Composing a Guqin Overture for the XJTLU Anthem: A Practice-Based Exploration of Cultural Integration through Musical Practice

This practice-based research project presents the creative process and public outcome of composing an overture for the Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) Anthem, performed on the Guqin, a revered Chinese seven-string zither. The primary creative artifact—the overture melody—was premiered at the "XJTLU Anthem Release to SMT" event on April 17, marking its first public debut.

The compositional practice was guided by two core objectives. First, to create a seamless auditory transition into the main anthem. This was achieved by weaving melodic motifs from the Western-style main anthem into the overture, yet reinterpreting them within the framework of the traditional Chinese pentatonic scale. This deliberate design ensures listeners can intuitively perceive the musical connection as the piece transitions from the overture to the anthem.

Second, the practice served as a metaphorical soundscape for XJTLU's unique identity. The conscious choice to score the overture for the Guqin, juxtaposed with the Western instrumentation of the main anthem, embodies the philosophy of a Sino-foreign collaborative university. This sonic structure symbolizes a dialogue and integration between Chinese and Western cultures, moving from a distinctively Chinese musical preface towards a harmonious, international whole.

The project demonstrates how music composition can function as a methodological practice to articulate and explore institutional identity. It offers a concrete case study in using creative work to bridge cultural narratives, providing a model with potential applications in broader contexts of intercultural communication and artistic research.