A STUDY OF THE PIANO WORKS OF CHU WANGHUA, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SIX PRELUDES

Abstract

ABSTRACT From the early twentieth century to the present day, Chinese piano music has begun to enjoy enormous prosperity, integrating a modern and distinctive Chinese style with Western musical language. Chu WangHua is one of the most distinguished Chinese composers and pianists and has had great influence on the recent development of Chinese piano music. During his most turbulent compositional periods, Chu struggled with deep depression and pressure to succeed; however, he persisted in composing, his great passion. In his sixty-year compositional career, Chu produced a large body of repertoire, including piano works, concertos, symphonies, ensemble, string quartets and more; the majority of these are piano works. Six Preludes is one of Chu’s most representative and remarkable works written in the Chinese style. The six pieces in this set, named Bamboo in the Wind, Sound of Valley, On the Banks of the River, Berceuse, Elegie, and Memorial, are based on Chinese traditional folk tunes and instrumental music and incorporate Western musical style, harmonic language, and compositional technique. This study will examine Six Preludes, emphasizing the following musical aspects: traditional Chinese scales and modes, parallel harmony, counterpoint, and formal structure, to explore the distinctions between Chinese and Western styles. Chu WangHua’s unique approach to composition not only enables him to stand out from other Chinese composers, but also promotes Chinese piano music worldwide.