Some books to read:
Jonathan Stock - Musical Creativity in 20th Century China
Life of Abing, the folk musician.
Richard Kraus - Pianos and Politics in China
Written by a sociologist about the turmoil during the Cultural Revolution (1960s-1970s). Many of the pieces found in the collection "30 Famous Chinese Piano Pieces" are detailed in this book. The book is an invaluable companion to the score. The accounts of the pianists and composers are fascinating, but at times, tragic. A must read.
Sheila Melvin & JinDong Cai - Rhapsody in Red
A colorful history of how Western Classical music became Chinese. Although not a piano specific book, this gives a bigger picture of Western music in China with accounts of visits by foreign orchestras. This has information dating to the early dynasties of China including the stay of Mateo Ricci and the Jesuits.
Liang Mingyue - Music of the Billion: An Introduction to Chinese Musical Culture
Socio-historic background, instrument descriptions, instrumental & vocal music including the Chinese opera.
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