A Preliminary Study On Teaching Value Of Wang Jianzhong's Piano Music Transcriptions

Prof. Jianzhong Wang (former vice president of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, a professor of composition department) earned his prominence in Chinese piano music history through his plethora of piano music compositions. The original compositions and transcriptions he has produced in the last several decades have become staples in the repertoire for many Chinese pianists.Incorporating a rich selection of musical origins and utilizing a wide variety of compositional techniques, Prof. Wang's music has a distinct blend of creativity and individuality. His works not only provide a variety of technical topics in playing skills but also give more fun to the content of the music with aesthetic characteristics of Chinese style as well, exquisitely integrating techniques of Western music to capture the very essence of the Chinese spirit, and accommodating his own unique understanding of music and artistic accomplishments within, making his works widely acclaimed and well respected among highly accomplished musicians and pianists.His works were created by using different themes from traditional folk songs, or arranging from the melody of the traditional instrumental and theatre music. Addressing to the two distinct forms of music of the West and the East, he is inclined to proceed from audible effects and moods conveyed to seek the applicable techniques while keeping with the characteristics of Chinese music which are typical of being linear, decorative in a harmonious unity. He devised some multi-part approaches to structure of layout thus enriching the sonority and contents of original pieces, expanding the original structure, and adding the moods. The sophistication of his arrangements brings a particular pleasing quality to his audience.Jianzhong Wang's piano transcriptions have a high value of teaching, which serve as some certain subjects for learners from the technical training to aesthetic tastes. His piano transcriptions of traditional Chinese music will serve as a vehicle to help future generations recognize the greatness of the Chinese culture. The students can be exposed to the blend of Chinese music, increase the knowledge of some special vocabulary as well as fondness of Chinese folk music by practicing his works, thus Chinese folk music is developed, spread, and inherited.