Good luck. Much information that you would seek got destroyed during
the Cultural Revolution. (I assume you refer to Western style Brass
instruments judging from your reference to the film. Much
documentation exists on indigenous or ethnic lip-blown aerophones) You
will almost certainly find nothing written or documented, even in
personal diaries, on the subject you have chosen although you may run
across expatriates that may recollect useful tidbits and stories. You
ought to consider contacting the Horn teachers at the major
conservatories in China whereby those that speak English can tell what
they know from what got handed down by word of mouth. You must choose
your questions very carefully when inquiring about Chinese history in
the 20th Century as it has a propensity for revisionism.
I seem to remember the Canadian Brass and the Boston Symphony having
forays into China during the 1970's. Perhaps some members from those
touring groups can offer tiny clues for you as to the status and
training of brass playing in China during the 1970s and 80s. And, as
you seem to know, Doug Hill as well. I also expect Hans Pizka to pipe
in even as I reply at this very second since he has visited China
numerous times as a performer and instructor and certainly has plenty
to say on anything he has had personal involvement with.
You will need to address China accordingly to their political phases in
the 20th Century as that has a particularly profound influence upon the
arts and education. No doubt the English had a primary influence in
the southern areas while the Russians and Japanese influenced the
north. Germans had an influence as well prior to the Boxer Rebellion
but I have never heard of their cultural influence upon China save
Christian Missionaries. You have a very interesting subject but expect
many dead ends and red herrings. Historical research on the influence
of western culture on China flies in the face of the most recent trend
in research that would prove that everything from discovering the
American continent to constructing flush toilets happened first in
China then spread to the rest of the world; your topic has an
undercurrent that goes against this recent paradigm in publications
concerning China. Brace yourself.
Karl Kemm
Assistant Professor of Horn and Humanities
Del Mar College
361 698-1601 [o] 940 300-3131 [m]
http://www.delmar.edu/music/kemm.html
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Feb 21, 2006, at 3:49 PM, Joshua Cheuvront wrote:
Okay, here's a question for you scholars out there, especially those
of you who know a lot about Chinese history during the last century.
I'm currently attempting to find some sources which address the
introduction of brass instruments, especially horn, into China.
Unfortunately, I've come up empty-handed so far. There just doesn't
seem to be any research out there, at least not in English. I sent an
email to Doug Hill last night, figuring he'd be able to point me in
the right direction, but I know that many of you on the list have
experience/knowledge as well.
In case anyone is interested, this all came about as a result of a
discussion I had with my instructor for a class on contemporary
Chinese music. I used to have a Bruce Lee film on VHS that began with
a scene in which a small ensemble is playing during a funeral ritual
ceremony. As I remember, there was a Tuba, trombone, and maybe even a
horn in the group. When I mentioned this to my instructor, who is
originally from China, she said she had never heard of brass
instruments being used in ritual music. I'd like to do a research
paper on the introduction of brass instruments into China, and
hopefully focus on their use in ritual ensembles.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Josh_______________________________________________
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