Week 4

The author says the music is not as ancient as marketed due to the fact the music is changing and does not date back to the culture. The music was originally borrowed from Han culture in the 15th century and then tailored to fit Lijiang Naxi culture. It became integrated and the informal aspects of it were popular before 1949, when it was disbanded by incoming the Communist party. However when music was encouraged again in the 1980s, a new and present form of the music was made, which was ritualized based, and labeled as traditional to feed the growing interest of tourists in the region. Therefore the present style is not the same music heard by the Lijiang people even 60 years.
Western Scholars accused the Chinese Opera of not being authentic enough, because the instruments are modern, factory built, and the music incorporates Western sounds and influences. By doing this the Opera was not playing something solely from the past, but was mixing it with influences of the present (Western). Before reading this article I would have sided with the western scholars, as it would seem that if something was authentic Chinese it should be only comprised of Chinese sound. However after reading the responses from Chinese musicians, I now agree that the music is indeed authentic as it is product of present day China (the music includes Western influences, because that is now present in Chinese culture). I think the scholars may assert that the music is not the same as what was present in China in the past,
but I think that it is authentic to what Chinese label as authentic. This can be seen as even in the past there was borrowing of music from other cultures and then made to be one's own (example of Lijang Naxi music).