The Integration of Chinese Folk Music in Guangzhou Musical Theatre: Historical Evolution, Artistic Functions, and Cross-Cultural Fusion Strategies
List of Authors
Long Xuan, Raja Iskandar Raja Halid
Keyword
Chinese Folk Music; Guangzhou Musical Theatre; Cross-Cultural Fusion; Cultural Identity; Third Space Theory; Traditional Music Integration; Hybridity; Performing Arts
Abstract
This study investigates the integration of Chinese folk music elements in original musical theatre productions in Guangzhou from 1978 to 2025. Through historical analysis, case study examination, and practitioner interviews, the research reveals a five-stage evolution from symbolic experimentation to structural integration and creative recontextualisation. The findings demonstrate that folk music operates as a multi-layered artistic system, simultaneously functioning as structural framework, symbolic language, and emotional catalyst. The study identifies specific fusion strategies including pentatonic melodies with Western functional harmony, traditional instruments in Western orchestration, and folk rhythms with Western metric structures. Theoretical frameworks of Cultural Identity Theory, Hybridity Theory, and Third Space Theory illuminate how cross-cultural encounter generates new artistic forms that transcend originating categories. Case studies of representative productions including Miss Xiguan (2009), Xiong Shi Shao Nian (2020), and Humen Xiaoyan (2018) provide concrete examples of how these strategies are realised in practice. The research contributes to understanding how traditional culture can remain vibrant through creative adaptation in contemporary performing arts contexts, with implications for cultural policy, artistic practice, and music education.