Stylistic origins Neo-classical
C-pop
Traditional Chinese
Electronic, especially ambient
New-age
Minimalist
Psychedelic rock
Krautrock
Space rock
Symphonic rock Cultural origins Underground popularity in China since 1990s; trace the roots to 1980s Typical instruments Electronic and electroacoustic traditional Chinese music instruments using the pentatonic scale |
C-ambient is an abbreviation of Chinese ambient music, a loosely defined musical genre in mainland China. Similarly to the term C-pop, it was coined by the Chinese media in order to distinguish Chinese ambient musicians from foreign musicians. The origin of modern C-ambient is said to be pioneered by Chen Qigang, who wanted to create ambient music inspired by French artists particularly Jean Michel Jarre in the Chinese-language popular culture and media [1]. Stylistically, C-ambient differs from ambient in that C-ambient employs elements of ethnic Chinese music and traditional Chinese music instruments which can be played with a pentatonic scale, such as er hu and pi pa, often electric, electroacoustic or distorted as opposed to acoustic.
Examples of C-ambient
References
Chinese ambient music Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA