Grade 8 Worksheet No.

1
MUSIC East Asian Music (Japan, China, and Korea)
Quarter 2-Wk.1-Module 1

MELCs:

 Listen perceptively to music of East Asia (Japan, China, and Korea);

 Analyzes musical elements of selected songs and instrumental pieces heard and
performed.

EXPLORE:
“What I Know”
Direction: From the pictures of costumes, folk symbols, artworks, scenery and other aspects
of culture of the East Asian countries (Japan, China, and Korea); identify the origin of the
objects. Write your answers on the blank.

en.wikipedia.org/ /
wiki/Janggu
2. ___ 3. ___
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/
___ ___
collection/search/503504

1. ___
___

https://www.maisondesculturesdumonde.org/node/710 https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/AQ6TU0X5zW3Ctikmj2SCNSW1-
c3GSVrJ5TbqmSPVr8tQ1nGtjv60iLs/
LEARN
LESSON 1: JAPANESE MUSIC
Japanese music, the art concerned with combining vocal or instrumental sounds for
beauty of form or emotional expression, specifically as it is carried out in Japan. 
Korea served as a bridge to Japan for many Chinese musical ideas as well as exerting
influence through its own forms of court music. Also to be considered is the presence of
northern Asian tribal traditions in the form of Ainu culture surviving on Hokkaido island.
However, it should be pointed out that the island isolation of Japan allowed it to develop its
own special characteristics without the intense influences of the Chinese giant and
the Mongols so evident in mainland cultures. Therefore, in the ensuing discussion all the
“foreign” elements are placed in the matrix of traditions and styles that are characteristically
Japanese.
Instrumental Music of Japan
Traditional Japanese music is basically meditative in character. Its performance is
highly ritualized, as much in the music itself, as in the composure of the musicians when
performing it. Japanese chamber and solo music have a slow meditative pace. The
performance of Japanese music has traditionally been of a spiritual character, similarly to
martial arts and other forms of art such as the tea ceremony and calligraphy. It is usually
about religious festivals, work, dance, love, and regional songs.
A. Percussion Instruments (Membranophone)

2. Tsuzumi (hourglass-shaped) – there are

1. Odaiko – (big drum) the
two varieties; the smaller Kotsuzumi and
physical energy and sheer
the larger Otsuzumi. They are used in
excitement of an Odaiko
both Noh and Kabuki performances. The
performance is an integral part
Kotsuzumi is held on the right shoulder
of many Japanese matsuri
and the player alters the tone by squeezing
(festival).
the laces. The Osuzumi is placed on the
left thigh. Like all the other traditional arts in
Japan, there are several schools of
Tsuzumimatsuri festivals.
 3. Tsuri-daiko – is a large
drum also known as Gaku-
daiko. It is hung on a wooden
frame with legs and is played
by two plectrums on only one
side.
4. Taiko – is a Japanese drum that comes in
various sizes and is used to play a variety of
musical genres. It is essential element of
Japanese festivals and rituals. Drumming has
always been connected with festivals and
religious events and ceremonies at shrines and
temples, with the meaning of both warding off
evils and summoning the deities.

B. String Instruments (Chordophone)

2. Shamisen – is a plucked 3. Biwa – is a

1. Koto – is a 13-stringed
zither, about two metes
using picks on the thumb
and first fingers of the right
hand, while the left hand can
be used to modify pitch and
tone. Koto is used in an
ensemble in Gagaku or as a
solo.
stringed instrument. Its
construction follows a model
similar to that of a guitar or a
banjo, employing a neck,
and strings stretched across
a resonating body. The
neck of the Shamisen is
fretless, and is slimmer that
of a guitar or a banjo.
Japanese short-necked
fretted lute, often used
in narrative storytelling.
The Biwa is the chosen
instrument of Benten,
the goddess of music,
eloquence, poetry, and
education in Japanese
Shinto.
C. Wind Instruments (Aerophone)

1. Shakuhachi – the most famous flute made from

bamboo. It has 4 or 5 finger holes on the front face
and a thumbhole on the rear face. As with other
instruments above, it was imported from China for
Gagaku.

2. Nokan – a parallel, a bamboo flute (fue) is the

only melodic instrument used in Noh. The melody
of the flute has no specific pitch relationship with
the melody of the chanting.

