The Music of China

What do we already know about Chinese music? It’s very old. Instruments specific to China. Maybe it tells a story? Lots of string instruments. Maybe similar to Japanese music? Pentatonic Scale

Instruments Strings (Lute, Zither, Bowed, Dulcimer), Winds (Flute, Free Reed), Percussion

Lute - Pipa Four-stringed lute with 30 frets and a pear-shaped body. The instrumentalist holds the pipa upright and plays with five small plectra attached to each finger of the right hand. Vibrato is created by shaking the left hand. Musicians use tremolo to sustain the notes (make them last longer). Songs White Snow in the Spring Sunlight White Snow in the Spring Sunlight Opening of Heaven’s Gates

Lute - Yueqin Guitar like instrument. Yueqin video

Zither - Guzheng A large 18–23-or-more stringed instrument. It is said that it is an ancestor of the Japanese koto. Unlike Japanese koto players who kneel on the floor, Chinese musicians sit in chairs in front of guzheng desks. Often performed solo. Moveable bridges for tuning. Finger plectra on the right hand. Left hand bends the strings to change pitch or create vibrato. Evening Song From The Fishing Boat Evening Song From The Fishing Boat Fighting the Typhoon

Bowed - Erhu A two-stringed fiddle, which is one of the most popular Chinese instruments. It was once mainly used in operatic performances, but now it is popular as a solo instrument. It is a two-string, violin-like instrument that is played with a bow set in between the two strings. It isn’t as loud as a violin because the sound box is small. The sound box traditionally has a snakeskin cover. It is used to imitate the sound of singing, bird calls, and horses. Autumn Moon Over the Han Palace Horse Racing

Dulcimer - Yangqin Hammered dulcimer played with two flexible bamboo hammers. Plays a role much like a piano. Spring on River Qing Journey to Lhasa

Flute - Dizi Dizi are generally made of bamboo, and they generally have six or more finger holes. One hole is covered with paper so that the flute has a peculiar buzzing sound that people like. It is a transverse flute, therefore it is held to the side and air is blown over the sound hole. Moon on Guan Mountain Flowing Water of Paradise

Free Reed – Hulusi and Sheng Free Reed - a musical instrument that produces sound as air flows past a vibrating reed in a frame. Air pressure is typically generated by breath or with a bellows. Hulusi Video Hulusi - Deep in the Bamboo Forest Hulusi - Deep in the Bamboo Forest Sheng

Percussion Chinese music does not have a large focus on percussion however some simple percussion instruments are used, such as gongs, chimes, and barrel shaped drums.

Characteristics of Chinese Music

Characteristics Pentatonic scale Focus on melody, not harmony No emphasis on rhythm or beat. Use of ornamentation – tremolo, glissando, grace notes, etc. Three kinds of traditional music Chinese opera music meant for theatrical performances, ensemble or orchestra music for cultured audiences, and solo instrumental performance. Traditional Chinese music is supposed to be simple, tranquil, and facilitate appropriate conduct. It is meant to be happy and is often inspired by nature.

Enjoy these examples of Chinese ensembles. Sunny Spring, White Snow My Motherland - Dizi solo in beginning and example of singing technique. My Motherland Heavenly Home A full concert of Chinese music.

Terminology from Slides Glissando – Sliding with finger or plectrum on the string(s) to create a sliding, continuous sound. Tremolo – playing a single note quickly in repetition. Used to sustain notes on plucked instruments. Dulcimer – trapezoid shaped instrument. Played by striking strings with hammers made of bamboo. Zither – string instrument, played by plucking the strings with plectrums attached to the fingers. Strings are tuned with moveable bridges. Free Reed – Mouth organ, wind instrument where air flows past a vibrating reed in a frame. Trill – playing two different pitches quickly in succession.

What do we now know about Chinese music?