Author Question: Describe how far Liao Shengjings piano music illustrates the socialist realist style that ... (Read 55 times)

saliriagwu · **on:** Jul 25, 2018

Describe how far Liao Shengjings piano music illustrates the socialist realist style that predominated in China from the 1940s to the early 1990s.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Why is listening so important in the qin tradition?

What will be an ideal response?

Mholman93 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANSWER:
Answers will vary.

Under this style, music was supposed to be accessible to normal people and portray themes of a communist society. Music was often simple and melodic, with a clear image or narrative, and a positive social program or message, such as Village people enjoying a festive atmosphere after liberation by the Communist Party.
Liao's music offers as much to the European classical style, where sets of twenty-four piano preludes are used to explore all the major and minor keys. And his music refers to ancient Chinese symbolism from the lunar calendar.

Answer to Question 2

ANSWER:
Answers will vary.

The instrument is very soft in tone, encouraging concentrated listening.
The music contains numerous, subtle effects--such as many kinds of vibrato--often intended to depict a natural scene.
Musicians share a core repertory but develop their own interpretations of these pieces over time, which can put an emphasis not only on what one plays but how one plays it.
Qin players develop a substantial body of music theory as they reflect on their music making; one of the pleasures of music, for them, is talking about it in depth, which requires highly critical listening and observation.