THE SOVEREIGNTY OF ETHNIC SONGS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KOREAN AND CHINESE NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE MUSIC THROUGH THE WORKS OF HAN HYUNGSEOK AND XIAN XINGHAI

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study conducts a comparative analysis of national independence music through the works of Korean composer Han HyungSeok and Chinese composer Xian Xinghai, examining their stylistic approaches within early 20th-century anti-colonial contexts. Both nations leveraged musical expression as cultural resistance against Japanese domination during this turbulent historical period. Han’s compositions strategically adapted Korean traditional music through pentatonic melodies and accessible structures, aligning with grassroots mobilization needs. Conversely, Xian synthesized Western compositional techniques with multi-ethnic Chinese musical idioms, creating grand choral works that sonically embodied mass participation ideologies. Analytical comparisons reveal Han’s intentional preservation of Korean musical authenticity versus Xian’s cosmopolitan synthesis. While both composers utilized folk elements, their technical implementations diverged significantly: Han prioritized melodic memorability for communal singing, whereas Xian developed sophisticated harmonic textures supporting narrative grandeur. These stylistic divergences reflect contrasting cultural strategies: Han’s functional approach served immediate independence movement objectives, while Xian’s monumental soundscapes constructed symbolic representations of collective resistance. Findings illuminate the “common origins, divergent expressions” paradigm in regional anti-imperialist sound cultures. Comparing Chinese and Korean anti-Japanese war songs provides models for preserving musical heritage and fills key gaps in East Asian music history.

Keywords

• Han HyungSeok
• Xian Xinghai
• national independence
• music style
• composition analysis.

ETNİK ŞARKILARIN EGEMENLİĞİ: HAN HYUNGSEOK VE XİAN XİNGHAİ'NİN ESERLERİ ÜZERİNDEN KORE VE ÇİN ULUSAL BAĞIMSIZLIK MÜZİĞİ ÜZERİNE KARŞILAŞTIRMALI BİR ÇALIŞMA

Öz

Bu çalışma, Koreli besteci Han HyungSeok ve Çinli besteci Xian Xinghai'nin eserleri üzerinden ulusal bağımsızlık müziğine dair karşılaştırmalı bir analiz yaparak, erken 20. yüzyıl anti-sömürgeci bağlamlarındaki stilistik yaklaşımlarını inceler. Her iki ülke, bu çalkantılı tarihi dönemde Japonya'nın egemenliğine karşı kültürel bir direniş olarak müzikal ifadeyi kullandı. Han’ın eserleri, beş notalı melodiler ve ulaşılabilir yapılar aracılığıyla Kore geleneksel müziğini stratejik bir şekilde adapte ederek halk hareketinin ihtiyaçlarıyla uyum sağladı. Buna karşın, Xian, Batı kompozisyon tekniklerini çok etnikli Çin müziğiyle harmanlayarak, kitlesel katılım ideolojilerini sesli bir şekilde somutlaştıran büyük koral eserler yarattı. Analitik karşılaştırmalar, Han’ın Kore müziği otantikliğini koruma amacını, Xian’ın kozmopolit sentezine karşı ortaya koymaktadır. Her iki besteci de halk müziği öğelerini kullanmış olsa da, teknik uygulamaları önemli ölçüde farklılaşmıştır: Han, toplu şarkı söyleme için melodik hatırlanabilirliği ön planda tutarken, Xian anlatısal büyüklüğü destekleyen sofistike armonik dokular geliştirmiştir. Bu stilistik farklılıklar, karşıt kültürel stratejileri yansıtır: Han’ın fonksiyonel yaklaşımı, bağımsızlık hareketinin acil hedeflerine hizmet ederken, Xian’ın anıtsal ses manzaraları kolektif direnişin sembolik temsillerini inşa etmiştir. Bulgular, bölgesel anti-emperyalist ses kültürlerinde “ortak kökenler, farklı ifadeler” paradigmasını aydınlatmaktadır. Çin ve Kore’nin Japonya’ya karşı savaş şarkılarını karşılaştırmak, müzik mirasını koruma konusunda modeller sunar ve Doğu Asya müzik tarihinde önemli boşlukları doldurur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Han HyungSeok
• Xian Xinghai
• ulusal bağımsızlık
• müzik stili
• kompozisyon analizi.

Kaynakça

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