Similarities and differences between chamber music and opera by Jin Xiang and their influence on contemporary Chinese music

The article is devoted to a comparative analysis of the chamber and opera work of the outstanding Chinese composer Jin Xiang, identifying key similarities and differences between these genre spheres in his legacy and assessing their impact on the development of modern Chinese music. The study focuses on the specifics of applying Jin Xiang’s compositional and aesthetic strategies in chamber intimacy and operatic scale. It is analyzed how the composer adapts the principles of the synthesis of Chinese traditions (melodics, lado-intonation systems, philosophical and aesthetic concepts) with Western composition techniques and forms in each of the genres. Common features are revealed (deep connection with Chinese culture, attention to timbre, linearity) and significant differences (degree of theatricality, role of word and plot, scale of form, approach to drama). Particular attention is paid to how the specifics of each genre affect the expression of national identity and innovative ideas of the composer. Based on the analysis, an assessment of the contribution of Jin Xiang’s work, both in the chamber and opera spheres, to the formation of a modern Chinese composer school is proposed. It is concluded about the significance of his multifaceted heritage for enriching the musical language, finding ways of cultural synthesis and affirming Chinese music in the world context. The study expands the understanding of the Jin Xiang phenomenon as a key figure whose experiments across genres have had a comprehensive and profound impact on subsequent generations of Chinese composers.