The Instrumental Music of Wutaishan's Buddhist Monasteries

Beth Szczepanski examines how traditional and modern elements interact in the current practice, reception and functions of wind music, or shengguan, at monasteries in Wutaishan, one of China's four holy mountains of Buddhism. The book provides an invaluable insight into the political and economic history of Wutaishan and its music, as well as the instrumentation, notation, repertoires, transmission and ritual function of monastic music at Wutaishan, and how that music has adapted to China's current economic, political and religious climate.

Dr Beth Szczepanski, Lecturer, Ohio State University, USA

Contents: Preface; Part I The Music of Mañjusri's Mountain: A history of Wutaishan Buddhist music; Wutaishan and its Buddhist music today. Part II Music in Ritual at Wutaishan: Donor-sponsored ritual; Funeral observances; Calendrical observances. Part III Wutaishan's Shengguan Music: Shengguan instrumentation; Notation; Transmission of Shengguan practice; Shengguan repertoires. Part IV Buddhist Music in a Material World: Buddhist Shengguan in concerts, festivals and recordings; The politics of Buddhist music; The business of Buddhist music; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.