Wendy Wan-Ki Lee Bücher

Exploring the fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions, this book delves into the works of contemporary Asian composers who integrate Chinese heritage with Western techniques. It begins with an overview of the cultural synthesis phenomenon and critiques existing methodologies. The subsequent chapters analyze three solo piano compositions, enriched by interviews with their creators. Concluding with insights on East-West musical interactions, this work serves as a valuable resource for composers, performers, and scholars interested in innovative cultural blends in music.

During the past fifty years, many Chinese and other Asian composers have combined Western compositional techniques with their own musical heritages in their works. The prevalence of non-Western elements in contemporary music complicates the idea of any one musical canon, since the meaning of such compositions now lies not only in one particular performance tradition but in diverse musical practices. This book begins to examine the above by investigating three solo piano works that synthesize various Chinese traditional practices and certain aspects of Western art music. Chapter 1 provides a brief overview of how this cultural-fusion phenomenon came about and questions the extent of existing methodologies. The next three chapters present theoretical analyses of specific compositions and are complemented by the author’s interviews with their composers. The final chapter offers insights on the East-West musical interaction and beyond. This book is directed towards composers, performers, scholars, and other musicians who are interested in understanding compositions with an innovative blend of cultural forces.