The purpose of this study is to provide an analytical guide for common Chinese folk musical elements found in the early piano works of three contemporary Chinese-American New Wave composers: Tan Dun, Chen Yi, and Bright Sheng. These three composers were thoroughly exposed to folk traditions as they spent a significant amount of time studying folk songs around different regions of China. Influences from Chinese folk music can be found in their early piano works. The dissertation briefly covers the development of Chinese folk music in the twentieth century, which provides a context for how these three composers might have been influenced by folk elements during their time in China. Brief biographical and musical stylistic views of these composers and their mentor, Chou Wen-chung, are provided which crystalizes the discussion of their use of folk elements in their early piano works. In later chapters, theoretical analyses of three piano works showcase these composers’ use of Chinese folk musical elements and explore areas of intersections and differences. The three piano works that are examined in depth include Tan Dun’s Eight Memories in Watercolor (1978, revised in 2002), Chen Yi’s Duo Ye for solo piano (1984), and Bright Sheng’s My Song (1989).

These three composers fuse traditional Chinese musical elements with Western post-tonal techniques. It is notable to see the similar journey of these three composers in terms of cultural and educational background, and how this background reflects their fusion of Chinese folk musical elements and Western compositional techniques to create unique musical styles. Particularly striking is the common use of Chinese folk tunes, pentatonic scales and the manipulations of these scales through modes and pitch substitutions, as well as imitations of Chinese instruments for acoustic colors. In summary, the main goals of the document are to present similarities and differences of these folk elements in the early piano works of these New Wave composers and provide an analytical guide for pianists and piano teachers interested in learning about the Chinese musical elements in these contemporary works.