyphony takes a considerable proportion which directly reflects his rich experience accumulated from the long-term study, teaching of polyphony and the compiling of theories on polyphony. This paper has not followed the conventional train of thought. It discusses the technological connotation in Master Chen's composing of polyphony in detail in the three parts: thematic composition, combination of vocal parts, structural organization, and further explores the artistic style and characteristics in the polyphony by Chen Mingzhi from the perspective of the method of composing, that is to begin with the study of the component parts of the music and the application of composing skills.The body of the paper includes three chapters.Chapter one: thematic composition. This chapter starts with the derivational mode of motivation and the form of thematic structure, explores the thematic composition in the polyphony by Chen Mingzhi, studies the two regular thematic composing skills: "motive generating" and "motive transferring".Chapter two: combination of vocal parts. This chapter takes "contraposition" and "the mode of reversion" as framework, sums up and analyzes the specific means in the combination of vocal parts in Chen Mingzhi's polyphony. However, the chapter does not involve the common techniques. It focuses on the discussion of "contraposition of the basso ostihato", "the contraposition of mode and tonality", "symmetric reversion", and "the successive reversion"-skills favorably used by Master Chen, through which the flexible and exquisite treatment to the combining of vocal parts in his composing process is displayed completely.Chapter three: structural organization. This point receives the most attention in Master Chen's composing process. Hence, the chapter is the most important one in the paper. The persistent exploration and achievements Chen Mingzhi has made in the structural organization in his music reflect not only his strong emphasis on the formal aesthetic sense and the function of logical structure of works, but also his vigorous artistic creative power. Thus, it is the purpose of this chapter to talk about Master Chen's tries in structural organization. Some pieces containing new ideas are provided and the composing characteristics within these instances are analyzed in detail.At the end of the paper, the author first outlines the artistic style in Master Chen Mingzhi's composing of polyphony. Then he talks about the inspiration he has got in the study of the topic and the process of writing the paper, and hopes to share with the readers.