Dr. Lijuan Qian is senior lecturer in music at University College Cork, National University of Ireland. She is the author of A Tolerant Mainstream: The Pop Song in China in the 1980s (2016, in Chinese) and the translator of E. H. Gombrich, Julian Hochberg, Max Black, Arts, Perception and Reality, 2015 (English to Chinese) and over 20 articles, book reviews and essays mainly on digital social media and popular music studies, and on intangible cultural heritage among women and ethnic minority populations in China. She received her PhD in Ethnomusicology at the University of Sheffield in 2011 and a MA in Musicology at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2005.
Lijuan Qian is principal investigator of the 5-year community-engaged ERC research project ECura, Everyone’s a Curator: Digitally Empowering Ethnic Minority Music Sustainability in China. Working with villagers in three ethnic minority communities in SW China, ECura is studying how they use digital media technologies (mobile phones, TikTok, etc) to support their traditional expressive practices and aims to develop new supports for Indigenous communities in this field. Please visit the project website:
Everyone is a Curator: Digitally Empowering Ethnic Minority Music Sustainability in China (ecura.ie)
Lijuan Qian was previously a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Music, UCC, as an Irish Research Council MSCA COFUND grant from 2017-2021 for her project "Applying Cultural Heritage as a Means of Sustainable Development: Voices of Women Culture Bearers in Yunnan, China," and as Irish Research Council post-doctoral research fellow from 2015-2017 on the project "Making Sense of TV Music Talent Show in China: An Audience Ethnography". Lijuan mainly worked at Sichuan Normal University, China before joining UCC. She was research fellow there from 2011-2014 and, before her doctoral studies, held a lectureship (2005-2007). She was previously a part-time lecturer at Shanghai Maritime University (2003-2004) and chief piano teacher at Shanghai music kindergarten (2003-2005).
Lijuan has been awarded the following major research grants and funding awards: European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant (2021); The Irish Research Council Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND Postdoctoral Fellowship (2017); Government of Ireland Post-doctoral Fellowship (2015); The Scientific Research Foundation for Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars from China State Education Ministry (2013); Overseas Research Studentship Awards Scheme from UK Department for Education and Skills (2007); University Studentship (2007) and Excellence Exchange Scheme (2009) from the University of Sheffield; and Young Scholar Project from Sichuan Normal University (2006).
Biography
Dr. Lijuan Qian is senior lecturer in music at University College Cork, National University of Ireland. She is the author of A Tolerant Mainstream: The Pop Song in China in the 1980s (2016, in Chinese) and the translator of E. H. Gombrich, Julian Hochberg, Max Black, Arts, Perception and Reality, 2015 (English to Chinese) and over 20 articles, book reviews and essays mainly on digital social media and popular music studies, and on intangible cultural heritage among women and ethnic minority populations in China. She received her PhD in Ethnomusicology at the University of Sheffield in 2011 and a MA in Musicology at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2005.
Lijuan Qian is principal investigator of the 5-year community-engaged ERC research project ECura, Everyone’s a Curator: Digitally Empowering Ethnic Minority Music Sustainability in China. Working with villagers in three ethnic minority communities in SW China, ECura is studying how they use digital media technologies (mobile phones, TikTok, etc) to support their traditional expressive practices and aims to develop new supports for Indigenous communities in this field. Please visit the project website:
Everyone is a Curator: Digitally Empowering Ethnic Minority Music Sustainability in China (ecura.ie)
Lijuan Qian was previously a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Music, UCC, as an Irish Research Council MSCA COFUND grant from 2017-2021 for her project "Applying Cultural Heritage as a Means of Sustainable Development: Voices of Women Culture Bearers in Yunnan, China," and as Irish Research Council post-doctoral research fellow from 2015-2017 on the project "Making Sense of TV Music Talent Show in China: An Audience Ethnography". Lijuan mainly worked at Sichuan Normal University, China before joining UCC. She was research fellow there from 2011-2014 and, before her doctoral studies, held a lectureship (2005-2007). She was previously a part-time lecturer at Shanghai Maritime University (2003-2004) and chief piano teacher at Shanghai music kindergarten (2003-2005).
Lijuan has been awarded the following major research grants and funding awards: European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant (2021); The Irish Research Council Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND Postdoctoral Fellowship (2017); Government of Ireland Post-doctoral Fellowship (2015); The Scientific Research Foundation for Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars from China State Education Ministry (2013); Overseas Research Studentship Awards Scheme from UK Department for Education and Skills (2007); University Studentship (2007) and Excellence Exchange Scheme (2009) from the University of Sheffield; and Young Scholar Project from Sichuan Normal University (2006).
