ROBERT HART’S CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES AS A CATALYST OF WESTERNIZATION OF THE ORCHESTRAL PERFORMING ART OF CHINA

Abstract

The article dwells on the role of the British diplomat, philanthropist, educator and amateur musician Robert Hart in the process of Westernization of Chinese orchestral culture of the late 19 th – early 20 th cc. His achievements as the founder of the first European-style orchestra of Chinese performers and as the organizer of the music-educational system of training local instrumentalists are highlighted. It was found out that the creation of a music school for the orchestra contributed to the spread of Western musical instruments and to the initial foundations of professional music education. On the basis of archival documents, the Hart Orchestra's concert programmes and his participation in cultural events in the capital city were analyzed. The article shows the importance of R. Hart's musical and educational activity in the process of Westernization of Beijing's cultural space.