China

Enormously broad in scope, China's musical heritage spans thousands of years and serves many functions. Ceremonial court music, opera, and folk dance music each have rich and distinctively evolved traditions reflecting their respective places in the social framework. Though these older forms have suffered decreased interest from much of the population, current-day musicians such as the New York-based Chinese- American group Jade Bridge are breathing new life into the traditional repertoire. On the other side of the coin, China has recently witnessed the beginnings of its own popular, rock-oriented music scene, spearheaded by political rocker Cui Jian, who rose to prominence in the late '80s. The scene now boasts a diversity of acts that range from Canto Pop star Faye Wong to the Fly, a Punk band that has performed at legendary New York club CBGB.