Innovating Tradition: Wang Wenxun’s Reconstruction of the Paradigm of Sichuan Opera Music and Its Contemporary Value

บทคัดย่อ

This study examines the creative philosophy, musical materials, and compositional techniques of Wang Wenxun, a prominent contemporary composer in Sichuan Opera, to explain how his works reconcile the enduring tension between tradition and modernity. While Sichuan Opera possesses a rich musical heritage, its modernization has often been constrained by rigid conventions, fixed structural forms, and limited incorporation of innovative musical language. Although previous scholarship has acknowledged Wang’s influence, a systematic understanding of his integrated creative approach remains insufficient.

Adopting a qualitative research framework, this study combines literature review, field investigation, semi-structured interviews, musical analysis, and comparative analysis. Four representative compositions, Dust Settles, Frenzy in the Sea of Desire, Mother of Mu Lian, and Flowers Drifting, Water Flowing, were selected to identify recurring principles underlying Wang’s creative practice. The findings reveal that Wang’s concept of systematic thinking facilitates the structured integration of inherited musical traditions with innovative elements (Wang, 1985; Wang, 1987). His incorporation of qupai, regional folk melodies, Tibetan musical characteristics, and modern electronic timbres reflects a sophisticated strategy of musical hybridization. In addition, techniques such as thematic penetration, harmonic and polyphonic expansion, and modern orchestration significantly enhance the expressive capacity of Sichuan Opera.

Overall, Wang’s creative model provides a valuable conceptual framework for guiding the future development and modernization of Chinese traditional opera, contributing to broader discussions on cultural continuity and innovation in contemporary performing arts.