Chinese Music History and Society

China's Music

• China, officially the People's Republic of China, is located in East Asia.
• The name "China" is likely derived from the Qin dynasty.
• China is the world's most populous country.
• The people call their nation Chung-Hua and its capital is Beijing.

History of Chinese Music

• Chinese music has a history dating back to the dawn of Chinese civilization.
• Evidence of a well-developed musical culture exists from the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BC - 256 BC).
• Confucius believed music should calm passions and dispel unrest, not just be for entertainment.

Function of Music in Chinese Society

• Music has practical use in Chinese society; it's used in teaching and for establishing guidelines for behavior.
• It is used to give power to the government and arrive at agreements for cooperation in society.

The Chinese Tonal System

• China's tonal system is based on the Ling Lun Chinese legend.
• The fundamental pitches derived from the legend are now called the Lu System.
• The five-tone scale is called Wu-Sheng and the remaining two tones are used through changing tones called pien.

Chinese Musical Scale

• Kung represents the emperor or chief.
• Shang represents the minister.
• Chao is related to the people.
• Chih relates to state affairs.
• Yu represents material objects.

Musical Elements

• Chinese music features a high-pitched and thin nasal timbre.
• Rhythm and meter are often duple.
• Texture can be vocal, monophonic, instrumental, or heterophonic.
• The pentatonic scale is a prevalent feature.

Chinese Vocal Music

• Types include: Religious, Xiaoling, Zhugongdiao, and Folk Music.
• Religious music encompasses Buddhist or Temple music (Sanskrit chanting, hymns, and liturgies) and Taoist regional folk music used in ceremonies.
• Xiaoling is vocal art music from the 12th to 13th centuries, based on poetry of Qu and performed with a wooden clapper.
• Zhugongdiao is narrative song about romantic legends, accompanied by drums.
• Folk Music is mountain songs with strophic form, refrains and phrases of the same length but a different musical thought; an example is the Jasmine Flower song.

Musical Instruments (String)

• Erhu: A two-stringed fiddle, one of China's most popular instruments.
• Pipa: A four-stringed lute with 30 frets, shaped like a pear.
• Zheng: An ancient Chinese instrument with an arched surface and an elongated trapezoid, with 13–21 strings.
• Yeqin: A moon-shaped lute with a shorter neck, four strings, and a spectrum.

Musical Instruments (Wind)

• Xiao: A Chinese vertical end-blown flute, typically made of bamboo.
• Sheng: A Chinese mouth organ, resembling panpipes with 12–36 bamboo pipes.
• Dizi: A traditional Chinese flute that sometimes has a membrane for a rattle effect.

Musical Instruments (Percussion)

• Yunluo: A set of 10 tuned gongs mounted in a wooden frame.
• Pengling: Two small bells made of high-tin bronze, without internal clappers, and bottomless.

Mo Li Hua

• Mo Li Hua is a traditional Chinese song with a beautiful, gentle, and lyrical melody.
• The lyrics relate to the Jasmine flower, making it a love song describing the custom of giving jasmine flowers in the Yangtze delta region.