A Study On The Musical Groups Of The Xinjiang Production And Construction Corps

Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps are a special political and military organization. After the founding of New China in 1949, the formation of'musical groups'within the Production and Construction Corps has been an unprecedented phenomenon, whose emergence is inseparable from prevailing historical conditions, a particular social milieu and the political environment of that time. A special background created special musical groups and, in turn, special musical groups created a special art music. Undoubtedly, the peculiar product of both these music and musical institutions is one of the unique cultural phenomena of contemporary Chinese arts worthy of attention and study.From the historical development of such musical groups, we can see that they appeared with the purpose of promoting the integration of the Han nationality with the cultures of the minority groups in Xinjiang Province. They played a positive role in enriching the contemporary music scene, and in enhancing the cultural life and other aspects of the general public. The presence of musical groups brought about the training of successive batches of talents from the Han and minority groups that have been the backbone of artistic events.Through the stage enactment of the cultural life of these corps, the musical groups offered the world a window on the general life of the big family of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Indeed, by representing the real life and the multi-ethnic integration in Xinjiang, the Corps played a positive social role and fulfilled the very purpose behind their existence.Object of this dissertation are the musical groups originated under that distinctive background. Through the adoption of ethnomusicological methodology and in consideration of the peculiar social, cultural and political milieus determined by the events of the historical period in question, this dissertation conducts an objective and systematic review of the musical groups'process of development. Furthermore, it offers an analysis of a selected musical repertory and of the music culture it represents. Finally, the research allows for an evaluation of the cultural values and historical significance of the musical groups.