8

Music
Quarter 2 – Module 2b
East Asian Music
Japan, China, and Korea

VOCAL MUSIC OF JAPAN

The main tone of Japanese music has two modes: The Yo-sen and the In-
sen. Both consist of five primary tones based on a scale with seven tones. The two
remaining tones are considered as auxiliary tones. The ancient melody of Japanese
music is commonly based on these modes. However, one melody is not always in
one mode alone. The melody of Japanese music commonly shifts on both modes.
They often give emphasis on the second or fourth tone of the mode.

Letter names: D E G A C D B A G E D

Letter names: C Dflat F G Bflat C

(Db) (Bb)
Source: (DEPED: Music and Arts Learner’s Material 8)
REMEMBER:

In reading the musical notes, recollect the diatonic scale that you have learned during your
elementary years.

Source:

FOLK SONGS OF EAST ASIA

A. Sakura or Cherry Blossoms is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting spring,
the season of cherry blossoms.

Source: (DEPED: Music and Arts Learner’s Material 8)

 If you have a smartphone, check out the link below to listen to a Japanese folk
song titled “Sakura”.

 Track 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqpFjsMtCb0 (Sakura)

B. Mo Li Hua is a traditional Chinese song with a beautifully gentle and lyrical

melody. The lyrics about the jasmine flower also turn it into a love song. The
song describes a custom of giving Jasmine flowers, popular in the southern
Yangtze Delta region of China. Another version describes the fear of plucking the
flower.

Source: (DEPED: Music and Arts Learner’s Material 8)

Mo Li Hua (Translation)
What a beautiful jasmine flower, What a beautiful jasmine flower
Sweet-smelling, beautiful, stems full of buds
Fragrant and white, everyone praises
Let me pluck you down, give to someone's family
Jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower
 If you have a smartphone, check out the link below to listen to a Chinese folk song
titled “Mo Li Hua”.

 Track 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-exMxaTUvE (Mo Li Hua)

Melody and tone color are prominent expressive features of Chinese music and
great emphasis is given to the proper articulation and inflection of each musical tone.
Most Chinese music is based on the 5 tone or the pentatonic scale though
heptatonic scale is also used.
Pentatonic scale is a scale with 5 notes or tones. In eastern music, pentatonic
scale is usually used. In pentatonic scale, do, re, mi, sol, la or (C, D, E,G, A) is
present.

Source: https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/29016/difference-between-minor-and-major-pentatonic-scale- boxes?rq=1

C. Arirang- is a Korean folk song, sometimes considered the unofficial national

anthem of Korea. It is used as a symbol of Korea and Korean culture. Arirang is
in essence a song of farewell. The origin of the word 'Arirang' is ‘the hill’. With
Korea’s land being mountainous, there are also many foothills throughout the
country.

Arirang,Arirang, Arariyo... Arirang arirang arariyo

Arirang gogaero neommeoganda. Crossing over Arirang Pass Dear who
Nareul beorigo gasineun nimeun abandoned me will not even walk even
Simrido motgaseo balbbyeongnanda. ten Li before his/her feet hurt.
 Source: https://blog.mykoreatrip.com/arirang-folk-song/?currency=EUR

If you have a smartphone, check-out the link below to listen to a Korean folk
song titled “Arirang”.
 Track 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f99tZQ8XtGM (Arirang)