Chinese Music For The Eyes Of Westerners

At the beginning of the musical communication between China and western world, missionary played a main and important role. They are both the intermedium and the avant-courier who let the western world knew Chinese music. The western music and Chinese music collided but made great improvements through the interchanging by the missionaries, Matteo Ricci was a famous deputy among all of them. In the history of the musical communication between China and western world, Matteo was the first one to introduce systematic Chinese music to western people. The interchange became more flourishing till the 18th century.《The Chinese orphan》obtained hot welcome after it was translated and published in the west at the exactly time, and almost all Europeans knew this drama. Till 19th century, Chinese music was at the zenith of its rage through all kinds of performances was held in many western counties, especially at the Broadway of America. But from the view of the affects of their influences, the two kinds of music was difficult to have the opportunity of equal interchange and deep communication because they were just a kind of curiosity about Chinese music. But with the coming of the 20th century, new phenomenons was presented, there were a popular trend to mix Chinese classic music with western music, Mahler and his《Song of the Earth》were also the first deputy. Chinese melodies were accepted by western songs, especially the《Mo Li Hwa》, which was so famous and was blazed around all the world.Chinese music was focused by diversity forms through out all of the world in modern society, for example,"Chinese cultural year"activity is held by the governments in some countries, and the concerts in Vienna Musikverein, and also small groups of performances and private behaviors, more and more artists pay attention to Chinese music. The conceptions of Chinese music and western music become thickness, they two are used for reference each other and intergraded into each other.Tan Dun showed this kind of half-bred music by his melody. So Chinese music steps into a brilliant period.Huge differences are existed between Chinese music and those western music, differences in forms, aesthetics, spirit of arts, culture and so on. Also the special aesthetic meanings stands out by the comparing of the two kinds of music. Without doubts there are deep and huge influences of the transferring of Chinese music to the west, which is much more existented in both musical performances and creativities .But at the same time we have to wonder where is the real outlet of Chinese music because of the strong shock of western music to Chinese ones. As like Mr. Tang Yijie says:"it is impossible and incorrect that no any culture will not be effected by those other foreigns', and there is only one way, that is we'd better enrich our owns to exert their charmings completely by absorbing foreign culture."And the future of the interchanging between Chinese music and western music is as like what Mr. Tang's words.