Ye Xiaogang'sLin'an Qibu II: exploring the "Qǐ-Chéng-Zhuǎn-Hé" structural thinking in "Sailing on West Lake After a Morning of Sunshine and Rain"

Linfan Sun

doi:10.54254/2753-7080/2025.29031

Linfan Sun^1,*

¹ East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

^* Corresponding author: 1437884321@qq.com

Published: 7 November 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7080/2025.29031

Abstract

Modern Chinese music has, from its inception, demonstrated creativity rooted in native linguistic and cultural traditions. Particularly after the mid-1980s, this creativity was no longer limited to the mere use of Chinese traditional musical materials or the presentation of national styles, nor simply an expression of Chinese cultural spirit and thought. Instead, it manifested as development and innovation within modern compositional techniques themselves. It is evident that Chinese composers have made distinctive contributions in many areas, including pitch structures, harmonic organization, and contrapuntal logic. In particular, regarding pitch structures and related harmonic techniques and tonal thinking, Chinese composers have pursued developments and innovations based on the language and forms of Chinese traditional music [1]. As a prominent contemporary Chinese composer, Ye Xiaogang possesses a profound and distinctive understanding of musical structure. His works demonstrate a high degree of innovation and integration in structural design. Rather than adhering strictly to traditional forms, he tailors and innovates structures according to expressive needs. In an interview, he stated, “Chinese musical structure follows “Qǐ-Chéng-Zhuǎn-Hé” (beginning–development–turn–conclusion). My musical structures cannot be found in any Western musical forms; this is my unique advantage.” Ye skillfully draws on structural techniques from Western modern music while simultaneously integrating structural thinking rooted in Chinese traditional music. This Sino-Western fusion in structural thinking allows his compositions to be both innovative in the modern musical sense and imbued with the aesthetic charm of Chinese traditional music, forming a contemporary artistic expression of China’s rich cultural heritage.

Keywords: Ye Xiaogang , Qǐ-Chéng-Zhuǎn-Hé , musical structure

AHR Vol.12 , Issue 7

ISSN (Print): 2753-7080

ISSN (Online): 2753-7099

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Received: 29 October 2025

Published: 7 November 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7080/2025.29031

Article Type: Research Article

Cite this article

Sun,L. (2025). Ye Xiaogang'sLin'an Qibu II: exploring the "Qǐ-Chéng-Zhuǎn-Hé" structural thinking in "Sailing on West Lake After a Morning of Sunshine and Rain". Advances in Humanities Research,12(7),65-70.

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Volume Title: AHR Vol.12

Part of Series: Advances in Humanities Research

ISSN: 2753-7080 (Print) / 2753-7099 (Online)

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