Musical Composition Literacy and Arrangement Techniques in Chinese Pop Music

This study explores the musical composition literacy and arrangement techniques in Chinese pop music. The research investigates how traditional Chinese musical elements and modern global influences are synthesized in contemporary Chinese pop music. The objective is to investigate and analyze the musical composition literacy and arrangement techniques in Chinese pop music, specifically focusing on the song “Qi Mei Di” by Guo Ding. The study was conducted through a qualitative research design involving an instrumental case study, which focused on a detailed examination of a single song and involved semi-structured interviews with three key informants: a composer, a music producer, and an arranger directly involved in the Chinese pop music industry. The data analysis includes thematic coding of interview transcripts and content analysis of the song “Qi Mei Di,” examining its musical structure and arrangement techniques. The results reveal that Guo Ding’s work exemplifies the integration of traditional Chinese music with modern pop sensibilities, highlighting emerging trends in Chinese pop music towards greater complexity and sophistication. This research contributes to understanding how musical literacy is developed and applied in Chinese pop music. It suggests that future studies should explore the impact of digital technology and music education on these practices. The findings have implications for educators and practitioners in music composition and arrangement, particularly in non-Western music traditions.