Dedema

Chinese ethnic minority singers trained by the national and local governments constitute a group which has originated from a special need in the country during a given period of time. In Chinese musical history, folk minority singers are uncountable and an ever-present component. The role of such singers has become even more significant since the establishment of the People's Republic of China and because of the attention given to them by the government. As a result, their careers not only show us their personal life, but through their experience it is also possible to observe processes whereby ethnic minority music has been received and used. At the same time, their careers are a mirror of China's modernization. Therefore, their personal stories play an indispensable role in the ethnic minority groups' music history.The research object of the present dissertation is Mrs Dedema, a typical representative of these singers. She is an important symbol of Mongolian musical culture and an outstanding personality in Mongolian musical history. To some extant, her career reflects the line of development of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolian Music. By taking Dedema's career as a case study, the present dissertation will attempt to find the interaction between the ethnic minority singers' careers and the needs of the country. The perspective adopted in the research and analysis is that of the sociology of music, in particular the social theory of Norbert Elias. Furthermore, particular attention will be placed upon answering questions such as how ethnic minority singers choose their life, how they adjust to social and cultural changes, how they rework their role in the face of changing and complicated social relationships.