Modern Chinese Orchestra

Introduction

The modern Chinese orchestra in four sections: winds, plucked strings, bowed strings and percussion

The Chinese orchestra is a large ensemble of Chinese instruments organised in the 20th century on the model of the Western symphony orchestra, in four sections of winds, plucked strings, bowed strings and percussion, with a conductor and full scores. In 1920 Zheng Jinwen founded the Datong Music Society in Shanghai and enlarged Jiangnan sizhu into an ensemble with sections; in 1925 Liu Yaozhang arranged an old pipa piece as the ensemble work Spring River, Flower Moon Night. The orchestra of the Broadcasting Corporation of China, formed in Nanjing in 1935, is regarded as the first Chinese orchestra. In 1953 the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra was founded; under its long-serving conductor Peng Xiuwen it fixed the four-section layout and pushed instrument reform. Professional Chinese orchestras now play in many places.

Timeline

1. 1920OriginIn 1920 Zheng Jinwen founded the Datong Music Society in Shanghai and expanded Jiangnan sizhu into a large ensemble in sections, the beginning of the modern Chinese orchestra.
2. 1925EvolutionIn 1925 Liu Yaozhang of the Datong Music Society arranged an old pipa piece as the ensemble work Spring River, Flower Moon Night in a twelve-line full score, which became a classic of the repertoire.
3. 1935EvolutionIn 1935 the Broadcasting Corporation of China formed a Chinese orchestra in Nanjing; it moved to Chongqing, gave its first public concert in 1942 and is regarded as the first Chinese orchestra, moving to Taiwan after 1949.
4. 1953ImpactIn 1953 the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra was founded; Peng Xiuwen, its long-serving conductor and composer, fixed the layout of bowed strings, plucked strings, winds and percussion and promoted instrument reform for range and tone.