Mus 011: Musics in China

Genres of Music in China

The Bayin-8 sounds; 1. Metal 2. Stone 3. Silk 4.Bamboo 5. Gourd 6. Clay 7. Leather 8. wood

Sheng

open mouth organ with 17 bamboo pipes arranged in “an incomplete circle” [Bakan 449]

Zheng

is a Chinese board zither chordophone. As with other instruments of this type, its construction features a series of strings laid lengthwise across a wooden frame (the “board”) that is attached to its own resonating chamber (see Figure 15.1, p. 429). The zheng is historically related to several other Asian board zither chordophones, including the Japanese  koto, the Korean  kayagum, the Mongolian yatga, and the Vietnamese dan tranh.

Dizi

traditional chinese flute, widely used in folk music, Chinese opera and orchestral

Pipa

Pear-shaped, plucked chordophone with four strings. Chinese instrument of Central Asian heritage; close historical association with the zheng.

Erhu

The erhu is a two-stringed bowed instrument, often called the “Chinese violin.” Its melancholic, expressive tone makes it ideal for lyrical melodies. The sound box is typically covered with snake skin.

Guqin

Traditional Chinese seven-stringed instrument

Programmatic Music

Employment of Music to Tell a Story

Baban Form

A shared basis of form in Zheng Music

How music Influenced people in Mao China?

It was in major scale and promoted topics of communism.

Cultural Revolution

(1966-1976) in which the government aimed to rid the country of any sort “bogeouis” influence; mao zedong

Revolution Model Works

state funded operas, ballet, plays by Madam Mao that promoted communist themes