HLM EXAM 1 ESSAY PREP

Flashcard 1: Zither Family in East Asia

China, Korea, and Japan share zither instruments, influencing each other’s musical traditions through cultural exchange.

Flashcard 2: China – Guqin

• 7-stringed fretless zither

• Used for meditative, scholarly music

• Sliding tones, harmonics, free rhythm

• Confucian influence, played by scholars

Flashcard 3: China – Guzheng

• 16-21 strings with movable bridges

• Bright, arpeggiated tones

• Used in ensembles and folk music

• Plucked with fingerpicks

Flashcard 4: Korea – Gayageum

• 12-stringed plucked zither

• Sanjo Gayageum: solo improvisational music

• Played by plucking + left-hand bending

• Used in court and folk music

Flashcard 5: Korea – Geomungo

• 6-stringed zither, played with a plectrum

• Deep, resonant tones

• Associated with Confucian scholars

• Used in court and ritual music

Flashcard 6: Japan – Koto

• 13-stringed zither with movable bridges

• Introduced from China via Korea

• Played with fingerpicks

• Used in Gagaku (court music) & Sankyoku (chamber music)

Flashcard 7: Musical Styles

• China: Guqin → meditative, Guzheng → expressive

• Korea: Gayageum/Geomungo → folk & court music

• Japan: Koto → structured, delicate compositions

Flashcard 8: Performance Practices

• China: Solo & philosophical (Guqin), ensemble & rhythmic (Guzheng)

• Korea: Highly ornamented & rhythmic freedom (Sanjo)

• Japan: Structured, controlled playing (Koto)