Research Into Musical Iustruments Of Ethnic Minorities During The 20^th Century

This dissertation systematically reviews, analyses and evaluates a century of research on musical instruments from China's ethnic minorities. The studies under scrutiny appeared in various Chinese journals. These include:Chinese Musicology (Zhongguo yinyuexue), The Journal of the Central Conservatory of Music (Zhongyang yinyuye xueyuan xuebao), Music Research (Yinyue yanjiu), Chinese Music (Zhongguo yinyue), People's Music (Renmin yinyue), The Art of Music (Yinyue yishu), Yearbook of Chinese Music (Zhongguo yinyue nianjian), The Journal of Wuhan Conservatory of Music (Huangzhong), The New Voice of Yue-fu (Yuefu xin sheng), The Journal of the Central Academy of Nationalities (Zhongyang minzu xueyuan xuebao), Musical Instruments (Yueqi), Ethnic Arts (Minzu yishu), Ethnic Art Studies (Minzu yishu yanjiu), Ethnic Music (Minzu yinyue), Musical Education and Research (Yinyue xuexi yu yanjiu), Art Studies (Yishu yanjiu), Journal of Yunnan Academy of Arts (Yunnan yishu xueyuan xuebao). This dissertation relies mostly on methodological approaches and perspectives of previous scholars. It analyses, integrates and discusses ideas and issues which emerged from past studies.In attempting a periodization of the history of research into ethnic musical instruments, the author argues that both the construction of a scientific discipline and the research perspectives had a great impact on the organology of ethnic minorities' music. At the core of this dissertation, the changgu drum and the shaman drum are selected as case studies which point out to the wide-spread phenomenon of cross cultural exchange in the history of ethnic musical cultures.Finally, this dissertation once more investigates the method, significance and issues of the research into ethnic musical instruments, topics about which the author proposes some personal perspectives.