The research article “Integration of Traditional Chinese Music: An Evaluation of the Interactive Influence Between Traditional Music and Aesthetic Thought” explores the integration of aesthetic and philosophical influences within traditional Chinese Music and its impact. The three aesthetic concepts the article explores are Confucianism, Taoism, and Mohism. Confucianism emphasizes moderation, goodness, and harmony over beauty, which is reflected in traditional Chinese operas and folk songs as they are simple and sincere in nature. Confucius also highlights the role of education in music stressing its ability to mold people’s minds and morality as a means of cultivating their sentiments and noble characters. The core concepts within Taoist music aesthetic thought center around “harmony between heaven and man”, “natural harmony”, “emptiness and stillness”, and “nature”. Taoism within traditional Chinese music values simplicity, purity, and ethereality promoting the idea that “great music has the faintest notes”. This attitude reflects detachment as Taoist ideas emphasize the naturality of music and that it should not be excessively interfered with. Mohist music aesthetic thought is more pragmatic suggesting that music should be used to promote social order and governance. Mohist also stresses using music as a tool for moral education (Zhou & Yu, 2024).
Understanding the integration of Chinese aesthetic thought and philosophy within traditional Chinese music is valuable to my project as it plays a significant role in influencing the nature and sound of the music. These concepts and ideas within these philosophies can inform my approach to creating a fusion piece that incorporates stylistic elements of traditional Chinese music. By drawing on the principles of harmony, balance, and natural expression found in Confucianism, Taoism, and Mohism, I can craft a composition that reflects the cultural depth of traditional Chinese music while creating a unique blend with contemporary musical styles. This integration will allow my piece to resonate with the values of Chinese aesthetics while exploring new artistic possibilities.
This week I completed the training module, “Music Production: Techniques and Concepts” on LinkedIn learning. The module explores the entirety of the music production process from beginning to end. This training was very helpful as it provided a guideline for how to approach music production offering techniques and tips ranging from planning and pre-production to post-production. In addition to completing this training module, I also met with Prof. Jack Klotz to talk about my project. During the meeting, I introduced my project to him and he gave me some good information and feedback regarding booking studio time, research, and the production process. Rather than doing multiple songs, he suggested that I focus on creating one track. This allows for the piece to be more detailed as composing, mixing, and mastering multiple tracks may be too much to juggle.
References
Zhou, Y., & Yu, F. (2024). Integration of Traditional Chinese Music: An Evaluation of the Interactive Influence Between Traditional Music and Aesthetic Thought. Trans/Form/Ação, 47(5). https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-3173.2024.v47.n5.e02400180