How did Western art song influence vocal music in non-Western cultures during the 20th century?

During the 20th century, Western concepts of art song exerted a significant influence on vocal music in non-Western cultures. This influence was primarily characterized by the introduction of Western notions regarding the role of the composer and the use of musical notation to record specific details of pitch, rhythm, and tempo.1

In many non-Western traditions, vocal music historically relied on the creative role of the performer, where notation served only as a suggested framework rather than a fixed work to be reinterpreted. The adoption of Western art song standards—which prioritize the faithful reproduction of a composer's established work—often threatened the continued existence of these indigenous practices, as they shifted the focus away from the performer's creative re-creation of the music.1

Conversely, this cultural exchange was not entirely one-sided. By the late 20th century, some Western avant-garde composers began incorporating elements from non-Western traditions, such as providing singers with greater improvisatory options, thereby reflecting a more flexible approach to composition that mirrored aspects of non-Western musical performance.1