MA SICONG’S SYMPHONIC CREATIVITY IN THE CONTEXT OF DEVELOPMENT CHINESE MUSICAL ART OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

The article examines the symphonic works of Ma Sicong (1912–1987) in the paradigm of the development of Chinese musical culture of the 20th century. Representing the European musical tradition on the basis of Chinese musical art, the composer came under repression and immigrated to the USA. Before emigrating, the composer was at the forefront of Chinese symphony in the first half of the 20th century. The violin work of the composer, as “The Кing of Violinists”, is the most studied. Ma Siсong is the creator of the first Chinese violin concerto, in which his talent as a brilliant symphonist was clearly demonstrated. Performing and scientific interest to his work, including symphonic, came after the thaw. Ma Siсong’s symphonic works constitute an important page of Chinese symphonic music of the 20th century. It occupies a prominent position in the repertoire of orchestras in the China and abroad. The socio-cultural factors that inspired the appearance of the composer’s symphonic compositions are indicated. His symphonic works include two symphonies, overtures, program suites (“Joyful Overture” (or “Suite of Joy”), “Songs of the Mountains and Forests”), poems “Longing for the Motherland”, “Dance of the Northern Front”, “Symphonic Capriccio”, the first concertos for violin and two violins in the Chinese music, piano and cello concertos with orchestra, symphonic works “The Yellow Stork”, “Dance behind the Wall”, “Elegy for Jiao Yulu” and others. It is noted that they are characterized by the dramaturgical concept, peculiar artistic-semantic, genre-stylistic, intonation-rhythmic, modal-tonal, compositionalsemantic and timbre-textural features. Due to historical conflicts – repressions during the Cultural Revolution and the banning of the composer’s music in the Motherland, a considerable number of his works were lost. Therefore, the exact list of his symphonic compositions is unknown, their search continues to this day.