HLM EXAM 1 ESSAY PREP

Zither Family

Group of string instruments shared by China, Korea, and Japan that influence each other's musical traditions.

Guqin

A 7-stringed fretless zither from China used for meditative and scholarly music with sliding tones and free rhythm.

Guzheng

A Chinese zither with 16-21 strings and movable bridges, known for its bright, arpeggiated tones and used in ensembles and folk music. Plucked with fingernails

Gayageum

A 12-stringed plucked zither from Korea, utilized for solo improvisational music (sanjo) and often employed in court and folk music. Played by plucking + left-hand bending

Geomungo

A 6-stringed zither from Korea, played with a plectrum and known for its deep, resonant tones, often associated with Confucian scholars. Used in court and ritual music

Koto

A 13-stringed zither from Japan that has movable bridges and is used in court music (Gagaku) and chamber music (Sankyoku). Played with fingerpicks

China Musical style

Guqin → meditative, Guzheng → expressive

Korean Musical style

Gayageum/Geomungo → folk & court music

Japan Musical style

Koto → structured, delicate compositions

China Performance Practices

Solo & philosophical (Guqin), ensemble & rhythmic (Guzheng)

Korea Performance Practices

Highly ornamented & rhythmic freedom (Sanjo)

Japan Performance Practices

Structured, controlled playing (Koto)