THE DEPTHS OF WATER SYMBOLISM IN CHU WANHUA9S COMPOSITION «THE GREAT RIVER»
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35619/ucpmk.50.955Keywords:
Chu Wanhua «The Great River», Chinese piano musiс, philosophical and figurative symbolism, genre, style, impressionism, romanticism, European musicAbstract
A comprehensive analysis of the piano composition The Great River by Chinese composer Chu Wanhua, written in 1984, demonstrates that the composer9s musical language merges traditional thinking with modern artistic expression at the intersection of Western and Eastern cultures.
The musical and philosophical-aesthetic foundations of the composition are examined through the lens of water symbolism-a key image in traditional Chinese art. The image of water is not merely a background element; it plays a structuring and meaningful role, shaping both the development of the musical texture and the deep meaning of the work.
Attention is focused on the musical-expressive means through which the composer conveys the metaphor of the Yangtze River as an embodiment of power, historical continuity, spiritual depth, and national identity. The specific features of melody, harmony, texture, and architectonics demonstrate a synthesis of Western compositional technique with traditional Chinese aesthetics.
The analysis of The Great River allows for a deeper understanding of the stylistic features of contemporary Chinese piano music and its philosophically symbolic multidimensionality.
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