Research On The Inheritance And Development Of Yangzhou Music In The Republic Of China

Although the history of Republic of China is very short, the music in Yangzhou area (hereinafter referred to as Yangzhou Music) during this period reached significant achievements.Many works and artists representing Yangzhou folk arts, drama and folk music played an important part at home and abroad, which also represented the cultural deposits of Yangzhou city.Yangzhou Music contains a wide range of contents, which include folk arts, drama, dance, music, folk songs, folk literature, religion, folk custom, acrobatics and athletics. The object of the research is limited to three branches of Yangzhou Music during the period of Republic of China, which are folk arts, drama, and folk music. The reasons are:firstly, Yangzhou folk arts, drama and folk music during the period of the Republic laid a solid foundation for the further development. For example, Weiyang Opera developed into Yang Opera; the "Mei" style of singing created by Mei Lanfang eventually made Peking Opera to be the quintessence of Chinese culture. Secondly, the cultural precipitation of Yangzhou folk arts, drama and folk music during the period of the Republic make it possible for them to be lisited in provincial and national levels of Intangible Cultural Heritage in later new times. Thirdly, Yangzhou folk arts, drama and folk music during the period of the Republic produced solid foundation for the study of singing theory in new times. Their academic achievements have filled in study gaps of the singing theory of Yangzhou opera and folk music, which also have deepened the Chinese music research and Yangzhou music research.Folk music handed down from the period of Republic of China reflect people’s eager to freedom under the war, no matter in the aspect of its form or contents. The most significant accomplishments are:1. the world famous melody tune "Jasmine" that involved from Qingqu tune of "Flower"; 2.the formation of Weiyang Opera, which is a revolutionary and historical achievement of Yangzhou drama; 3. The singing style of "Mei" developed by Master Mei Lanfang, which helps Peking Opera became the quintessence of Chinese culture; 4. "China Songs" composed by Zhu Ziqing and "New Songs" composed by Ren Zhongmin, which are great works of cultural theory study of Yangzhou Music. The writer researched Yangzhou folk arts, drama and folk music during the period of the Republic in inheritance and development aspects, and further illustrated the point of view that "the period of the Republic of China is an important period to Yanzhou Music. Yangzhou Music in this period takes an important role in Chinese Music History.