Research Interests
I mainly work at the areas of Chinese Popular Music, Applied Ethnomusicology, Popular Music Industry, Aesthetics of Music, and Mass Media and Culture.Research Grants
| Project | Funding Body | Start Date | End Date | Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyone's a Curator: Digitally Empowering Ethnic Minority Music Sustainability in China | Horizon 2020 | 01-JUN-22 | 30-MAY-27 | €1,500,000.00 | |
| Applying Cultural Heritage as a Means of Sustainable Development: Voices of Women Culture Bearers in Yunnan, China | Irish Research Council | 01-OCT-17 | 30-DEC-21 | €288,372.00 | |
| Making Sense of TV Music Talent in China: An Audience Ethnography | Irish Research Council | 01-OCT-15 | 30-SEP-17 | €86,570.00 |
Publications
Books
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2016) | Kuanrongde zhuliu: zhongguo bashi niandaide liuxing gequ (A Tolerant Mainstream: The Pop Song in China in the 1980s). Lijuan Qian (2016) Kuanrongde zhuliu: zhongguo bashi niandaide liuxing gequ (A Tolerant Mainstream: The Pop Song in China in the 1980s). China: Guangxi Normal University Press. [Details] |
Book Chapters
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2023) | 'Belonging and Displacement in the Han Chinese Musical Anti-Diaspora' Lijuan Qian and Jonathan Stock (2023) 'Belonging and Displacement in the Han Chinese Musical Anti-Diaspora' In: The Oxford Handbook of Global Popular Music. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details] | |
| (2023) | 'Humanism in Red: A New Mainstream Narrative in the Pop Songs in 1980s’ China' Lijuan Qian (2023) 'Humanism in Red: A New Mainstream Narrative in the Pop Songs in 1980s’ China' In: Oxford Handbook of the Music of China. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details] | |
| (2020) | 'Class Division and Overlaps in New Digital Popular Music Formats in China' Lijuan Qian (2020) 'Class Division and Overlaps in New Digital Popular Music Formats in China' In: The Bloomsbury Handbook of Popular Music and Social Class. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc. [Details] | |
| (2019) | 'The Music of China' Lijuan Qian (2019) 'The Music of China' In: On Music of the World. Herndon, VA: Connect for Education, Inc. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | 'Which Identity Matters? Competing Ethnicity in Chinese TV Music Contests' Lijuan Qian (2017) 'Which Identity Matters? Competing Ethnicity in Chinese TV Music Contests'. World of Music, 6(2017) (2):57-82 [Details] |
Articles
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2016) | Guoji shengxiang—Jingji tizhi shiyanxiade yinyue gongye anli fenxi’ (International Audio and Video Company: An Case Study from Music Industry under the Economic System Reform in China). Xinghai yinyue xueyuan xuebao (Journal of Xinghai Conservatory of Music) Vol 143 (02): 61-5. Lijuan Qian (2016) Guoji shengxiang—Jingji tizhi shiyanxiade yinyue gongye anli fenxi’ (International Audio and Video Company: An Case Study from Music Industry under the Economic System Reform in China). Xinghai yinyue xueyuan xuebao (Journal of Xinghai Conservatory of Music) Vol 143 (02): 61-5. Guangzhou, China: Articles [Details] | |
| (2015) | Jingying haishi dazhong? zhongguo 1980 niandai liuxing gequ zhongde minjian wenhua he jingying chanshi’ (Elite and Popular: Folk Culture and Its Elite Interpretation in Pop Song in China in the 1980s). Lijuan Qian (2015) Jingying haishi dazhong? zhongguo 1980 niandai liuxing gequ zhongde minjian wenhua he jingying chanshi’ (Elite and Popular: Folk Culture and Its Elite Interpretation in Pop Song in China in the 1980s). Beijing, China: Articles [Details] | |
| (2012) | Shenfen, zhengzhi he tengtong: yingwen wenxianzhongde zhongguo liuxing yinyue an yanjiu’ (Identity, Politics and Pain: English Literature on Chinese Popular Music). Lijuan Qian (2012) Shenfen, zhengzhi he tengtong: yingwen wenxianzhongde zhongguo liuxing yinyue an yanjiu’ (Identity, Politics and Pain: English Literature on Chinese Popular Music). Guangzhou, China: Articles [Details] | |
| (2011) | Cong shanghen dao zhuliu: chengshihuade caogen liuxing gequ “xibeifeng”’ (The Urbanized Grass-roots Pop Song Style “Northwest Wind”: From Trauma to Mainstream). Lijuan Qian (2011) Cong shanghen dao zhuliu: chengshihuade caogen liuxing gequ “xibeifeng”’ (The Urbanized Grass-roots Pop Song Style “Northwest Wind”: From Trauma to Mainstream). Beijing, China: Articles [Details] | |
| (2006) | Yinyue pian ai yu shenfen jian gou (Musical Preferences and Identity Construction). Lijuan Qian (2006) Yinyue pian ai yu shenfen jian gou (Musical Preferences and Identity Construction). Beijing, China: Articles [Details] | |
