The Twelve Girls Band: Hit Song That Is Most Recognized Throughout the World

• “Freedom ” – The women ’s most popular The Twelve Girls Band: hit song that is most recognized throughout the world. A World Music Sensation – The hit song is from their A World Music Sensation western debut CD entitled “Eastern Energy. ” By – It was originally written by Melia Weber a Turkish composer. Chinese Music History: Chinese Music History: • Ancient Chinese Music : • Modern Chinese Music: – Characterized as being a lost art, however early texts refer to – The New Culture Movement (1919) the importance of music during those times. • Eventually led to idea of music serving the – The sounds of nature are believed to be mentioned in these country texts through symbolic representations. – Strict limitations placed upon musicians • Nature: – Slogan at the time: “Art should serve politics ” – Plays a dominant role in Chinese music throughout ancient and historical times – The Cultural Revolution (c. 1964 -1977) – Songs have been created throughout these times as reflections of various elements found in nature • Completely halted the incorporation of Western E.g. Twelve Girls Band: “Mountains and Rivers ” and “The Great styles in any aspect of Chinese Culture, including Valley ” music Chinese Music History: The Twelve Girls Band • After the Revolution … • Thirteen women: Only Twelve are on stage at the same time. – Musicians were encouraged to: • Each woman was classically trained in China ’s top music • “correctly understand the relationship between art schools and conservatories. and politics ” • Music characterized as being a mixture of traditional • “sift through the past to bring forth the new ” Chinese music and Western music. • “build on the traditional legacy of Chinese • All music is performed using traditional Chinese civilization ” instruments. • “use foreign things to serve China ” (Tuohy 2001: 114) 1 Twelve Girls Band Style: Pipa: Erhu: • Influences: – Jazz, rock, pop, Celtic music, Turkish music and more! • Traditions: • Portrayed through: – Use of various traditional Chinese instruments such as: Pipa (4 -stringed lute with pear -shaped body) and the Erhu (2 -stringed Chinese violin) – Performances of traditional Chinese songs such as “Alamuhan ” Twelve Girls Band Style (cont.): • “Alamuhan ” • Own Renditions of Western Songs: – Traditional song of the – “Only Time ” by Enya ethnic tribe Uighur from Northwestern China – “New Classicism ” recreation of Beethoven ’s Fifth – Alamuhan was a beautiful symphony girl that was “not fat not – “Reel Around the Sun ” from Riverdance composed by thin, had eyebrows shaped like a crescent moon, waist Bill Whelan as thin as a willow, mouth – “Clocks ” by Coldplay tiny and lovely ” – To meet her eyes one would experience pleasant (All the above songs are from Eastern Energy) thrill Those Opposed: • “Clocks ” • He Zhanhao: – Originally written by – Twentieth Century Chinese composer, who himself incorporated Coldplay (from Britain) western techniques into a number of his compositions – Twelve Girls Band version – Believes “Chinese music composers need to respect their own of the British band ’s hit cultural heritage instead of copying western styles (May Chan song. 2005: 5) ” – Incorporates the beautiful sounds of the traditional – Composer of the famous Chinese classic, the “Butterfly Lovers ’ Chinese instruments into Concerto ” the modern sounds of the – He and a friend composed it, while in music school during the Cu ltural original version of the Revolution. song. – It did not become popular until after because it contained weste rn techniques. 2 Conclusion: • The Twelve Girls Band: – Have provided a new style that is approachable by a large variety of audiences – Have maintained their traditional techniques while incorporating western techniques into their music – Have become a World Music sensation. 3.

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