The Herald-Tribune gives huge play to a feature about the rapid rise of Western classical music in China. A sampler:
Music-related manufacturing has also exploded. As of 2003, 87 factories made Western-style musical instruments. By last year, the number had grown to 142 factories producing 370,000 pianos, one million violins and six million guitars. China dominates world production of all three.The Communist Party, which three decades ago tried to wipe out classical music, now deems it an essential component of the "advanced culture" it vows to create in its effort to make the country a true great power.
It is somewhat infuriating that the same regime that criminalized cellos and Mozart not all that long ago is now trying to take some kind of credit for raising the cultural level of China by encouraging the same. It's a little like the Vatican apologizing for beating up Galileo. I'm not really buying it yet.
The question now is whether a semi-controlled social movement can produce happy and real musical experiences for the young players involved, as well as opportunity for the best players to reach a world stage. I'm sure the latter is more the agenda, which is a little scary. But in a nation as big as China, I'm optimistic that most of the kids who get a huge dose of musical training will be getting exactly what I think American kids need.
Actually, I'll get a chance to seek my own answers in the fall. It looks like my wife has lined up a couple of travel assignments that will take us to Shanghai and beyond. Hey, China's going to the moon. Don't bet against them.
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