A new perspective on the development of wind band culture in Southern China and Southeast Asia: The role of the Chinese community in the rise of wind band culture during the pre-war period

Wind band is an important cultural artefact in Asia towards the development of western music. Traditionally, people believed western music, including wind bands, was introduced and propagated by colonists. This article presents a fresh perspective on the development of western music in Southern China (Lingnan) and Southeast Asia (Nanyang). Instead of colonists, western music was in fact, disseminated and popularized by the Chinese community during the pre-war period (1920-1945). This article discusses various facets of how wind bands are incorporated into the cultural fabric in Southern China and Southeast Asia. This subsequently contributed to the preservation and promotion of western music. This article also presents the analysis that was carried out to comprehend the means by which the Chinese community spread Western music via wind bands, from economic, political, and social viewpoints.