Dong Music Elements in Contemporary Music Art Creation: Deep Integration and Reference Exploration

บทคัดย่อ

This study systematically examines the pathways, models, and cultural logic underlying the integration of Dong ethnic musical elements into contemporary music creation. Against the broader challenge of preserving and revitalizing traditional musical heritage in an increasingly globalized cultural environment, the research investigates how Dong music can be creatively transformed while maintaining its cultural authenticity. Three core aesthetic characteristics of Dong musical culture—polyphonic mental imagery, natural soundscapes, and functions of cultural integration—are employed as analytical frameworks for evaluating contemporary fusion practices. Using a qualitative case-study approach, the research analyzes three representative examples: Wang Dewen’s musical drama Gala, centered on the imagery of Spring Water of Dong Village; Li Minyan’s Minyun Dongyin concert series, represented by the work Dong Sentiment; and the cross-genre experiments of the Wule Change Orchestra in film and game music production. The findings identify three distinctive models of integration: symbolic crossover through popular and digital media, narrative reconstruction within stage arts, and aesthetic canonization through academic and professional music frameworks.

The study demonstrates that successful integration extends beyond the superficial incorporation of ethnic musical elements. Instead, it requires a dynamic balance between authenticity and innovation, as well as between cultural subjectivity and intercultural dialogue, while preserving the cultural essence of Dong music. Through adaptive creative transformation, Dong musical traditions have been repositioned from localized ritual contexts into contemporary theatres, digital media platforms, and professional concert venues, thereby evolving from static cultural heritage into dynamic artistic resources. The study contributes to the growing discourse on ethnic music modernization by proposing a conceptual framework for understanding the sustainable transmission and contemporary adaptation of indigenous musical traditions. It offers both theoretical insights and practical strategies for cultural preservation, creative innovation, and the integration of traditional music within contemporary artistic ecosystems.