National Construction and Music Transformation: The Invention and Intrinsic Tension of the School Song

Chen Lang

Published in Chinese Journal of Sociology, 2024, Issue 3. 

Abstract: The tansformation of modern Chinese music began in the early 20th century. Its core manifestation was the absorption of Western music theories and forms, resulting in new music that differed from traditional Chinese music. This transformation originated from the practical need for national construction. This article discusses the complex connection between national construction and music transformation, focusing on the first kind of new music in modern China, the "School Song". Liang Qichao envisioned a new kind of music that would foster the New People, possessing the two core features of "universalism" and "unity of poetry and music". Since Liang's understanding of music originated in the Confucian tradition of court music, the new music envisioned by Liang was in fact anew form of court music. Liang's vision inspired the creation of the "School Song", giving rise to the emergence of two distinct types- -the universalist music represented by Shen Xingong and the poetic and musical songs represented by Li Shutong. Additionally, there were attempts to reconcile music theories, such as the music theory of Zeng Zhimin. Overall, the music of universalism prioritized simple forms of music composition such as simple scores and vernacular texts to make the songs as accessible as possible in order to promote the concept of the New People. The music of integrating poetry and music, on the other hand called for the use of compositional forms such as pentameter and classical literary textse, mphasizing musicality and the cultural traditions embedded in classical poetry and literature. Different theoretical assumptions underlie different kinds of music. The tension between universalism and poetic-musical unity embodies the disagreement between the theory of the nation-state and the tradition of court music, and lays down the basic issue of the transformation of modern Chinese music, which has had a significant historical impact.

Keywords: national construction, music transformation, integration of poetry and music, universalism, the School Song