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MUSIC
QUARTER 2 – MODULE 2
MELC: Analyze musical elements of selected songs
and instrumental pieces heard and performed.
I:
A. Introduction:
In this lesson, you will learn about the prominent features of the vocal music of East Asian Countries
(Japan, China, and Korea) and how the music of East Asian Countries (Japan, China, and Korea) reflect the
different aspects of East Asian culture through its timbre, rhythm, melody, texture and form/style and the
different cultural and musical practices of Japan, China and Korea as expressed through their feelings
towards each other, to the environment, their history and culture.

B. Discussion:
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 Vocal Music

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.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.

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 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 Chinese 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 Vocal Music

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.

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 Arirang

Korean English translation

Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo... Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo...
Arirang gogaero neomeoganda. You are going over Arirang
hill.
Nareul beorigo gasineun nimeun My love, you are leaving me
Sibrido mosgaseo balbyeongnanda. Your feet will be sore before you go ten ri.
Cheongcheonhaneuren janbyeoldo manko, Just as there are many stars in the clear
Urine gaseumen huimangdo manda. sky, There are also many dreams in our
heart.
There, over there, that mountain is Baekdu
Jeogi jeo sani Baekdusaniraji, Mountain
Dongji seotdaredo kkotman pinda. Where, even in the middle of the winter days,
flower blooms.
C. Readings:
JAPANESE MUSIC
 Traditional Japanese music usually refers to Japan’s historical folk music. Two forms are recognised as
the oldest forms - shōmyō, or Buddhist chanting, and gagaku, or theatrical court music.Shōmyō is a
ritual music sung in a Buddhist ceremony by a group of Buddhist monks – literally translated, the word
‘shōmyō’ combines the characters for ‘voice’ and ‘wisdom’.

 Gagaku is the oldest of Japan's musical traditions and includes dances and songs in two styles –
kigaku, which is instrumental music, and seigaku, a form of vocal music.

 There are several Japanese dramatic forms in which music plays a significant role. The main ones
are kabuki and noh. Kabuki is known for its highly stylised dancing and singing, together with its
elaborate make-up (sported by a predominantly male cast).\

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 Noh is a form of classical Japanese musical drama which has been performed since the 14th century.
Noh is often based on tales from traditional literature, with a supernatural being transformed into
human form as a hero narrating the story – usually involving a mask being worn.

 Noh has been dubbed ‘Japanese opera’ and is a ‘chanted drama’, but the singing is dependent on a
limited tonal range. The music has many blank spaces (ma) between the sounds; the negative blank spaces
are in fact considered to be the heart of the music.

CHINESE MUSIC
The three general kinds of traditional music that people like monthly to hear nowadays are Chinese
opera music meant for theatrical performances, ensemble or orchestra music for cultured audiences, and
solo instrumental performance. Chinese opera music is meant to augment the operatic story, actors, visual
effects, but the traditional Chinese ensemble and instrumental solo pieces are generally meant to calm the
passions and dispel unrest. Despite the Chinese belief that music is meant not to amuse, but to purify one's
thoughts, modern Chinese opera music is meant for entertainment. There are now several major types of
Chinese opera, but the favorites are probably Beijing opera and Sichuan opera.
Traditional Music Ensembles and Orchestras Many works of traditional music are still played by
ensembles and large orchestras. Nowadays, Chinese musicians in a traditional ensemble
incorporate Western and modern musical styles. Even the instruments may be redesigned to play according
to Western musical styles and are made from modern materials. On-traditional instruments such as a piano
may also perform traditional music. So the music doesn’t sound exactly like the music played 200 years
ago, but Western audiences will be intrigued by the differences in style and sound compared to Western
orchestral music.

KOREAN MUSIC
Solo Instrumental Performance, Instrumental performance has long been preeminent in korean art.
Scholars were generally expected to be proficient performers. Solo instrumental performance is a serious
musical discipline. The performances are subtle like a poetic recitation. The music itself is abstract.

D. Examples
Japanese Music Mode

Yo-sen Mode

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 In-sen Mode

Japanese Pentatonic Scales (Akebono, Hirajoshi, Insen, Iwato, Kumoi-choshi)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv7CO-nVFj8
Play the pentatonic scale (do-re-mi-so-la) on the piano keyboard, lyre or guitar. Hum the pentatonic
scale using “loo”.

C major pentatonic scale

How To Play a C Major Pentatonic Scale on Piano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sxIXTCUy9Q

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II:
Activities.
Activity No. 1: HAVEY or WALEY
Directions: Shade the thumbs-up mark if the statement is correct otherwise, shade the thumbs-down mark
if the statement is incorrect. Use a separate sheet of paper.

Among the three representative countries of East Asia,

1. China is the only country which uses a pentatonic scale.

Japanese melodies are based on the Yo-sen and Bo-sen

2. modes.

The time signature of the song Mo Li Hua is in

3. quadruple meter.