| (2005) | ‘Yinyue pian’ai jiqi wenhua biaoxian: jiu dangdai daxuesheng yinyue pian’ai fenggede sikao’ (Musical Preference and Cultural Expression: The Favorites Musical Styles of Current College Students). Lijuan Qian (2005) ‘Yinyue pian’ai jiqi wenhua biaoxian: jiu dangdai daxuesheng yinyue pian’ai fenggede sikao’ (Musical Preference and Cultural Expression: The Favorites Musical Styles of Current College Students). Beijing, China: Articles [Details] | |
| (2005) | Yinyue lingting yu qinggan chenshu: Tan daxuesheng yinyue pian’ai zhong de qinggan zhudao yinsu’ (Listening to Music and Narratives of Sensibilities: Sentiment as a Dominant Factor Affecting College Students’ Musical Preferences). Lijuan Qian (2005) Yinyue lingting yu qinggan chenshu: Tan daxuesheng yinyue pian’ai zhong de qinggan zhudao yinsu’ (Listening to Music and Narratives of Sensibilities: Sentiment as a Dominant Factor Affecting College Students’ Musical Preferences). Beijing, China: Articles [Details] | |
| (2004) | ‘Tan yinyuexinlixuede zhongyaoxing’ (On the Importance of the Social Psychology of Music). Lijuan Qian (2004) ‘Tan yinyuexinlixuede zhongyaoxing’ (On the Importance of the Social Psychology of Music). Beijing, China: Articles [Details] |
Book Reviews
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2014) | Jiekai chuangyezhede shenmi miansha: Catherine Fitterman Radbill xinzhu “yinyue gongye rumen”’ (book review: Introduction to The Music Industry, An Entrepreneurial Approach). Lijuan Qian (2014) Jiekai chuangyezhede shenmi miansha: Catherine Fitterman Radbill xinzhu “yinyue gongye rumen”’ (book review: Introduction to The Music Industry, An Entrepreneurial Approach). Beijing, China: Book Reviews [Details] | |
| (2011) | Dui geti biaodade shendu miaohui－yi “zhongguo yinyue zhuanji” wei li’ (The thick description to individual musician). Lijuan Qian (2011) Dui geti biaodade shendu miaohui－yi “zhongguo yinyue zhuanji” wei li’ (The thick description to individual musician). Guangzhou, China: Book Reviews [Details] |
Foreword
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2022) | ‘The End of the 'Country' Is in a City.’ Xiang cun de jin tou zai cheng shi. Lijuan Qian (2022) ‘The End of the 'Country' Is in a City.’ Xiang cun de jin tou zai cheng shi. Shanghai: Foreword [Details] |
Invited Seminars
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2022) | Empowering the Culture by Empowering the Cultural Bearers: A Case Study from Yunnan, China'. Marginalised and Endangered Worldviews Study Centre (MEWSC) and the Centre for Arts Research and Practice (CARPE), University College Cork. Lijuan Qian (2022) Empowering the Culture by Empowering the Cultural Bearers: A Case Study from Yunnan, China'. Marginalised and Endangered Worldviews Study Centre (MEWSC) and the Centre for Arts Research and Practice (CARPE), University College Cork. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2022) | NGOs and traditional culture in Yunnan, China.’ Trinity Centre for Asian Studies, Trinity College Dublin. Lijuan Qian (2022) NGOs and traditional culture in Yunnan, China.’ Trinity Centre for Asian Studies, Trinity College Dublin. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2022) | Hip Hop in China and Its Multi-Dimensional Narratives.’ Department of Music FUAIM Lecture Series, University College Cork. Lijuan Qian (2022) Hip Hop in China and Its Multi-Dimensional Narratives.’ Department of Music FUAIM Lecture Series, University College Cork. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2020) | Ethnic Minority Women in Music-related Sustainable Development Programmes in Yunnan, China. Lijuan Qian (2020) Ethnic Minority Women in Music-related Sustainable Development Programmes in Yunnan, China. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2019) | Regional Cooperation from the Perspective of Globalization: A Comparative Study of Music in China and Ireland. Lijuan Qian (2019) Regional Cooperation from the Perspective of Globalization: A Comparative Study of Music in China and Ireland. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2019) | Working with NGOs In and Outside Traditional Music in Yunnan, China. Lijuan Qian (2019) Working with NGOs In and Outside Traditional Music in Yunnan, China. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2018) | 'Which Identity Matters? Ethnic Musicans in TV Music Contests in China’. Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Guangzhou, China. Lijuan Qian (2018) 'Which Identity Matters? Ethnic Musicans in TV Music Contests in China’. Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Guangzhou, China. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2018) | ‘Applying Cultural Heritage as a Means of Sustainable Development: Voices of Women Culture Bearers in Yunnan, China.’ Yunnan Arts Academy, Kunming, China, November; Beijing Normal University ⦁Hongkong Baptist University United International College. Zhuhai, China, December. Lijuan Qian (2018) ‘Applying Cultural Heritage as a Means of Sustainable Development: Voices of Women Culture Bearers in Yunnan, China.’ Yunnan Arts Academy, Kunming, China, November; Beijing Normal University ⦁Hongkong Baptist University United International College. Zhuhai, China, December. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2018) | ‘Traditional Music Today, Case Studies from Ireland and Chinese Ethnicity Areas in Yunnan.’ Suzhou Technology University. Lijuan Qian (2018) ‘Traditional Music Today, Case Studies from Ireland and Chinese Ethnicity Areas in Yunnan.’ Suzhou Technology University. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2018) | 'Solutions to be financially sustainable, female cultural bearer in Yunnan ethnicity areas’. Yunnan Financial University. Lijuan Qian (2018) 'Solutions to be financially sustainable, female cultural bearer in Yunnan ethnicity areas’. Yunnan Financial University. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2016) | Flying Out: Female Singer-songwriters in Chinese TV Music Talent Show ‘Sing My Song‘. Lijuan Qian (2016) Flying Out: Female Singer-songwriters in Chinese TV Music Talent Show ‘Sing My Song‘. Invited Seminars [Details] | |
| (2014) | Romanticized Xibeifeng: An Experiment in Making a New Musical Mainstream in China. Lijuan Qian (2014) Romanticized Xibeifeng: An Experiment in Making a New Musical Mainstream in China. Cork, Ireland: Invited Seminars [Details] |
Magazine article
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2012) | Aodaliya gejuyuan “yeyingde ai”’ (Sydney Opera House: The Love of the Nightingale). Lijuan Qian (2012) Aodaliya gejuyuan “yeyingde ai”’ (Sydney Opera House: The Love of the Nightingale). Shanghai,China: Magazine article [Details] | |
| (2005) | New Elite Director Reinterprets Handel’s Opera “Julius Caesar”). Lijuan Qian (2005) New Elite Director Reinterprets Handel’s Opera “Julius Caesar”). Shanghai, China: Magazine article [Details] | |
| (2004) | ‘Rang geju chongxin zouxiang guanzhong’ (New Tips from Western People to Let Audiences Like Opera Again). Lijuan Qian (2004) ‘Rang geju chongxin zouxiang guanzhong’ (New Tips from Western People to Let Audiences Like Opera Again). Shanghai,China: Magazine article [Details] | |
| (2004) | ‘Xiandaiban baozhuang geju’ (Operas in Modern Versions Makes People Feels Happiness or Trepidation). Lijuan Qian (2004) ‘Xiandaiban baozhuang geju’ (Operas in Modern Versions Makes People Feels Happiness or Trepidation). Shanghai,China: Magazine article [Details] |
Newspaper Articles
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | ‘Female Singer-Songwriters and China’s TV Talent Shows. China Policy Institute: Analysis. Lijuan Qian (2017) ‘Female Singer-Songwriters and China’s TV Talent Shows. China Policy Institute: Analysis. Newspaper Articles [Details] |
Translations
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2015) | Arts, Perception and Reality. E. H. Gombrich, Julian Hochberg, Max Black (2015) Arts, Perception and Reality. Translations [Details] | |
| (2005) | ‘Richang lingting zhongde qinggan’ (Emotions in Everyday Listening to Music). Lijuan Qian (2005) ‘Richang lingting zhongde qinggan’ (Emotions in Everyday Listening to Music). Tianjin, China: Translations [Details] |
Professional Activities
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Society for Ethnomusicology | co-Chair on Applied Ethnomusicology Section | 01-MAR-23 / 01-MAR-26 | |
| British Forum of Ethnomusicology | member | / | |
| International Council for Traditional Music World | member | / | |
| International Association for the Study of Popular Music | member | / |
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ERC Starting Grant | European Research Council | |
| 2017 | The Irish Research Council Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND Postdoctoral Fellowship | Irish Research Council & European Research Council | |
| 2015 | Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship 2015 | Irish Research Council | |
| 2013 | The Scientific Research Foundation for Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars | China State Education Ministry | |
