MAPEH 8 Music of East Asia

1. MUSIC OF CHINA

2. CHINA
Known as the People’s Republic of China
A country located in East Asia
Word “CHINA” is derived from the name of the Qin (pronounced “chin”) dynasty.
The world’s most populous country
People of China call their nation as Chung-Hua, and its capital is Beijing, China,
also known as “Flowery Kingdom”
Many of the fruits and flowers (orange and orchid) are originated in this country,
and are now grown all over the world.

3. MUSIC OF CHINA
It dates back to the dawn of Chinese civilization with documents and artifacts
providing evidence of a well-developed musical culture as early as the Zhou
Dynasty (1122 BC – 256 BC).
It is based on the doctrines and beliefs of some of the well-known Chinese
philosophers.
For several thousand years, Chinese culture has been dominated by the teachings
of the philosophers, Confucius, who conceived music in the highest sense as a
means of calming the passions and of dispelling unrest and lust, rather than as a
form of amusement.
There is an ancient Chinese belief that music is meant not to amuse but to purify
one’s thought.

4. Musical Elements Characteristics
Rhythm Uses duple rhythm,
Timbre
Vocal- high-pitched, thin, non-
resonant, nasal or in falsetto
Texture
Vocal – solo or monophonic
Instrumental – heterophonic
played with more instruments
Melody Based on pentatonic scale

5. CHINESE MUSIC AND TONAL
SYSTEM
Has particular use; used for teaching, in giving guidelines for behavior in society,
and in giving power to the government. Most importantly, music is used to arrive
at an agreement and cooperation in society.
Chinese tonal system is based on the Ling Lun Chinese Legend. The most famous
legend concerning the origin of Chinese music says that around 2697 BC, Emperor
Huang-ti sent certain Ling Lun to the mountains to ut some bamboo pipe (lus)
that will give a definite tone which would be the basis of music and harmony in the
governing kingdom.

6. TONAL SYSTEM
From the pipes, the fundamental pitches would be derived and now called the Lu
System.
Traditional Chinese music uses a five-tone scale called Wu-sheng and the
remaining tone are used through changing tones or pien.
kung shang chiao pien chih chih yu pien kung

7. It is believed that Chinese scale is connected to the Chinese patterns in
life like their outlook in cycles of dynasties, seasons, the five planets,
and five basic elements.
The five affinity of the five sounds with the five relations of men and
things are explained as follows:
– the note corresponds to the emperor, the ruler, or the chief
– the note corresponds to the minister
– the note is related to the people
– the note represents affair of the state
– the note represents material object

8. TYPES OF CHINESE VOCAL MUSIC
1. Religious
a. Buddhist or Temple Music (Sanskrit) – chanting music covering
verse, hymns, and liturgies.
b. Taoist – regional folk music and used in ceremonial rituals.
2. Xiaoling – the vocal art song of the 12th to 13th century. It is based on the
poetry of Qu. It is performed with a wooden clapper.

9. 3. Zhugongdiao – a type of narrative song about a romantic legend
accompanied by the drums.
4. Folk Music – describes the lives of most Chinese people. An example of this
music is sange. It is a mountain song on strophic form using fewer refrains. It
has two or four phrases with the same length and each phrase has a different
musical thought.

10. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
It is in heterophonic scale or form
It is played with more than one instrument together with a voice.
Chinese court music is called Yayue, which literally means “elegant music.” It
is a form of Chinese classical music, which incorporates early Chinese folk
music and religious traditions.
Yayue is classified into T’angKo and Yiieh-hsuan.

11. CLASSIFICATION OF YAYUE
or chamber song is performed inside the hall. It may be
performed in ceremonies in honor of heaven and earth, the gods, or the
ancestors.
or chime music is performed in the garden fronting the halls
where rituals are done. It is accompanied by two dances, the
which is a civil dance and the which is a military dance.

12. Yayue has a rigid form and should be stately and formal when performed. It
is also sometimes accompanied by lyrics. Some of these are preserved in the
Book of Songs.
China’s greatest contribution to the musical world is its variety of musical
instruments. It can be played in court, teahouses, or some public places.
Traditional Chinese musical instruments maybe classified according to the
materials they are made of and according to their use.

13. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

14. EARTH
Ocarina or xun – a wind
instrument having an oval body
with finger holes and a projecting
mouthpiece. It is typically made of
baked clay.
Stone
Bianqing – a stone chime
suspended on a frame and struck
with a mallet. This instrument is
used only in court and religious
ceremony.

15. Yun-lo – literally refers to “cloud of
gongs” or “cloud gongs”; a set of
usually ten small tuned gongs
mounted in a wooden frame.
Po-chung – a single bell suspended
upon a frame placed outside the
temple at “Confucian ceremonies on
the right side of the “Moon Terrace”.
METAL

16. Bo – flat cymbals Suona – oboe type of instrument
METAL

17. Pengling – a percussion
instrument of two small bells
are made of high-tin bronze.
Muyu – a percussion instrument
carved from a block of wood and
into the shape of a fish.
WOOD

18. Bolang gu – a traditional Chinese
pellet drum
Bangu – a flat board drum used in
Peking Operas
SKIN

19. Dizi – a Chinese flute Guan – a wind instrument with the
body of a cylinder fitted with a
reed mouthpiece.
BAMBOO

20. Pipa – a four-stringed lute Ruan – also known as the moon
guitar; has a four strings and frets.
SILK

21. Sheng – one of the oldest Chinese
musical instruments. It is commonly
called as the “Chinese mouth organ.”
it is made of 13-17 bamboo pipes
with different lengths.
Zheng – an ancient Chinese
instrument. It has an arched surface
and is elongated-trapezoidal with 13
to 21 strings stretched over individual
bridges.
GOURD