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Tsao Poon-Yee (Penyeh)
B.Mus., M.Mus. (U.B.C.); Ph.D. (Pittsburgh)

Professor Tsao Poon-Yee (Pen-Yeh) received his Ph.D. degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh, and has been teaching in the Music Department of The Chinese University of Hong Kong since 1982. Professor Tsao's research interests include ritual music of China (Taoist ritual music and ritual music of the popular belief systems of China's Han majority and ethnic nationalities), narrative music, and theory and methods of ethnomusicology. As well as teaching undergraduate courses of Chinese music, Professor Tsao also teaches graduate ethnomusicology courses and supervises dissertations.

Professor Tsao also acts as research fellow or honorary professor for China Academy of Arts (Research Institute of Music, Beijing), Central Music Conservatory (Beijing), China Music Conservatory (Beijing), Zhongyang Minzu University (Beijing) and Sichuan University (Sichuan) and Xiamen University (Fujian). He has served as Editor’s Consultant for the international journal Musical Performance, and as a member of the Executive Board of the International Council of Traditional Music (UNESCO Category C).

Professor Tsao has published extensively, particularly in areas of ritual music and musical narrative. His recent publications include articles on ritual and narrative music in The Garland Encyclopaedia of World Music,《海上白雲觀施食音樂研究》,《武當山道教音樂研究》,《杭州抱扑道院道教音樂》,《溫州平陽柬嶽觀道教音樂研究》,《中國道教音樂史略》,《龍虎山天師道科儀音樂研究》, Taoist Ritual Music of the Yu-lan Pen-hui (Feeding the Hungry Ghost Festival) in a Hong Kong Taoist Temple, Su-chou T'an-Tz'u: A Study of the Structural Elements of the Chinese Southern Singing-Narrative, Puppet Theatres in Hong Kong and Their Origins.

Since 1992, Professor Tsao has headed the long-term, nation-wide Ritual Music in China Research Programme (RMCRP). Under the support of competitive granting organizations such as The Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange and the Research Grants Council, the RMCRP has completed several large-scale projects. These include the "Comparative Study of Regional and Trans-regional Taoist Ritual Music Traditions of Major Temples in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan," "Ritual of Houtu Worship and Village Music Associations in Laishui and Yixian of Hebei Province," and "A Study of the Musical Repertory, Style and Tradition of Ritual Music of Popular Belief Systems in China: China South and East (Time Unit I)." Professor Tsao is presently coordinating continued research in the area of ritual music of China's popular belief systems and a digitization project called "The Sounds of China's Music Traditions".

Research Interests

Ethnomusicology; Chinese Music; Chinese Ritual Music; Music of China's Ethnic Minority; Narrative Music

Contact

Email: poonyeetsao@cuhk.edu.hk

Fax: (852) 2603-5273