4. Arirang is the official national anthem of Korea.

Sakura is a song depicting the Jasmin flower that blooms

5. during spring.

6. The vocal timbre of East Asian music is nasal and throaty.

Homophonic texture is usually accompanied with chordal

7. arrangement.

8. Sakura is a song in triple meter.

In Chinese musical culture, a pentatonic scale is based on

9. a heptatonic scale.

10. East Asian music is mostly in the Strophic form.

The meaning of Arirang is “the hill” which depicts

11. Korea to be a mountainous country.

12. Chinese vocal music is usually solo rather than choral.

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Activity No. 2: CONNECTIN’ BOMBS
Directions: Draw a line to connect the characteristics of East Asian music inside the bombs to the musical
elements they represent in the boxes on the other column. Use a separate sheet of paper.

Nasal and throaty

Monophony
MELODY

TEXTURE

Quadruple meter
Triple meter

RHYTHM

Strophic Pentatonic
FOR
M

Duple meter
Heterophony
TIMBRE

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Key to Corrections:

Activity No. 1: HAVEY or WALEY

1. WALEY 5. WALEY 9. HAVEY

2. WALEY 6. HAVEY 10. HAVEY
3. HAVEY 7. HAVEY 11. HAVEY
4. WALEY 8. WALEY 12. HAVEY

Activity No. 2: Conectin’ Bombs

MELODY - Pentatonic
TEXTURE – Monophony, Heterophony
RHYTHM – Duple Meter, Triple Meter, Quadruple Meter
FORM – Strophic
TIMBRE – Nasal and throaty

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PART III: SUMMATIVE TEST

A. Directions: Write the letter of your choice that corresponds to the correct answer on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Mo Li Hua is a Japanese folk song depicting spring. What is the key signature of the
song?
a. Key of D b. Key of F c. Key of G
2. What meter is used in the Chinese folk song “Mo Li Hua”?
a. Quadruple b. Triple c. Duple
3. It is a traditional Chinese song with a gentle and lyrical melody.
a. Mo Li Hua b. Arirang c. Sakura
4. In 4 time signature the quarter note receives how many beats?
a a. 1 beat b. 1/2 beat c. 2 beats
5. It is a category of traditional Korean music which is associated with the upper –class
people.
a. Minyo b. Chong-ak c. Sog-ak
6. How would you show your understanding of the traditional music of Japan?
a. Japanese music is usually about religious festivals, work, dance, love, and regional songs.
b. Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in Southeast Asia
c. Koto is the Capital city of Japan
7. The main tone of Japanese music commonly used two modes, the Yo-sen mode and In-sen mode.
How would you evaluate the Yo-sen mode written in a staff?
a.

b. .

c.

8. In a time signature the quarter rest receives how many counts?

a. 1 beat b. 1/2 beat c. 2 beats
9. How is the “ Arirang” song classified?
a. Welcome song b. Love song c. Song for Spring
10. The following is a musical piece excerpt of Mo Li Hua, which is a popular song in China.
Basing from the excerpt, what is the key signature?

a. Key of D b. Key of F c. Key of C

B. Directions: Match from column A to column B. by writing the letter on the space provided. Write
your answer on a separate paper.
Column A. Column B.

1. A. Whole note

2. B. Doted quarter note

3. C. Doted half note

4. D. Eight note

5. E. Half rest

C. Directions: Based on what you have learned, answer the question below in 2-3 sentences.
1. Among the three (3) representative song of East Asia, choose one as your favourite in terms of their
music and explain why?

RUBRIC for Essay/Discussion 5 4 3

Focus: The discussion was anchored to the
topic: creating ways to manage various emotions
Content: Ideas were developed through facts,
examples, and/or reasons

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Key Answer:

A. 1. C 6. A B. 1. B
2. A 7. A 2. C
3. A 8. A 3. A
4. A 9. B 4. A

5. B 10. C 5. B

C. Use Rubric for your guide

References:

A. Print/Books:
Anido, B. et.al; Music and Arts Grade 8, Learners Module, (First Edition 2013)
ISBN 978-971-9990-76-5
B. Website Readings/Pictures
https://study.com/academy/lesson/music-of-east-asia-scales-themes-instruments-characteristics.html
https://www.slideshare.net/MLRT18/east-asian-musicgrade-8
retrieved May 25, 2020
Japanese Music
https://musicinjapan.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/6/7/14670924/462159429_orig.jpg?137
https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0001976/
retrieved June 8, 2020
Chinese Music
https://www.visiontimes.com/2019/12/12/music-therapy-in-traditional-chinese-medicine.html
https://www.britannica.com/art/yunluo
https://www.britannica.com/art/sheng-musical-instrument
retrieved June 8, 2020
Korean Music
https://www.trazy.com/experience/detail/national-gugak-center-korean-music-dance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arirang
retrieved June 8, 2020
C. Videos
Japan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqpFjsMtCb0
China : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_y7zQUZ7pM
Korea : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXQgyvLzKPs