MAPEH East Asian Music

Japanese Vocal Music

is based on the intervals of human breathing rather than mathemarical timing

Traditional Japanese music

meditative in character. Its performance is highly ritualized.

Percussion Instruments

Membranophone

Odaiko(big drums)

the physical energy and sheer excitement of an Odaiko performance is an integral part of Japanese matsuri(festivals)

Tsuzumi(hourglass shape)

the kotsuzumi(smaller) and otsuzumi(larger).

Tsuridaiko

a large hanging barrel drum

Taiko

is a Japanese drum that comes in various sizes and used to play a variety of music

String Instruments

Chordophone

Koto

is a 13-string zither

Shamisen

is a plucked stringed instrument

Biwa

is Japanese short-necked fretted lute

Wind Instruments

Aerophone

Shakubachi

the most famous flute made from bamboo. It has 4/5 finger holes on the front face and a thumbhole on the rear face.

Nokan

a parallel

Hichiriki

is a double reed Japanese fue used as one of two main melodic instruments in Japanese gagaku music

Sho

is a Japanese free reed musical instrument that was introduced from China during the Nara period.

Shinobue

also called takebue in the context of Japanese traditional arts

Ryuteki

literally 'dragon flute' is a Japanese transverse fue made of bamboo. It is used in gagaku

Philosopher Confucius

his teachings dominated in the Chinese culture

Yueqin

moon-shaped lute with shorter neck and 4 strings

Pipa

four-stringed lute with 30 frets and a pear-shaped body

Erhu

Two-stringed fiddle and one of the most popular Chinese instruments

Yunluo

literally 'cloud gongs' or 'cloud of the gongs'

Sheng(Chinese mouth organ)

looks like a set of panpipes

Dizi

traditional Chinese flute. It can have membrane over an extra hole to give the characteristic rattle effect

Zheng

an ancient Chinese instrument that has an arched surface and an elongated-trapezoid with 13 to 21 strings stretched over individual bridges that has a playing range of 3-4 octaves

Pengling

are 2 small bells made of high-tin bronze

Chong-ak

means 'right' or correct music

Sog-ak or minsogak

is a category of Korean music associated with lower classes for the general public

Kayagum(gayageum)

is a traditional Korean zither-like string instrument with 12 strings

Geomungo

6 string plucked zither

Haegum

has a rodlike neck

Piri(Wind instrument)

used in both the folk and classical music in Korea

Changgo(Percussion instrumemt)

used as a drum

Vocal Timbre

nasal and throaty

Sakura

is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting spring

Mo Li Hua

is a traditional Chinese song with a beautifully gentle and lyrical melody

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.