ASIAN MUSIC

JAPAN
 Traditional Music
• Kabuki – traditionally an all-male theater with a combination
of melodrama and colorful dancing. It means “to act in an
unusual manner wearing unusual costumes”. It was first
written with three Chinese characters which meant “song-
dance theater”.

• Bunraku – is a puppet theater. Its performance is sustained by

three main elements: the art of the puppeteer himself, the
words of the narrator or the singer, and the music of the
shamisen player. The puppet is manipulated by three
puppeteers.
 
• Shomyo – is called Buddhist chanting. The chants are
based on sacred texts and hymns. They are sung
acapella and are monophonic in texture.

• Gagaku – is court music, and the oldest traditional

music in Japan. Gagaku music includes songs, dances
and a mixture of other Asian music.
 
• Noh – Japan’s first theater form. Its music is one of the
most important part of Japanese traditional music. The
drama consists of singing known generally as yokyoku
or utai.
 Japanese Instruments
Aerophones or Wind Instruments
• SHO – a mouth organ that
is made from bamboo or wood.
 
• SHAKUHACHI – a bamboo flute
with four holes.
Japanese Instruments
• FU’YE – a
sophisticated side-
blown flute with
seven finger holes.
 
• HICHIRIKI – an
instrument similar
to an oboe.
Chordophones or String Instruments
• KOTO – a famous Japanese zither,
with 13 silk strings, that is laid
horizontally on the floor.
 
• SHAMISEN – a flat-backed lute that
has skin covered bellies and three
strings.

• BIWA – a Japanese version of the

pi’pa that has four strings with frets
on the belly and slim lateral tuning
pegs.
 Membranophone or Percussion Instruments (with membrane)

• KAKKO – a gagaku instrument

that is made up of deer skin.
•  DA-DAIKO – a huge gagaku
drum suspended on an artistic
frame and is struck with heavy
lacquered beaters.
• KOTSUZUMI – hourglass-shaped
instrument used in noh and
kabuki performances.
 Idiophone or Percussion Instrument

• SHOKO – gong
instrument use by a
performance of the
gagaku-music
CHINA
 Four Stages or Period
a. Formative Period – music was used in folk festivals that are meant to
give honor to the ancestors. Clay ocarinas and stone chimes were
some of the instruments used to accompany these celebrations.
 
b. International Period – there was an overflow of musical ideas
brought about by Western contacts and Asian trade.

c. National Period – the emphasis of this period was on vocal music,

instrumental forms existed as well.
 
d. World Music Period – a new kind of music was born from the
tradition of Western instruments and forms.
• Chinese traditional music is based on the five
tone scale or the pentatonic scale.
• It is written in duple meter in a single melodic
line or in strophic form.
• In the northern Chinese folk music, the seven
tone scale or the heptatonic scale is often used
as a basis for compositions.
• Some Chinese compositions are written on the
twelve tone (12) pitch scale called LU and the
60 pentatonic and eighty-four (84) heptatonic
modes are called TIAO.
 Instruments
Aerophone or Wind Instruments

• HSIAO – an end blown flute with five

finger holes, a reverse thumb hole and
two resonating holes at the lower end

• SONA – shawn like instrument with

wooden stem with seven finger holes
and reverse thumb hole

• SHENG – a mouth organ with 17 bamboo

pipes of five different lengths
Chordophone or String Instruments
• CH’IN – a seven stringed long zither

• P’IPA – a four stringed loquat-shaped

lute

• YUEH-CH’IN – a four stringed moon

shaped lute used to accompany
songs used
in Peking Opera

• ERH-HU – a two stringed fiddle

played with a bowstring

• SAN-HSIEN – a three stringed long

necked lutes
 Idiophone – Percussion Instruments
• LO- circular gongs struck with
a padded wooden mallet

• MU-YU – hardwood slit-drum

called “wooden fish”

• TEMPLE CLAPPER – used in

Confucian rituals, made of five
pieces of redwood
Membranophone or Percussion Instruments (with membrane)

• PANG-KU – two single headed drums made of

wedges of wood held together with a brass hoop
 
• TANG-KU – double headed barrel shaped drum
with cowskin heads suspended by four rings from
a curved frame

• CHAN-KU – three double headed drums

commonly used in processions
• Peking Opera - is a musical art form, combines singing,
heightened speech, mime, dancing, literature, theater and
acrobatics.
• This opera traces its roots from the ancient ritual dance, the
Yuan and the Ming Romance. It is recognized and considered
as a national art form.
• The basic characteristics of the Peking Opera are its simplicity,
symbolism and synchronization. Most operas derive their plots
from folklore, popular novel and historical events. T
• his kind of opera upholds the Chinese traditional values which
help educate the youth.
• The four dramatic elements are: recitation dialogue, song,
theatrical adaptation of traditional Chinese martial arts
combined with acrobatics and Pantomime.
INDIA
• Tala – is the metrical cycles of beats.

• Laya – is the tempo in Indian music. The laya

may vary from fast (druta) to medium (maghya)
or slow (vilmabita).

• Matra – is the beat in Hindustani music and

askhara in Carnatic music.