3. Hichiriki – is a double reed Japanese flute

(fue) used as one of the two main melodic
instruments in Japanese Gagaku music, the
other being the Ryuteki.

4. Sho – is a Japanese free reed musical

instrument that was introduced from China during
the Nara period.

5. Shinobue – also called Takebue in the

context of Japanese traditional arts, is a
Japanese transverse flute (fue) that has a high-
pitched sound.

6. Ryūteki – literally means “dragon

flute”, is a Japanese transverse flute
made of bamboo. It is used in
Gagaku.
Vocal Music of Japan
The main tone of Japanese music has two modes; the
Yo-sen and the In-sen. Both consist of five primary tones based
on a scale with seven tones. The two remaining tones are
considered as auxiliary tones. The ancient melody of Japanese
music is commonly based on these modes. However, one
melody is not always in one mode alone. The melody of
Japanese music commonly shifts on both modes. They often
give emphasis on the second to fourth tone of the mode.

Chinese Music
The music of China 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 B.C.E). In ancient China, music was regarded as central to the harmony and
longevity of the state.
Instrumental Music of China
Chinese traditional music is played on solo instruments or in small ensembles or in
small ensembles of plucked and bowed stringed instruments, flutes, and various cymbals,
gongs, and drums.

1. Yueqin – moon- 2. Pipa – four-stringed 3. Erhu – two-stringed

shaped lute with lute with 30 frets and a fiddle and one of the
shorter neck and four pear-shaped body. most popular Chinese
strings, played with a This instrument has an instruments. It is used
spectrum, used for extremely wide as a solo instrument as
accompanying local dynamic range and well as in small
operas. remarkable expressive ensembles or large
power. orchestra, and by
various ethnic groups.
 4. Yunluo – literally 5. Sheng – or Chinese mouth 6. Dizi – is the
“cloud gongs” or “cloud organ, looks like a set of traditional Chinese
of gongs”, is a set of panpipes,with 12 to 36 bamboo flute. It can have a
ten small gongs pipes. Each pipe is of different membrane over an
mounted in a wooden length with a brass reed at the extra hole to give the
frame. The Yunluo’s bottom and a hole that must be characteristic rattle
gongs are generally of blocked in order for the note to effect. The player plays
equal diameter but sound. This makes it possible the Dizi by blowing
different thickness. The to sound several notes across the mouthpiece
thicker gongs produce simultaneously, so chords and and produces the
a higher pitch. melody can be performed at different notes by
the same time. Sheng is one of stopping the six holes
the oldest Chinese musical found in the rod.
instruments.

7. Zheng – an ancient Chinese
instrument that has an arched
surface and elongated-trapezoid
with 13 to 21 stretched over
individual bridges. It’s playing
range spans three to four octaves.
8. Penling – these are two small bells made of
high-tin bronze, without internal clappers, and
hemispheric or bottomless gourd-like in shape.
The instrument has a delicate, clarion and
melodious tone. It is a coloring rhythmic
instrument, either in ensembles or in theater
music, bringing an effect of peaceful dreams.

Vocal Music in China

Chinese Vocal Music has traditionally been sung in a thin, non-resonant voice or in falsetto
and is usually solo rather than choral. All traditional Chinese music is melodic rather than
harmonic. Chinese vocal music probably developed from sung poems and verses
accompanied by music.

1. Mo Li Hua – is a traditional Chinese song with a beautifully gentle and lyrical melody.
The lyrics about the jasmine flower also turn it into a love song. The song describes a
 custom of giving Jasmine flowers, popular in the southern Yangtze region of China.
Another version describes the fear of plucking the flower.

By Asoer - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14666682

Mo Li Hua (English Translation)

What a beautiful jasmine flower

What a beautiful jasmine flower
Sweet-smelling, beautiful, stems full of buds
Fragrant and white, every praises
Let me pluck you down
Give to someone’s family

Melody and tone color are prominent expressive features of Chines music and great
emphasis is given to the proper articulation and inflection of each musical tone. Most
Chinese music is based on the 5 tone or the Pentatonic Scale though heptatonic scale is
also used.

