Music-of-the-East

WHAT IS CHINESE MUSIC?

  • Chinese music regarded as the most influential in Asia, significant in cultural and societal aspects.

  • Historically viewed as a means to achieve harmony in the universe.

  • Music served therapeutic and social organizing purposes across past dynasties, notably during the Qing dynasty.

  • Influenced by ancient teachings, especially those of Confucius, whose philosophies linked music to public harmony.

  • The character for music, "yuè," shares meanings with "lè" (happy), highlighting a connection between music and joy.

FUNCTIONS OF CHINESE MUSIC

  1. Music Serving Socio-Political Ideals

    • Used to maintain social order and stability.

    • Emphasizes the preservation of the status quo through social structures and behaviors.

    • Highest expression observed in traditional court rituals.

  2. Entertainment Music

    • Performed for enjoyment during leisure time, detached from work or religious contexts.

    • Examples include Qin and kunqu opera recognized as classical entertainment genres.

  3. Work Songs

    • Fewer in number, primarily associated with agricultural tasks.

    • Common among farmers; examples include songs for tea-picking and rice-planting.

  4. Religious Music

    • Includes outdoor ritual music and Buddhist chants rich in artistic representation.

    • Central to cultural rituals, emphasizing its significant role.

ELEMENTS OF CHINESE MUSIC

  1. Pitch

    • Wu Sheng (five-tone scale) as a foundational scale in Chinese music.

    • Each scale degree is associated with a direction, planet, color, and societal level:

      • Gong (C): Center, Saturn, Yellow, King.

      • Shang (D): West, Venus, White, Ministers.

      • Jue (E): East, Jupiter, Blue-Green, People.

      • Zhi (G): South, Mars, Red, Affairs of State.

      • Yu (A): North, Mercury, Black, Natural World.

  2. Vocal Timbre

    • Thin and nasal singing style; high-pitched in northern China, lyrical and gentle in the south.

  3. Meter/Rhythm

    • Predominantly in duple meter, reflecting natural duality principles (yin-yang).

    • Rare triple meter; syncopation often features in rhythmic patterns.

  4. Texture

    • Monophonic and heterophonic textures prevalent in the music.

VOCAL MUSIC IN CHINA

  • Characterized by high-pitched, thin, nasal qualities rather than choral performances.

  • Intricate relationship with the tonal structure of the Chinese language, requiring precise tonal articulation.

TYPES OF VOCAL MUSIC

  • Religious Music

    • Includes chants and ritual music performed during ceremonies.

    • Divided into Buddhist music (hymns) and Taoist music (ceremonial).

  • Art Song

    • Xiaoling music based on Qu's poems performed by soloists using a wooden clapper.

  • Narrative Music

    • Zhugongdiao, storytelling songs focused on romantic legends, using drums.

  • Chinese Folk Song

    • Depicts the lives of the Han Chinese, such as Shang, a strophic mountain song.

CHINESE MUSIC INSTRUMENTS

  • Historically categorized by materials (metal, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, clay, skin, wood).

  • Modern classification based on performance styles:

    • Bowed Strings

      • Erhu: A two-stringed violin.

      • Banhu: Lead accompaniment in Bangzi ballads.

    • Plucked Strings

      • Yueqin: A lute with a circular body.

      • Ruan: Known as the moon guitar, varying shapes.

      • Zheng: Traditional instrument with 13-21 strings.

      • Pipa: Pear-shaped with expressive range, 4 strings.

    • Wind Instruments

      • Dizi: Traditional flute known for fluttering techniques.

      • Sheng: Mouth organ made of bamboo pipes.

      • Xiao: Long flute performed solo in classical music.

    • Percussion Instruments

      • Pengling: Small bronze bells.

      • Yunluo: Set of tuned gongs fixed in a frame.

      • Zhong: Clapper bronze bells, historically significant.