Research on the Compositional Characteristics of Chinese Piano Works in the 1990s—Taking Zhang Zhao’s “Dian Nan Shan Ballad” as an Example

Research on the Compositional Characteristics of Chinese Piano Works in the 1990s—Taking Zhang Zhao’s “Dian Nan Shan Ballad” as an Example

Authors

  • Lei Gao College of Art, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, China
  • Neng Zhou College of Art, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, Zhejiang, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53469/wjimt.2026.09(01).02

Keywords:

1990s, Chinese piano works, Zhang Zhao, “Dian Nan Shan Ballad”, Compositional characteristics, Nationalization

Abstract

The 1990s marked a pivotal period of social and cultural transformation in China, accompanied by a shift in artistic creation concepts. Against the backdrop of deepening reform and opening-up and increasingly close cultural exchanges between China and the West, Chinese piano music composition entered a new phase pursuing profound integration and autonomous expression. Works like “Dian Nan Shan Ballad” signify the deepening and maturation of the “nationalization” process in Chinese piano music, laying a solid aesthetic foundation for its diverse development in the 21st century. This paper aims to examine the compositional characteristics and aesthetic orientations of Chinese piano works during this period by analyzing the musical substance of “Folk Songs from the Southern Mountains of Yunnan,” a piano suite composed by Zhang Zhao in 1992.

References

Journals

Wei Yingluo. On the Ethnic Characteristics and Performance Techniques of Three Mountain Ballads from Southern Yunnan [J]. Music Life, 2025, (08): 86-89.

Liu Jun. Analysis of Musical Characteristics and Performance Essentials in the Piano Suite Dian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Voice of the Yellow River, 2025, (12).

Shen Xinyue, Jing Jia. Research on Piano Teaching Practice of Zhang Zhao’s Dian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Home of Drama, 2023, (31): 54-56.

Wang Lu. Compositional Characteristics and Performance Analysis of Zhang Zhao’s Piano Piece Dian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Art Research, 2023, (03): 140-142.

Zhang Siyu. “Hometown Sentiment” in Zhang Zhao’s Works: A Case Study of the Piano Suite Dian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Theater Home, 2022, (06): 81-82.

Xi Yan. The Ethnic Adaptation of Yunnan Musical Elements in Zhang Zhao’s Piano Works: Taking “Hani Love Song,” “Nu Ma A Mei,” and “Dian Nan Shan Ballad” as Examples [J]. Voice of the Yellow River, 2021, (23): 46-48.

Yang Yang. Analysis of Stylistic Influences of Regional Culture in Chinese Piano Music Works: Taking “Three Songs of the Dian Nan Shan Ballad: Mountain Moon” as an Example [J]. Mass Literature and Art, 2021, (14): 108-109.

Chen Yao. The Integration of Western Piano Composition Techniques and Yi Ethnic Traditional Music: An Analysis of the Musical Characteristics and Performance of Dian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Journal of Honghe University, 2020, 18(05): 32-35.

Li Kaidi. On the Artistic Characteristics and Performance Techniques of the Chinese Piano Suite Dian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Art Criticism, 2020, (02): 3-7.

Tang Jun. The Application of Yi Ethnic Music Elements in Dian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Music Creation, 2019, (06): 108-113.

Wang Dongkui. Analysis and Performance of Zhang Zhao’sDian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Northern Music, 2017, 37(01): 95-96.

Xu Yang. Review of Piano Suite Three Songs of Dian Nan Shan Ballad[J]. Piano Art, 2006, (02): 37-39.

Long Xiaoyun. Tracing Childhood Scenes: A Brief Analysis of Zhang Zhao’s Dian Nan Shan Ballad [J]. Chinese Music, 2003, (02): 69-70

Monographs

Bian Meng. Formation and Development of Chinese Piano Culture [M]. Beijing: China Music Publishing House, 1996.

Dai Baisheng. Research on Chinese Piano Music [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Conservatory of Music Press, 2014.

Wang Yuhe. Outline of Modern Chinese Music History (1949-2000) [M]. Beijing: Central Conservatory of Music Press, 2009.

Wei Tingge. An Introduction to Chinese Piano Composition [M]. Beijing: People’s Music Publishing House, 2012.

Zhang Zhao. First Piano Suite: “Dian Nan Shan Ballad” [M]. Beijing: People’s Music Publishing House, 2020.

Theses

Liu Xiwen. An Analysis of Musical Style and Performance in Zhang Zhao’s Dian Nan Shan Ballad [D]. Yunnan Arts University, 2023.

Zhang Jing. Musical and Performance Analysis of Zhang Zhao’s Piano Suite Dian Nan Shan Ballad [D]. North China University of Technology, 2022.

Wen Yang. A Preliminary Discussion on the Chinese Piano Suite Dian Nan Shan Ballad [D]. Sichuan Normal University, 2015.

Zhu Yiyi. An Exploration of the Artistic Characteristics and Multicultural Implications in Zhang Zhao’s Piano Solo Works [D]. Xi’an Conservatory of Music, 2023.

Zheng Yuan. An Initial Exploration of Chinese Piano Music Composition in the Second Half of the 20th Century [D]. Fujian Normal University, 2006.

Shi Yixin. A Study on the Soundscape Construction and Performance Interpretation of Zhang Zhao’s Piano Work Dian Nan Shan Ballad [D]. Southwest University, 2025.

Chen Jin. Musical Characteristics and Performance Analysis of Zhang Zhao’s Piano Work “Dian Nan Shan Ballad” [D]. Harbin Normal University, 2024.

Xiao Han. Performance Research on Zhang Zhao’s “Dian Nan Shan Ballad” [D]. Hebei Normal University, 2024.

Hu Mengyuan. An Exploration of Yi Ethnic Music Elements in the Piano Suite Dian Nan Shan Ballad [D]. Jiangsu Normal University, 2022.

Han Xu. An Analysis of Zhang Zhao’s Work Dian Nan Shan Ballad [D]. Henan University, 2019.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-30

Issue

Section

Articles
Loading...