Li Lanqing on Music: A Conversation

Author: Li Lanqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: European classical music is also often referred to as European classic music. I call it classic music not only to avoid confusion with the classical music of the mid-18th to early 19th centuries, but more importantly to emphasize its enduring popularity, its ability to be enjoyed repeatedly without losing its appeal, and its capacity to provide aesthetic pleasure while enhancing cultural refinement and the level of spiritual civilization. At the same time, the fundamental theories and compositional techniques of European classical music are also essential for the development and improvement of other music, including modern folk music, to draw inspiration from.
China's folk music has a long history and unique charm, but its development and advancement also require absorbing and learning from the essence of European classical music. Only in this way can it have a greater impact on the global music scene. This is the principle we often emphasize: building a socialist advanced culture requires not only inheriting and developing the fine traditions of our national culture but also absorbing all advanced achievements of other civilizations. The development and prosperity of contemporary Chinese music culture are precisely the result of the hard work of Chinese music professionals adhering to this principle.