The Music of China. What do we already know about Chinese music? It’s very old. Instruments...
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- Slide 1
- The Music of China
- Slide 2
- What do we already know about Chinese music? Its very old.
Instruments specific to China. Maybe it tells a story? Lots of
string instruments. Maybe similar to Japanese music? Pentatonic
Scale
- Slide 3
- Instruments Strings (Lute, Zither, Bowed, Dulcimer), Winds
(Flute, Free Reed), Percussion
- Slide 4
- 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
Heavens Gates
- Slide 5
- Lute - Yueqin Guitar like instrument. Yueqin video
- Slide 6
- Zither - Guzheng A large 1823-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
- Slide 7
- 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 isnt 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
- Slide 8
- Dulcimer - Yangqin Hammered dulcimer played with two flexible
bamboo hammers. Plays a role much like a piano. Spring on River
Qing Journey to Lhasa
- Slide 9
- 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
- Slide 10
- 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
- Slide 11
- 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.
- Slide 12
- Characteristics of Chinese Music
- Slide 13
- 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.
- Slide 14
- 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.
- Slide 15
- 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.
- Slide 16
- What do we now know about Chinese music?