DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

8 DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS QUEZON

CITY
NOVALICHES HIGH SCHOOL
SUBJEC MUSIC
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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

MUSICAL THEATER AND FESTIVALS OF ASIA

Background Information for Learners

Have you experienced watching a stage play or a theater play? Are you familiar with Ibong Adarna? How
was it? Did you enjoy watching it?
In this unit we are going to discover the traditional Asian Theater art. You will have a unique experience
on how this traditional theater accompanied with music is performed. You will also identify the selected musical
theater of Asian Region that are celebrated in every occasion.
Theater arts are one of the ancient traditions of the people in Asia particularly in Japan, Indonesia and
China. The theater form was passed on from generation to generation. Theater plays are based on religious myth
and legend. Most Asian theatre contained elements of song , dance , music . mime and other performances.

JAPANESE THEATER
KABUKI– traditional form of theatre that originated in the
Edo Period and was founded by a Shinto priestess , OKUNI in 1603. It is an art form rich in showmanship.
Singing, dancing and acting are skillfully applied that brings life to the characters from Japan’s past, both real and
imaginary. Plots are based on historical events, moral conflicts, love stories, warm hearted dramas, tales of
tragedy, and many other stories. All the actors play the roles of warriors, thieves, respectable ladies and
prostitutes.
KA – means “song” , BU – “dance” and KI – “skill”.
One of the key features of Japanese theater is the vocal technique used in singing. It requires an
extraordinary breath control that only few experts succeed in achieving. Shamisen musical instrument is used
for rhythm , dancing and other movements in the stage.

https://images.app.goo.gl/JFcR4kgtcLES6epU8
CHINESE THEATER

PEKING OPERA or BEIJING OPERA was

considered as the highest form of arts in China dated
from the late 18th century. It has two main styles of
music, namely erh-huang and his-p I (lower sound).
Fan- pan is a technique used for sorrowful songs and
sung by bearded characters. Beijing Opera is a
synthesis of stylized action, singing, dialogue, mime,
acrobatic fighting and dancing to represent a story or
depict different characters and their feelings of
gladness, anger, sorrow, happiness, surprise, fear and
sadness. The characters may be loyal or treacherous,
beautiful or ugly, good or bad. Their images are always vividly
manifested in bright costumes that show the styles of ancient China.
There are currently four main role categories in Beijing Opera. They
are Sheng (Male Role), Dan ( Female Role), Jing( Painted Face Male
and Chou ( The Comedy Role)

INDONESIAN THEATER
 WAYANG – refers to kind of puppet theaters. It is a shadow play performance accompanied with
Gamelan orchestra in Java. KULIT means skin because the puppet is made from the buffalo skin and mounted on
bamboo sticks. It was given recognition as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on
November 7, 2003 by UNESCO. The stories are usually drawn from Hindu Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. It
tells the stories of kings, princesses, ogres, and knights with hand movements and narration. It involves music,
acting, drama, literature, painting, sculpture, carving and other symbolic arts. Wayang Kulit performance consists
of shadows cast on a cotton screen and an oil lamp. The puppeteer is
called Dalang . A hammer is used by the dalang to knock on the wooden box. Wayang Kulit is performed during
important occasions such as birthday, circumcision, wedding, anniversaries and other important occasions.

Learning Competency Code

Identifies musical characteristics of selected Asian musical theater through video films or live performances
MU8TH-IVa-g-1

Activity 1
WATCHING THEATER CLIPS. If you have gadget at home you may click the link, to watch the video and watch
an Asian Theater for further understanding of the characteristics of the selected Asian Theaters.
A. PEKING OPERA - https://youtu.be/73_9UvNX920
B. KABUKI - https://youtu.be/bSTBFNPmloE
C. WAYANG KULIT - https://youtu.be/n-1JL4QLBCc

Activity 2
A. Pick and Tell. Pick 5 words related to Asian Theater inside the car and tell anything about each word that you
have chosen. The first one is done for you.
1. Sheng Male role in Peking Opera
2.
3.
4.
5.

B. Unscramble the word / words to create a meaningful word associated in Asian Theater. The first one is done for
you.
1. RETHAET - THEATER
2. SDOHAW YLAP
3. CUSIM
4. NGIEKP AREOP
5. ADRAM

Reflection
For Asian theater music and dance are inseparable. It incorporates many ancient and rich traditions. Most Asian
theater scripts are more of a way to showcase production elements than a way to tell a complex story.

Reference for Learners

https://www.britannica.com/art/wayang
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayang
https://images.app.goo.gl/NSXQDGfZgPMVbSWbA
https://create.piktochart.com/output/5013319-asian-theatre
Music and Arts of Asia
Learner’s Module
pp.347-359
Prepared by:

MARILYN E. ESPEDIDO
Teacher III, MAPEH

Checked by:

JACQUELINE A. ALOTA
Master Teacher I – MAPEH

RENE RAMIS S. PERIO

Head Teacher VI- MAPEH

Noted by:

LUIS P. TAGAYUN Ed.D.

Principal IV