MUSIC OF

CHINA
 OBJECTIVES:
• explains how the music of a Southeast Asian country relates to its
geography and culture (MU8SE-IIa-g-1)
• listens perceptively to music of Southeast Asia (MU8SE-IIa-h-2)
• sings songs of Southeast Asia (MU8SE-IIc-h-3)
• analyzes musical elements of selected songs
• instrumental pieces heard and performed (MU8SE-IIc-h-4)
 BASIC FACTS
China spans approximately 5,250
km from east to west and 5,500
km from north to south. Its land
border is around 20,000 km long,
while its shoreline is
approximately 14,000 km long.
China has the world's biggest
temperature difference between
its northern and southern borders,
from the desert in the northwest
to the tropical monsoon in the
southeast.
It has the biggest population of
any country in the world and is
the largest country in Asia.
Almost entirely encompassing the
East Asian landmass.
China's longevity and resilience
are unparalleled among nations.
With over 4,000 years of recorded
history, China is one of the few
countries that also flourished
economically and culturally
during the earliest stages of world
civilization.
How is Chinese music related to its geography and
culture?
Chinese music is based on the doctrines or beliefs of some of the
Chinese philosophers. That's why Chinese music is influenced by
the philosophy, both social and political order, where "Chinese
music and philosophy advocated a stable social hierarchy
reflecting natural balances and maintained by individual virtue
and restraint" (according to the Confucian Philosophy).
 Elements of Chinese Music
1. Pitch/tonal System- Most Chinese music is in pentatonic scale,
which is derived from the Ling Lun Chinese legend. It is believed
that the five-tone scale system among the Chinese is connected to
their patterns in life like their outlook in cycles of
dynasties,seasons, the five planets, and five bases of elements.
 Elements of Chinese Music
The use of pentatonic scale is based on some symbolic attributes like:

·Kung - it is the primary tone which is associated with the Emperor

·Shang - it is the tone associated with the Minister
·Chih-the tone associated with the State
·Chaio - it is the tone associated with the People
·Yu - the tone with significant Chinese objects
 Elements of Chinese Music
2. Timbre (Vocal) – In Han Chinese culture, the style of singing is usually thin and
nasal, High pitched or shrill vocal quality conveys life's adversity in the northern part
of China. In contrast of the southern part of China, life's experiences are much
lighter, so the music in South is lyrical and gentle.

3. Meter/Rhythm – Chinese music is mostly in duple rhythm or two quarter which

transmits the principle of natural "duality" like female-male or yin-yang
relationship. It may also convey the "Zhongyong" a Confucian concept: A
doctrine of the mean the goal is to maintain balance and harmony from directing
the mind to a state of constant equilibrium and stick to it (James Legge's
translation).
 Elements of Chinese Music
4. Texture – It is generally thought that Chinese music is in homophonic
texture because it is mainly the distinguishing characteristic of early Chinese
ritual music like the “Ya Yiieh”, which is a classical music; but in the
instrumental music of China, most commonly the musicians make use of
embellishment on the melody where they play variations in melody in unison
with the vocal music and instrumental accompaniment immediately followed
by the pattern of singing. Thus, it gives the rise of heterophonic texture in
most of Chinese folk music of the Han people.
 DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS OF
VOCAL AND
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
OF CHINA
 Chinese instrumental music is heterophonic in nature and it is
played with more than one instrument. Like the two Chinese
passages, the qin and the zither play two or more pitches together.
Suites and variations are the most well-known instrumental forms of
Chinese music. The major characteristic of Chinese instrumental
variations is called motive that appears at the beginning and at the
end of each movement, like the "Hetou" which is the refrain head
and the "Hewe" which is the refrain tail.
Chinese vocal music is mostly described as high pitched, thin, non-
resonant, nasal, or in falsetto and usually performed in solo or
monophonic in texture rather than in choral. Chinese vocal music
originally came from sung poems and verses with music, Vocal
music is intricate because a great prominence is being given to the
correct tonal inflection and articulation in every musical tone,
though Chinese words are monosyllabic.
 TYPES OF CHINESE VOCAL MUSIC
1. Religious Music - it is classified into two: the Buddhist Music and Taoist Music which are
the religious chants or ritual music (temple music) played for some ceremonies like salvation
and memorial rituals.

a. Buddhist Music - is also known as Sanskrit Music. In Buddhist music, vocal intoning is
usually referred to as "chanting music, covering verses, hymns, and liturgies."
b. Taoist Music - the music is influenced by regional folk music and it is used in ceremonial
rituals like in Buddhist music. Yunzi is a vocal tune where melodies improve throughout the
ritual ceremonies.
 TYPES OF CHINESE VOCAL MUSIC
2. The Art Song - Xiaoling is a vocal music of the 12th-13th century based on the poetry
of Qu which is one type of art song where a soloist sometimes performs with a wooden
clapper as an accompaniment.

