Ma Sicong's Violin Artistry and Compositions

Abstract

Ma Sicong was a violinist, composer, and educator of the highest caliber in China who devoted his entire professional life to the instrument. Known for producing violin music in various styles and forms for more than fifty years, Ma Sicong contributed to the violin's popularization in China through his performance and composition with Chinese elements. His violin music incorporates principal melodies from Chinese folk music, and his talents as a mature Western composer talents blend these melodies into violin solos with a distinct national identity.The Inner Mongolia Suite and First Rondo by Ma Sicong, both of which are considered among the most outstanding violin solos ever written for the instrument, are examined in this dissertation, as is the composer's own playing experience, to gain a better understanding of the compositions and their meaning. There are several ramifications for Chinese composition for the violin due to the inclusion of national features that affected the design and development of the violin. The author also hopes that this dissertation can serve as a beneficial resource for future students interested in comparable topics.