Korean Music

Korea’s folk music tradition, with

its generous use of bright rhythms and
melodies, offers a more energetic and
capricious contrast to the nation’s
collection of classical music works.
Folk music represents the soul
and sound of traditional Korean villages
with an eclectic array of music forms
including numerous folk songs, various
forms of instrumental pieces, pansori,
and shaman ritual music.
https://www.trazy.com/experience/detail/national-gugak-center-korean-music-dance

Chong-ak means literally “right or correct music”, and its tradition includes both
instrumental and vocal music, which were cultivated mainly by the upper-class literate of the
Joseon society. Chong-ak also refers to ensemble music for men of high social status
outside of the court. In this category, three important terms are a-ak, tang-ak, and hyang-ak.
Sog-ak or minsogak is a category of Korean traditionally associated with the lower
classes of for the general public and is vibrant and energetic. It includes genres such as
pansori and minyo. Pansori is a kind of music presented to audiences by skilled vocal
singers and drummers. But even the unskilled could sing these songs. They sang when they
worked in the rice paddy or fields, sang when they went off their lover and sang when their
life was troubled and weighing them down.

A. Music Instruments

1. Chordophones
 
/
1. Kayagum (Gayageum)– is a traditional
Korean zither-like string instrument, with 12
strings, although more recently variants have
been constructed with 21 or more numbers of
strings. It is probably the best-known traditional
Korean musical instrument

2. Geomungo – six-string plucked zither is a

traditional Korean instrument of the zither family
with both bridges and frets. Scholars believe that
the name refers to Goguryeo and translates to
“Goguryeo zither” or that it refers to the color that
translate to “black crane zither”.

3. Haegum (two-string vertical fiddle) – it has a

rod-like neck, a hollow wooden soundbox, two
silk strings, and is held vertically on the knee of
the performer and played with a bow.

2. Aerophone
Piri – used in both the folk and classical
(court) music of Korea. It is made of bamboo.
Its large reed and cylindrical bore gives it a
sound mellower that that of many other types
of oboe.

3. Membranophone
Changgo – is the most widely used drum used in the
traditional music of Korea. It is available in most kinds,
and consists of an hourglass-shaped body with two
heads made from animal skin. The two heads produce
sounds of different pitch and timbre, which when played
B. Music Vocals

1. Arirang – is a Korean folk song. It is sometimes used as a symbol of Korea and Korean
culture. Arirang is in essence a song of farewell. The word “Arirang” means “the hill”. It
pertains to the foothills of Korea where most Koreans had parting on. An emotion of deep
regret is imbued in the rhythm of Arirang. The song evokes the feeling of the tears shed by
Koreans and the remembrance of their sad stories.

ENGAGE
Match the Pictures (2pts each)

A. Haegum

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/503504

B. Erhu

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/333759022361430039/

C. Taiko

http://andrewsalamanca.com/2016/05/gu-zheng/

D. Zheng

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/AQ6TU0X5zW3Ctikmj2SCNSW1-
c3GSVrJ5TbqmSPVr8tQ1nGtjv60iLs/
 E. Biwa

https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/japanese-taiko.html

APPLY:
“SONG ANALYSIS”

Direction: Listen/Watch to Mo Li Hua on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S41_Veb3LA an

example of traditional instrumental and vocal music of China.

Based on the video, answer the following guide questions:

1. What is the message of the song?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

2. Describe how the musical elements and instrumental pieces reflect Chinese culture?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

3. Is there a Filipino song that portrays similar meaning? Explain the similarities and
why?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

4. Describe the folk song through the use of its musical elements.

Musical Elements Description that reflects Chinese Culture

TIMBRE

DYNAMICS

RHYTHM

MELODY
 FORM

KEY TO ANSWERS:

Activity 1 (Explore)
“WHAT I KNOW”
1. JAPAN
2. KOREA
3. JAPAN
4. JAPAN
5. CHINA

Activity 2 (Engage)
“MATCH THE PICTURES”
1. E
2. A
3. D
4. B
5. C

Activity 3 (Apply)
“SONG ANALYSIS” (2 pts each)
(Varied Answers)
Written by: Sheryl Contado, Danica Joy Baquilod, Arlyn Alota, Mary Anthonette Borja., MAPEH
Teacher – Llorente NHS, Eastern Samar Division
12 | P a g e