City of Joy -- Shanghai The Emergence of Western Music in Modern China

Author: (Japanese) Yasuko Akimoto
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: This book compiles historical materials from China, Japan, and Europe, providing a comprehensive display of the musical life in Shanghai, the Eastern metropolis, from the early 20th century to the 1930s. Objective, authentic, and, it was awarded the Japanese "Suntory Academic Award" and the Japanese Comparative Literature Society Award. With a thorough exploration of origins, rich illustrations, a unique perspective, and abundant historical materials, it helps to reinterpret and understand music history. The book begins with the introduction of Christian music from the imperial court during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, gradually shifting its focus to Shanghai, the center of Western culture and a vibrant hub of musical activities in the East, through the early wave of studying abroad, the development of school music songs, and the rise of the New Culture Movement. It comprehensively showcases events and figures that emerged in Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s, providing a glimpse into how China embraced foreign musical cultures. The book is richly illustrated, helping us to understand and recognize the musical history of this period in China from a new perspective.