| 2007 | Overseas Research Studentships Awards Scheme | UK Department for Education and Skills | |
| 2008 | University of Excellence Exchange Scheme | University of Sheffield | |
| 2007 | University of Sheffield Studentship University of Sheffield Studentship | University of Sheffield |
Conference Contributions
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2020) | The 7th Inter-Asia Popular Music Studies Conference, Lijuan Qian (2020) Vernacular Culture on Chinese Digital Media Platform. [Oral Presentation], The 7th Inter-Asia Popular Music Studies Conference, online . [Details] | |
| (2019) | The 45th International Council for Traditional Music World Conference, Lijuan Qian (2019) Working with NGOs In and Outside Traditional Music. [Oral Presentation], The 45th International Council for Traditional Music World Conference, Bangkok, Thailand . [Details] | |
| (2019) | International Association for the Studies of Popular Music, Lijuan Qian (2019) Chinese TV Music Contests: An Audience Ethnography. [Oral Presentation], International Association for the Studies of Popular Music, Canberra, Australia . [Details] | |
| (2019) | International Conference of Cultural Governance in Asia (ICCGA), Lijuan Qian (2019) Being Local: State Place-making Strategies in Tourist Towns in Yunnan. [Invited Oral Presentation], International Conference of Cultural Governance in Asia (ICCGA), Hong Kong . [Details] | |
| (2018) | 2018 Kunming Forum for Ethnomusicology and Ethnic Minority Music, Lijuan Qian (2018) Applying Cultural Heritage as a Means of Sustainable Development: Voices of Women Culture Bearers in Yunnan, China. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], 2018 Kunming Forum for Ethnomusicology and Ethnic Minority Music, Kunming, China . [Details] | |
| (2018) | The 6th Inter-Asia Popular Music Studies Conference, International Association of Popular Music Studies, Lijuan Qian (2018) Dialect, Tone and Psychedelic Fantasy: Hip-hop in Chinese TV Music Contests. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], The 6th Inter-Asia Popular Music Studies Conference, International Association of Popular Music Studies, Beijing . [Details] | |
| (2017) | 19th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study Popular Music, Lijuan Qian (2017) Sing My Song: A New Format in Chinese TV Music Talent Shows. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], 19th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study Popular Music, Kassel . [Details] | |
| (2017) | British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference, Lijuan Qian (2017) Contesting Ethnicity: Ethnic Singer-Songwriters in Chinese TV show Sing My Song. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference, Sheffield . [Details] | |
| (2016) | British Forum of Ethnomusicology, Lijuan Qian (2016) Making Sense of TV Music Talent Shows in China: An Audience Ethnography. [Oral Presentation], British Forum of Ethnomusicology, KENT , 14-APR-16 - 17-APR-16. [Details] | |
| (2014) | International Association for the Study of Popular Music (UK & Ireland) Conference, Lijuan Qian (2014) The collaboration of collectivism and individualism: the Chinese pop song “Fills the World with Love”. [Oral Presentation], International Association for the Study of Popular Music (UK & Ireland) Conference, Cork,Ireland . [Details] | |
| (2010) | British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference, Lijuan Qian (2010) The Importation of Pop Music Knowledge and Its Local Adaptation: Cassette Technology in 1980s China.’. [Oral Presentation], British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference, Oxford . [Details] |
Employment
| Employer | Position | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| University College Cork | postdoctoral research fellow | 01-OCT-15 / 30-DEC-21 | |
| Sichuan Normal Univeristy | research fellow | 01-JUL-11 / 30-AUG-14 | |
| Sichuan Normal University | lecturer | 01-AUG-05 / 30-AUG-07 | |
| Shanghai Maritime University | part-time lecturer | 01-FEB-03 / 01-FEB-04 | |
| Shanghai Music Kindergarten | Chief teacher in piano | 01-AUG-03 / 30-JUL-05 |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | University of Sheffield | PhD | Music | |
| 2005 | Shanghai Conservatory of Music | M.A. | Music | |
| 2001 | Nanjing Normal University | BA | Music Education |
Languages
| Language | Reading | Writing | Speaking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | Fluent | Fluent | Fluent | |
| English | Fluent | Fluent | Fluent |