National music of China, Indonesia and Brazil Essay

National music of China, Indonesia and Brazil - Essay Example This "National music of China, Indonesia and Brazil" essay outlines the historical reasons for the national music's uprising. The idea of nationalism was first based on divisions between the German, Italian or French style, most which was seen in the image of the nation. However, this became more prevalent in the 1800s and 1900s, specifically because of the national agenda and political approach. Many leaders were searching for an identity which closed the doors to trade and other aspects of country interference, specifically to gain power over those within the country. Others were trying to shape the image of the nation, specifically so it would produce pride among those in the nation and increase the cultural and production. This led to the main aspects of national pride which were reflected in the music. The concept of patriotism which was pushed by the political leaders and society was followed by several composers experimenting with music and trying to find different ways of exp ressing what was occurring within the society. Composers such as Bartok were renowned for going into the fields and moving into the early fields of ethnomusicology. Folk songs from villages would be recorded then transferred into the classical styles within the nation. Other regions of the world followed this format, specifically with the folk music, combined with the contemporary idioms that were within each of the countries. Countries were able to keep their identity and heritage while associating the different concepts to modern and contemporary styles. This was followed with the continuous nationalism that experimented with modern sounds but announced that the movement of technique was specifically for a region. For instance, the concept of Impression, led by Ravel, was based on the French contemporary aspects in society. These several movements then redefined the approach to nationalism and the way in which it was associated with culture and society (Grosby, Leoussi, 55: 2007). Defining Contemporary Nationalism There are several elements which create a sense of nationalism in society and the contemporary approach which is a part of the music created. This is not only based on the idea of folk music and the presentation of one type of music presenting a country. The definition of nationalism has transcended into defining a country by the sounds which belong to a specific country and create an understanding of the artists which are in this region. This began with the contemporary approach to the modern compositions, which included the French Impressionism. While this wasn’t French, different techniques and theories led several to the belief that it belonged to this region. The ideal wasn’t only associated with the definitions of what it meant to be national through folk music, but also included the several techniques used. Instrumentation, distinct sounds, approaches to the culture and creating a sense of diversity within a given region