The Synthesis of Chinese and Western European Musical Traditions in Xian Xinghai’s Opera “March of the Army and the People”

This study is based on a detailed analysis of the opera March of the Army and the People, composed by the prominent Chinese composer Xian Xinghai (1900–1945), which serves as an important example of the synthesis of Chinese and Western musical traditions. Written in 1938, the opera marked the composer’s first attempt to integrate elements of Chinese national art into the Western operatic form. The study examines the unique features of the opera’s musical language, structure, and stylistic content, which reflect the cultural and political realities of China at that time. It also explores the influence of this opera on the development of Chinese national operatic art. The research employs a comprehensive approach, including historical and cultural analysis, structural music analysis, orchestration, as well as contextual analysis of the libretto and accompaniment. Special attention is given to the techniques of incorporating Chinese melodic structures and their adaptation within a polyphonic texture. Key elements analyzed include the use of pentatonic scales and the interaction of timbres between Chinese and Western musical instruments. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the analysis of the opera March of the Army and the People, which holds groundbreaking significance in the history of Chinese music. The article highlights how Xian Xinghai innovatively combined Western compositional techniques with elements of Chinese folk music, paving the way for the creation of a new type of national opera in 20th-century China. The findings demonstrate how this work reflects a cross-cultural process, where elements of Eastern and Western musical traditions are harmoniously integrated. Additionally, the study offers a new perspective on the transformation of Chinese opera in the 20th century, providing valuable material for interpreting and studying Chinese musical culture in Russian and international academic contexts.

Xian Xinghai, Chinese music, opera, hike, New National Opera, national uniform, traditional culture, melody, harmony, XX century