CHINESE JAZZ FUSION: THE ENCOUNTER OF JAZZ AND CHINESE FOLK MUSIC

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the possibilities and practical pathways for the integration of traditional Chinese folk music ( Min’ge ) and jazz music. Against the backdrop of accelerating globalization, Chinese folk music faces the dual challenge of inheritance and innovation. Jazz, as a universal musical language characterized by high inclusivity and improvisation, offers a new opportunity for the modernization and international dissemination of Min’ge.

This thesis first reviews the historical development and artistic characteristics of both Chinese folk music and jazz, arguing for the historical inevitability and cultural value of their fusion. Subsequently, through a comparative analysis of core musical elements such as melody, harmony, and rhythm, the study reveals the similarities and differences between the two musical systems in terms of theory and auditory perception, identifying technical entry points for fusion.

Finally, five representative Chinese folk songs— Jasmine Flower(Mòlìhuā), Where Can a Vine Be Found (Shì Shàng Nǎ Jiàn Shù Chán Téng), Why Are the Flowers So Red (Huār Wèi Shénme Zhèyàng Hóng), Little River Flows(Xiǎo Hé Tǎng Shuǐ), and The Sun Comes Out, Joyful(Tài Yáng Chūlái Xǐ Yáng Yáng)—are selected as case studies. The study analyzes specifically how to utilize jazz techniques, including harmonic reharmonization, rhythmic adaptation, and modal interchange, for creative artistic re-creation.The final stage involves a practical assessment through a music concert performance of these five adapted songs arranged for a jazz big band.The research findings indicate that this cross-cultural musical integration not only breathes new life into traditional folk music but also injects unique national cultural content into the development of Chinese jazz. This process is instrumental in enhancing the international influence and cultural soft power of Chinese music.

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