China Music Dictionary

Author: Editorial Department of the Dictionary of Chinese Music, Institute of Music Research, Chinese Academy of Arts
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-10-01
Features: The history of Chinese music is long, its heritage is rich, and it has distinct ethnic characteristics. It is a precious legacy jointly created by the people of all ethnic groups in China and a contribution of the Chinese people to the world's cultural treasury. Inheriting and promoting the fine traditions of Chinese music is a necessary prerequisite for creating and developing the new socialist national music of China. Broad-minded music workers, music enthusiasts, and Chinese and foreign individuals concerned about Chinese music urgently require a comprehensive dictionary for reference to better understand and study Chinese music. The compilation of this dictionary aims to fulfill this need. The entries included cover the theory of Chinese music, terminology for composition and performance, music genres, systems, officials, institutions, publications, figures, and works from all dynasties, as well as relevant terms related to songs, dance music, quyi music, opera music, and instrumental music, totaling 3,560 entries. To provide readers with a more concrete understanding of Chinese music, this dictionary is accompanied by musical examples, illustrations, and portraits of musicians. Works recorded on records are also listed with their record numbers whenever possible. The contributors to this dictionary have traveled across the country, involving nearly 200 experts from various fields such as music, opera, and quyi. The content is designed to reflect the latest research findings in Chinese music.