The Instrumental Music of Wutaishan's Buddhist Monasteries: Social and Ritual Contexts

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Beth Szczepanski

The Instrumental Music of Wutaishan's Buddhist Monasteries

Social and Ritual Contexts

Beth Szczepanski

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English

Routledge
15 November 2016

The Arts: General & Reference; Music: styles & genres; Religion: general; Buddhism

Series: SOAS Studies in Music

Beth Szczepanski examines how traditional and modern elements interact in the current practice, reception and functions of wind music, or shengguan, at monasteries in Wutaishan, one of China's four holy mountains of Buddhism. The book provides an invaluable insight into the political and economic history of Wutaishan and its music, as well as the instrumentation, notation, repertoires, transmission and ritual function of monastic music at Wutaishan, and how that music has adapted to China's current economic, political and religious climate.

The book is based on extensive field research at Wutaishan from 2005 to 2007, including interviews with monks, nuns, pilgrims and tourists. The author learned to play the sheng mouth organ and guanzi double-reed pipe, and recorded dozens of performances of monastic and lay music.

The first extensive examination of Wutaishan's music by a Western scholar, the book brings a new perspective to a topic long favored by Chinese musicologists.

At the same time, the book provides the non-musical scholar with an engaging exploration of the historical, political, economic and cultural forces that shape musical and religious practices in China.

By: Beth Szczepanski
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 294g
ISBN: 9781138261396
ISBN 10: 1138261394
Series: SOAS Studies in Music
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 15 November 2016
Audience: College/higher education , General/trade , Primary , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Dr Beth Szczepanski, Lecturer, Ohio State University, USA

Reviews for The Instrumental Music of Wutaishan's Buddhist Monasteries: Social and Ritual Contexts

'Though primarily an ethnography of contemporary shengguan practice, the book traces this music back to its legendary origins in the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) and follows it through more recent travails in the last two centuries.' Journal of Folklore Research