| The present thesis discusses the naissance and development of modern pop music in China. Based on large quantities of historical data and the contribution made by scholars in the academia, the thesis verified that the musical works from modern musicians represented by Li Jinhui is the source of modern pop music. In addition, the current thesis made a dialectic analysis of both the positive and negative effect of modern pop music on the modern society in order to provide an objective evaluation for modern pop music.The thesis is composed of three chapters:Chapter one: Historical conditions of the naissance of the modern music pop music1.The transformation of social nature is the historical premise of the naissance of modern pop musicAfter Opium War, the feudal system lasting for over two thousand years in China began to collapse and great changes took place. The closed state of China was broken and the Chinese feudal society was transformed into a semi-feudal and semi-colony society. The shift of social nature led to the great change of China's traditional musical system: feudal court music went down and modern music was introduced into China from abroad.2.The western music culture is the source of modern pop music in ChinaAlong with the shift of social nature, the advanced western material and spiritual civilization became accessible for Chinese people. The traditional court music and popular music could no longer satisfy the need of people in developed cities and the western music started to exert its influence on the Chinese society. Therefore, the introduction of the western music during the End of the Qing Dynasty and the Beginning of the Republic of China means the beginning of modern pop music 3.The school song is the carrier of modern pop musicWith the establishment of new-style schools and the introduction of western music, the Chinese New Musical Culture developed gradually. The New Musical Culture, the main form of which is the school song, was initiated by New School intellectuals and later expanded to the whole society. The naissance and development of the school song symbolize the early stage of the development of the Chinese New Musical Culture, and lay a solid foundation for the formation and practice of modern pop music.4.New urban culture represented by Shanghai is the activator of modern pop musicSince the middle 19th century when Shanghai became one of the main treaty ports, the city has evolved into a prosperous modern international city in 1920s and 1930s and nowadays it can match the most prosperous cities in the world. The prosperous modern international city gave rise to the naissance of pop music.5.Self-contained media and developed commerce are the impetus of modern pop musicIn 1920s and 1930s, the city Shanghai had borne the characteristics of the capitalist commerce. The western music was introduced into China through ballrooms, broadcast and other media. The demand for pop music was aroused in the urban citizens'cultural life. It was under this circumstance that modern pop music emergedChapter two: The formation and development of modern pop music in China and its main contents1.Li Jinhui is one of the representatives of early modern pop music in ChinaDue to the new culture movement after the Five Fourth Movement and the influence of American jazz, Broadway and Hollywood song and dance, Li Jinhui drew on the composing techniques and experience, composed a series of successful children songs and dances and children opera and pantomime, and later tried to compose love songs for adults.2."Ming Yue Opera"and the"China Song and Dance Training School"are representative musical organizations of modern pop musicLi's"Ming Yue Opera", the first specialized song and dance organization in the modern history of China, indicates that modern musicians'activities entered into an organized period. Along with the emergence of specialized song and dance organizations in China, new-type modern music came into being and came to be accepted by the public.3."Drizzle"is a symbolic work of the naissance of modern pop music in ChinaLi succeeded in composing children opera and pantomime and children songs and dances. In the meantime, she made attempts to compose songs with a new style. Based on the combination of Chinese folk music and western music, she brought people songs dealing with family and love. That's how modern pop music was shaped."Drizzle"was the first modern pop song which publicized love.4.The prevalence of modern pop music in ChinaThe love songs from Li Jinhui were the rage in Shanghai city. Later many other musicians started to follow him and compose songs of this sort. The group of modern musicians founded the climax of modern pop music in China together with the singer-actor stars.Chapter three: The Comment to Chinese Modern Pop Music1.The great influence of Chinese modern pop musicThe age between 1920s and 1930s is a historic period that Chinese old and new culture exchange with each other. The love songs which were created by Li Jinhui and other people made them become the explorer in Chinese pop music. And their songs provided models and set up bases for the posterities researching and creating pop music. 2.The comment of Chinese contemporary and modern figures to modern pop musicEven though the love songs which were created by Li Jinhui had some popularity at that time, they were contrary to the situation of that time ------China was still in the situation of rescuing country and people and self rescue. So Li was called the ancestor of pornographic music by those Progressive personages and his love songs were defined as decadent music or pornographic music. However, in any case we can't deny the fact that Chinese modern musicians being represented by Li Jinhui created the Chinese modern pop music.This paper emphasizes that Chinese modern pop music is art works following the times and catering for the psychological need of the public. That modern pop music is the product of times. We can't deny its value by calling this as decadent music or pornographic music. The contents and themes of this kind of music reflect the social reality of that time. Although the pop music of that time was not so perfect, it walked a stable step. The author thinks this music of that specified historical period should be regarded as the origin of Chinese pop music. It is not only the symbol of that specified period ,but also makes great contributions to the great popularity of pop music in the future of China. |