• Drone - is an important element in their music.

• Raga – is a combination of a scale and a melody.
Each raga has its own mood such as happiness,
sorrow, or peace. There are two principal tones of
the raga: vadi and samvadi.

• Shruti – is the smallest interval tone in Indian music.

In Western music, it is called microtones.

• Gamaka – ornamentation in Indian music.

• Sargam – is the Indian solfege syllables, they are
equivalent to western solfege syllables.
 Instruments
Membranophone or Percussion
Instruments (with membrane)
 
• TABLA – (Hindustani) is the name for a
pair of drums. The larger drum called the
bhaya, has a metal body while the smaller
one, the tabla has a wooden body.

• MRIDANGAM – (Karnatak) a two headed

drum. It is laid across the lap of the
performer.
• Aerophone or Woodwind
Instruments

• BANSURI – a side blown cane flute

is a melodic instrument of the
Hindustani.

• SHAHNAI – an oboe type

instrument.

• NAGASVARAM or NAGASVARA – a
large double reed oboe type
instrument of the South.
 Chordophone or String Instruments
 

India has a variety of chordophones. In these

instruments, three kinds of strings may be found:
melodic strings, drone strings and symphatetic vibrators.

 
• TAMBURA – unfretted lute,
used as a drone; used by
both South and North.
• SITAR – the most popular instrument in

Northern India; in addition to four

strings and three drones, the sitar may

have as many as 13 strings.

• VINA – instrument of the South; with

four melody strings and three drone

strings.

• SARANGI – Hindustani bowed fiddle

melodic instrument.
INDONESIA
 Indonesia shows varied cultural influences.
Foremost of the influences still existing today
are those of India and China which reached
Indonesia in 300 B.C. Hinduism and Buddhism
have greatly influenced Indonesian culture.
Music, dance and drama are very important to
the Indonesians.
 •  Wayang Kulit – (shadow
puppetry) music and dance
using puppets made of
animal skin and painted
with colorful designs.

• Gamelan – is the one of the most important

musical ensembles in Indonesia. A Gamelan
consists of metallophones, xylophones,
drums, gongs and bamboo flutes. The
arrangement of the instruments is
important. The Gamelan is played in the
courts. It plays an important part in spiritual
life. It is used for religious ceremonies and
important events. It is also a part of
entertainment like the puppet show.
 
• Pathets – is the modes in music used to
determine the highness and lowness of
pitch. The three modes in slendro are the
slendro pathet nem - lowest pitch, slendro
pathet sanga – medium high and slendro
pathet manyura – highest pitch. The three
modes in pelog are the pelog pathet lima –
lowest pitch, pelog pathet nem – medium
high and pelog pathet barang - highest pitch.
 
 
• Slendro - is the five tone scale or pentatonic
scale.
• Pelog – is the seven tone system or diatonic scale.
 The Gamelan Instruments
• SARON – plays the skeletal part
of the gamelan composition,
which consists of metal bars
placed on top of box resonator.
A wooden mallet is used to
strike the bars.
•REBAB – is similar to
the mandolin. It has two
strings played with an
arc.
• CHELEMPUNG – has twenty-
six strings, one pair of which
is set to one tone. This way,
only tones are heard.
• SULING – is bamboo flute.

 BONANG – is a set of bronze metal kettles

which plays the melodic and rhythmic
variations of a composition. Two long sticks are
used to strike the gongs.
• GONG AGENG – is the most
sacred and the most
honored instrument of the
gamelan. It is played with a
soft, padded wooden stick
to mark large musical
phrases. •GAMBANG – is wooden
xylophone. It doubles or
anticipates the principal melody.
 
•KEMPUL – is a small gong that
plays in syncopation with the
kenong. It punctuates short
musical phrases.
KOREA
• Korean music may be described as
elegant and very ritual like as the
Chinese music. There is music for both
the nobility and common people.
Korean music is built on the pentatonic
scale and on the heptatonic scale. Both
scales are used in the Aak court music
and during informal celebrations.
 Traditional Music
• Sog –ak – is the music of the common people
that is usually live. It portrays the life of
ordinary people. It is folk music of Korea.

• Chong – ak – is the Korean Court music. The

court music of the nobility is elegant, refined,
delicate and formal. It is extremely slow and
solemn, has subtle dynamics and possesses a
sense of majesty.
• Aak – an imported form of Chinese ritual
music.

• Hyangak – a pure Korean music.

• Tangak – a combination of Chinese and

Korean influences.
 Vocal Music
• Kasa – a long narrative song.

• Kagok – a lyrical song.

 
• Sijo – a short lyrical song.

• Nong-ak – song of the farmers.

 
• P’ansori – song for the stage and drama.
 
• San-jo – song for solo instrument.
 
• Minjo – a folk song sung in triple meter with one basic rhythmic
pattern.
Instruments
Aerophones or Woodwind Instruments
 
•P’IRI – is cylindrical bamboo similar to an oboe blown
through a double reed mouthpiece.
 
•TANSO – is a small notched vertical bamboo flute
with five fingerholes.
 
•CHOTTDAE – is a long flute made of bamboo with six
holes.
Chordophones or Stringed Instruments

• KAYAGUM – is a twelve-stringed zither similar

to the Koto of Japan and Ch’in of China. It is
supported by twelve movable bridges.
 
• KOMUNGO – is a six-stringed zither that plays
as the principal instrument for a small group of
players. It is regarded for expressing the noble
spirit of a learned man.
 
• HAEGUM – is a two-stringed fiddle made of
bamboo that is plucked. It is used for dance
performances.
Idiophones or Percussion Instruments
 
• KWAENGGWARI– is the smallest gong struck with
a wooden mallet.
 
• PAK – is a clapper shaped like a folded fan. It
consists of six pieces of wood loosely held
together at the upper end by chord made from
deer skin.
 
• CHING – is a huge gong played with a padded
mallet. This is used in military and Shaman music.
Membranophone or
Percussion Instruments
(with membrane)

• CHANGGO – is an hour
glass shaped drum played
by striking either or both
ends. The thick leather
head produces a low sound
while the thin leather gives
a brighter tone sound.
THAILAND
• The music of Thailand has been part of an oral
culture and developed no traditional system of
notation.
• Traditional Thai music is classified into:
– folk music, which is extensively used by people in
the villages,
– and classical music, which evolved in many royal
households and was used both for ceremonies
and the entertainment of the ruling class.
 
Periods
•  Sukothai Period (1257-1378) – there was great cultural
development. The Thai alphabet was invented, and they
enjoyed the music of strings, percussion, winds, drums, horn,
trumpets, conch shells, bells and singing.
• Ayuthaya Period (1350-1767) – Thais enjoyed creating and
performing music. It was during this time that the instrumental
group first emerged. (pi phat, khruang saay, mahori)
 
• Krungthep Period (1782-1900) – proved that the art was
accorded high status with the patronage of the king. King Rama
I invented new instruments which gave rise to the
development of music and dance.
Three Types of Orchestra and Instruments

1. Pi Phat – this plays for court ceremonies and

theatrical presentations. Composed of
woodwind and percussion instruments.
PINAI – woodwind instrument
RANAT-EK – xylophone
KHONG-WONG – gong instrument
CHING – cymbal instrument
TAPHON – kind on drum instruments
2. Khruang Saay – ensemble of strings
instruments composed of:
• CHAKEE – zither
• SAO-SAAM-SAAY – fiddle
• SAO DUANG – fiddle
3. Mahori – accompanying solo and choral
singing, mixes strings and percussion
instruments like the following:
• CHAKEE – zither
• SAO-SAAM-SAAY – fiddle
• SAO-DUANG – fiddle
• KLU-PIANG – flute
• Latin America covers the whole Central and
South America.
• called Latin because much it was conquered
and colonized by Spain and Portugal, whose
languages are based on Latin and are still
spoken everywhere.
• The music of Latin America is a fascinating mix
of the influences of the Spanish, Portuguese,
British and French music, and by an influx of
black African slave music.
The Latin Beat

• Tonadas (tunes or airs) are South American love songs in Spanish.

 
• Habanera – is perhaps the most stately and aristocratic Latin American
rhythm which comes from Cuba, being named after its capital city of
Havana.
 
• Rumba and Mambo – are much faster and clearly indicated by the spirit
of African dance.
 
• Tango – probably originating in Argentina has a similar skipped beat.
 
• Zamba and bossa nova – of Brazil are more relaxed, evoking images of
white sand, blue sea, and gently waving palms.
Instruments

• MARACAS – were created and first used by the

native Indians of Puerto Rico. A pair of these is
used to create the unique sound common in
Latin American and Puerto Rican music.
 
• GUIRO – a notched hollowed out gourd, which
was adapted from a pre-Columbian
instrument.
 
• PALITOS – a pair of sticks that are banged
together to provide percussion rhythm.
 
• CONGA – this drum was adapted from Africa
where it began as a solid, hollowed out log with
a nailed-on skin. It took various shapes and sizes
to vary its sound.
 
• BONGOS – are integral part of Latin percussion,
particularly as a solo instrument.
AFRICAN MUSIC
• In African traditions, music has been and
still is an integral part of daily life, and is
closely interlinked with the society in which
and for which it is produced.
• It has social, ritual, ceremonial and at times
recreational functions. Dancing is often an
important part of the rituals and spiritual
aspirations of music
• Traditional art forms, including music, are rooted
in mythology and folklores, usually associated
with gods, ancestors and legendary heroes.
Musical activities are ritualized and intended to
link the visible world with the invisible. Music is
highly functional in ethnic life, accompanying
birth, marriage, hunting and even political
activities.
• The Western scale patterns that relate most
closely to African music are tetratonic, pentatonic,
hexatonic or heptatonic arrangements.
 Instruments

• Drums are among the more popular

instruments and are made in a variety of
shapes and sizes. Materials such as wood,
gourds and clay are used to construct drum
bodies. Drum membranes are made from the
skins of reptiles, cows, goats and other
animals.
GOOD LUCK!