3. Narrative Music - Zhugongdiao is one of the significant types of narrative songs. The
song is a story about a romantic legend accompanied by an instrumentation like in the
drum songs.
 TYPES OF CHINESE VOCAL MUSIC
4. Chinese Folk Music - describes the lives of most Han Chinese people. Shange is a
mountain song created in strophic form and it uses fewer refrains, composed of two or
four phrases with the same length and each phrase has another musical thought.
INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC OF CHINA
 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF CHINA
Traditionally, Chinese instrumental music is heterophonic; it is played with
more than one instrument or an instrument together with a voice. The most well-
known forms of instrumental Chinese music are suites and variations.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE INSTRUMENTS
Chinese instruments can be played in solo, large orchestras in court, and in
smaller ensembles like in teahouses or some public occasions. There is no
conductor in ancient Chinese musicor in any tablature performances because
music was taught aurally and memorized only by the musicians alone.
 Chordophone Instruments
It is also named as “Hu-qin”, “hu” meaning foreign or northern folk in China and “qin”
meaning a common term for all the string instruments which is a big family in Chinese
instruments.

Erhu - is a two-stringed fiddle instrument which is one of

the most well-known in the Hu-gin family. It is
sometimes called as the “Chinese violin.”
 Chordophone Instruments
Banhu-it is also known as the following: bonghu, pang-hu, qin-
hu, etc. It is the leading musical accompaniment in Bang-zi
ballads specifically for local operas in Central China and is
usually used in solo performances that express a passionate and
joyful feeling.
 Chordophone Instruments
Pipa - this instrument is created for plucking. It has a short neck
and made of a wooden belly

Ruan - it is also known as the Chinese guitar and

moon guitar and it varies in shape
 Chordophone Instruments

Yueqin - it came from ruan but it has a

thinner sound with a short neck and flat
sound box.
The Zither Family
Guqin - is a seven-
stringed instrument
which has a long
andslender body
made from a pine
tree.
The Zither Family
Zheng - is one of the
earliest Chinese musical
instrumentsmade from
bamboo. This instrument
has a curved and elongated
surface with 21 stretched
strings.
 The Zither Family
Kongho - The instrument is similar to the harp and aside from the right-hand
technique, it can also be played by the left hand in vibrato.
 The Membranophone Instruments
Pengling - Percussion instrument consisting of two bells made of bronze.
It adds beauty to rhythmic instruments in music ensembles and theatre.

Muyu - is made from mulberry wood and is used by striking it to

produce sounds. It is used as the musical accompaniment in Buddhist
chants.
 The Idiophone InstrumentsZ
Dizi - is considered a traditional Chinese flute which can be played through
double or triple tonguing, fluttered, and tonguing and fluttered.
Xiao - it is also known as a wind instrument which is considered as a long
flute. It is played in Chinese classical music for solo music.
Sheng - one of the oldest Chinese instruments and is also called as the
Chinese mouth organ. It consists of 13-17 bamboo pipes in various lengths
that are placed together.
 The Idiophone InstrumentsZ
Dizi - is considered a traditional Chinese flute which can be played through
double or triple tonguing, fluttered, and tonguing and fluttered.
Xiao - it is also known as a wind instrument which is considered as a long
flute. It is played in Chinese classical music for solo music.
Sheng - one of the oldest Chinese instruments and is also called as the
Chinese mouth organ. It consists of 13-17 bamboo pipes in various lengths
that are placed together.
Chinese Folksong
 mo li hua
Chinese Folk songs Mo Li Hua

"Mo Li Huo" is a Chinese folk song which means a jasmine flower. The folk
song describes the purity and fragrance of the jasmine flower.
The folk song is sung in a nasal voice, and the way the Chinese sings it is in
moderate tempo and range.
The texture is homophonic and the folk song uses syllabic phrasing.
Functions and cultural characteristics of Chinese musical
compositions

Chinese compositions were mainly part of their religious rites and ceremonies,
like salvations and memorial rituals held in courts, temples, and monasteries.
Based on Confucian philosophy, they believed that "music can be used as a
means to political and spiritual enlightenment" (Confucius).
Functions and cultural characteristics of Chinese musical
compositions
• Ya-yiieh – It is the music played in court of China.
• Yiieh-hsuan – Music played in the garden facing the hall together these two
dances
• Tangko – Performed inside the hall a chamber song in honor to the king and
his ancestors.
• Wen-wu – A civil dance
• Wu-wu – a military dance
I.Written Activity (10 points)

Directions: Answer the following question in essay form. Your essay should be as well
organized and as carefully written as you make it. You will be graded based on the given
rubric.

How Chinese music relates to its geography and culture?

________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
I.Assesstment
Directions: Essay – Search on youtube the given links below. Listen perceptively to one
of the famous music of East Asia, the Chinese folk song “ Mo Li Hua”. Describe the
Chinese folk song “ Mo Li Hua” in essay form. You will be graded based on the given
rubric.

Mo Li Hua - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S41_Veb3LA

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________
 谢谢你

Xiè xiè nín

Thank you