"Comprehensive Introduction to Chinese Traditional Music" offers a detailed survey of Chinese traditional music in five chapters, each dealing with a different genre. The five genres are folk songs, dance music, narrative singing, music from Chinese opera, and instrumental music. The book begins with an introduction providing an overview of Chinese traditional music history, its connotations and main musical features, an indispensable context for readers unfamiliar with the subject. Within the main text, the authors discuss not only the local music genres, focusing on instruments, music analysis, and tonal theories, but also the historical evolution, performance, and social contexts associated with the music. A glossary of Chinese musical terms is listed in the appendix.

Notes from the translator and proofreaderList of music examplesList of illustrationsINTRODUCTIONI. Long History of Traditional Chines Music CultureII. Rich Connotation of Traditional Chinese Music CultureIII. Main Features of Traditional Chinese Music CultureCHAPTER I: FOLK SONGSSECTION 1: OVERVIEWI. Definition of Folk SongsII. Historical Evolution of Folk SongsIII. Status of Folk Songs in Lives of the ChinesSECTION 2: TYPES OF FOLK SONGS AND THEIR ARTISTIC FEATURESI. Folk Songs of Han PeopleII. Genres of Folk Songs of Ethnic GroupsCHAPTER II: DANCE MUSICSECTION 1: OVERVIEWI. Definition of Dance MusicII. Historical Evolution of Chinese Dance MusicIII. Artistic Features of Folk DanceSECTION 2 DANCE MUSIC AND ITS ARTISTIC FEATURESI. Vocal Dance MusicII. Instrumental Dance MusicIII. Composite Dance MusicCHAPTER III NARRATIVE SINGINGSECTION 1: OVERVIEWI. Definition of Narrative SingingII. Historical Evolutions of Narrative SingingIII. The Position of Narrative Singing in Traditional Chinese CultureSECTION 2: CATEGORIES AND ARTISTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NARRATIVE SINGINGI. Labeled Piece-based Narrative SingingII. Narrative Singing: Gushu (Drum Songs)III. The Art of Narrative Singing of Ethnic MinoritiesCHAPTER IV: MUSIC OF CHINESE OPERA (XIQU)SECTION 1: OVERVIEWI. Definition of Music of Chinese Opera (Xiqu)II. Historical Evolution of Xiqu MusicIII. Position of Xiqu Art in Traditional Chinese CultureSECTION 2: CATEGORIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF XIQU MUSICI. Classification of Xiqu MusicII. Four Major Xiqu Melodic Types and Their CharacteristicsIII. Introduction to Selected Emerging Regional Xiqu GenresCHAPTER V: INSTRUMENTAL MUSICSECTION 1: OVERVIEWI. Definition of Instrumental Music and the Concept of Yuezhong (Music Genre)II. Historical Evolution of Instrumental MusicIII. The Roles of Chinese Instrumental Ensembles in Chinese Traditional Music CultureSECTION 2: SOLO AND ENSEMBLE GENRES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICSI. Types of Solo Music and Their Music CharacteristicsII. Major Types of Ensemble Music and Their Artistic CharacteristicsREFERENCESCONTINUING READING MATERIALSSOUND RECORDINGS FOR LISTENING AND ANALYSES RELATED TO EACH CHAPTERAPPENDIXGLOSSARY OF CHINESE TERMSABOUT AUTHORS AND TRANSLATORS