Gender in Chinese Music draws together contributions from ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, and literary scholars to explore how music is implicated in changing notions of masculinity, femininity, and genders "in between" in Chinese culture. Village ritualists, international classical pianists, pop idols, and professional mourners -- whether they perform in temples, on concert stages, or in TV shows, Chinese musicians continually express and negotiate their gendered identities. Gender in Chinese Music brings together contributions from ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, and literary scholars to explore how gender is not only manifested in the diverse musical traditions of Chinese culture but also constructed through performing and observing these traditions. Individual chapters examine unique music cultures ranging from those of courting couples in China's heartlands to ethnic minority singers in the borderlands, and from Ming-period courtesans to contemporary karaoke hostesses. The book also features interviews with musicians, music industry workers, and fans talking about gender. With its wide-ranging subject matter and interdisciplinary approach, this volume will be an important resource for researchers and students interested in how music is implicated in the changing notions of masculinity, femininity, and genders "in between." Contributors: RuardAbsaroka, Rachel Harris, Stephen Jones, Frank Kouwenhoven, Olivia Kraef, Joseph Lam, Rowan Pease, Antoinet Schimmelpenninck, Hwee-San Tan, Shzr Ee Tan, Xiao Mei, Judith Zeitlin, Tiantian Zheng. Rachel Harris is Reader in the Music of China and Central Asia at SOAS, University of London. Rowan Pease is Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS, University of London. Shzr Ee Tan is Senior Lecturer in Music at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Reviews
There are too many gems in this book to address here. . . . I can think of no better volume to demonstrate the astounding breadth of Chinese musical cultures than Gender in Chinese Music. The chapters are well written, informative, thought provoking, and provide an important contribution to a range of issues in Chinese society both in the musical sphere and beyond. * MUSIC AND LETTERS *
This is a comprehensive, well-edited, and interdisciplinary selection of essays on a complex theme. . . . The book features interviews with fans and musicians, who offer their own personal and professional approaches to gender, which is especially interesting considering the differing constructions of gender within the broader artistic scene in China. . . . This book's insights and broad perspectives make it valuable to those interested in ethnomusicology, cultural studies, and Chinese studies in general. Summing up: recommended. * CHOICE *
These meticulously-researched essays, written by leading scholars in their respective fields, provide contextualized accounts of the great variety of musical cultures, forms, and practices in China from the Ming period to the present time. Inspiring and informative, this volume will be of interest to specialist and nonspecialist readers alike. -- Siu Leung Li, Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Cultural Studies Program at Lingnan University



Book Information
ISBN 9781580465441
Author Rachel Harris
Format Paperback
Page Count 316
Imprint University of Rochester Press
Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd