Exploring Naxi Baisha Xiyue

Issue Date: 
2014-08-25
Publisher: 
Berkeley Electronic Press
Publisher Place: 
Berkeley, California
Degree: 
Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology, Liberty University
Extent: 
x, 185 pages
Abstract: 
“Exploring Naxi Baisha Xiyue” is a qualitative research descriptive paper delving into the origin of the Baisha Xiyue music style among the Naxi people based in northwest Yunnan province of the People’s Republic of China. A brief historical background of Baisha Xiyue includes the Yuan dynasty (AD 1279-1368) invasion by Kublai Khan when he and his army entered Yunnan province in AD 1253. The topic of the remaining eight songs is a Naxi historical conflict with a neighboring tribe. As musical instruments are essential in the performance of this genre, each of the commonly used instruments are introduced and described. These descriptions are followed by a narration of a specific Naxi ancient music performance, text transcriptions on the songs with words and then simple musical analysis, including performance conventions. The conclusion examines Baisha Xiyue in the context of cultural change, quite evident in China over the last sixty plus years. Finally, The appendices have sections covering song transcriptions, very basic Naxi and Chinese language glossaries, discography and bibliography.
Publication Status: 
Published
Country: 
China
Subject Languages: 
Work Type: 
Entry Number: 
61491