MUSICAL PRACTICES, CULTURAL POLITICS AND HUMAN MOBILITY IN THE MACAU CHINESE ORCHESTRA
MUSICAL PRACTICES, CULTURAL POLITICS AND HUMAN MOBILITY IN THE MACAU CHINESE ORCHESTRA

Summary/Abstract: Political and social transition in a territory raises a set of variables that affect music developed by groups of individuals involved in this process. The study of musical performance of the Macau Chinese Orchestra allows us to understand how local identities are constructed and represented. The presentation and representation of the Orchestra abroad is made by Chinese instruments and a repertoire that, according to this institution integrates various musical genres from traditional Chinese melodies, song adaptations produced in Portugal, western music and contemporary Chinese music. Founded by the Macau Cultural Institute in 1987, this orchestra has forty musicians and already has performances in various countries around the world, such as the Special Administrative Region of Macau, China, Portugal and other European countries. The structure and the public presentation of the orchestra is made in accordance with type of audience and performance space and time of year. Musical performances carried between this orchestra and Portuguese musicians are one of the main cultural programs developed by Macau Cultural Institute. In addition, most musicians of this orchestra were born in Mainland China and Taiwan, with few exceptions of Hong Kong and Macau. The cultural policies implemented in musical education structures and the cultural and regional context are described by these musicians as crucial elements in the music they produce, specifically in instrumental performance. Expressive practice produced in the context of this orchestra is characterized by a specific cultural program that is mediated and communicated by musical practice developed by these musicians and the musical partnerships between them and Portuguese musicians.

• Details
• Contents