Northern Jiangsu Suining The Suona Class Survey

The important folk music phenomenon of SuiNing County "SuonaEnsemble", which lacked the meticulous investigation research and wasovertook by the researchers, has been locally prevalent and existing formore than 300 years according to the recorded pedigree. The author wasborn in the well-known family of "Suona Ensemble" and took part in thethis performance activities from seven years old. Moreover, the author wentto the music college when she was 20 years old. These careers provided theauthor dual background of the inner and outsider. In this dissertation, theauthor takes advantage of this dual background to investigate and researchthe important folk music phenomena of SuiNing County "Suona Ensemble".The dissertation was composed of several parts as following:theintroduction to SuiNing County "Suona Ensemble", the "Ensemble"organization and performance forms,songs system,musical forms,customsand rituals ,and also the musical pieces performed by the "Ensemble".According to the first-hand sources through the author' s field-survey andself-experience, the dissertation made a deep and overall analysis on thegeneral situations and natures of "Suona Ensemble".Moreover the author presents her own points of view on the importantphenomenon related to the music culture of "Suona Ensemble", such as itsstructure and origins, characteristics of music play and local style, and also relations with other elements in local culture through the author's ownanalysis. The author wanted to present the true and impersonal nature andculture background of "Ensemble". Finally, the dissertation provided newmaterials, viewpoints and suggestions to explore the future development of"Suona Ensemble" in modern society.