Group 1

Presents
THE MUSIC OF CHINA
THE MUSIC
OF CHINA
THETHE MUSIC
MUSIC OF CHINA
OF CHINA
Consistsofofmany
:Consists
 manydistinct
distinct
traditions,
traditions, often
often specifically
originating with one of
specifically originatingthe
country’s various ethnic
with one of the country’s
groups.
various ethnic groups.
 For several thousands of
years, Chinese culture
was dominated by the
teaching of Philosopher
Confusius.
PHILOSOPHER CONFUSIUS
 He convinced music in the
highest sense as it means
of calming the passion and
dispelling unrest and lust,
rather than as a form of
amusement.
 CHINESE MUSIC AND TONAL
SYSTEM
Chinese tonal system is based on the Ling
Lun Chinese Legend. The most famous
legend concerning the origin of Chinese
music says that around 2697 BC. Emperor
Huang-ti sent certain Ling Lun to the
mountains to ut some bamboo pipe (fus)
that will give a definite tone which would
be the basis of music and harmony in the
governing kingdom.
 CHINESE MUSIC AND TONAL
SYSTEM
 Has particular user used for
teaching, in giving guidelines for
behavior in society, and in giving
power to the goverment. Most
importantly, music is used to
arrive at an agreement and
cooperation in society
  TONAL SYSTEM
 From the pipes, the fundamental
pitches would be derived and now
called the Lu Systern.
 Traditional Chinese music uses a
five-tone scale called Wu-sheng and
the remaining tone are used through
changing tones or pien
 TYPES OF CHINESE VOCAL MUSIC
1. Religious
a. Buddhist or Temple Music
(Sanskrit) - chanting music
covering verse, hymns, and
liturgies.
b. Taoist- regional folk music
and used in ceremonial rituals.
 TYPES OF CHINESE VOCAL MUSIC

2. Xiaoling - the vocal art

song of the 12th to 13th
century. It is based on the
poetry of Qu. It is performed
with a wooden clapper.
 TYPES OF CHINESE VOCAL MUSIC

3. Zhugongdiao - a
type of narrative
song about a
romantic legend
accompanied by the
drums.
 TYPES OF CHINESE VOCAL MUSIC
4. Folk Music - describes the lives of
most Chinese people. An example of
this music is sange. It is a mountain
song on strophic form using fewer
refrains. It has two or four phrases
with the same length and each phrase
has a different musical thought.
 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

 It is in heterophonic scale
or form
 It is played with more than
one instrument together
with a voice.
 Chinese musical instruments

1.) Yueqin
2.) Pipa
3.) Erhu
4.) Yunlou
5.) Sheng
6.) Dizi
7.) Zheng
8.) Pengling
 Chinese musical instruments

1.) Yueqin: A moon

shaped lute with a
shorter neck and four
strings, played with a
spectrum, used for
accompanying local
 Chinese musical instruments

2.) Pipa: A four stringed

lute with 30 frets and a
pear shaped body. This
instrument has an
extremely wide
dynamic range and
 Chinese musical instruments

3.) Erhu: A two-stringed

fiddle and one of the most
popular Chinese
instruments. It is used as a
solo instrument aswell as
in small ensembles or
 Chinese musical instruments

4.) Yunlou: Literally “cloud

gongs” or “cloud of gongs.
The yunluo is a set of ten
small tuned gongs mounted
in a wooden frame. The
yunluo’s gongs are generally
  Chinese musical instruments

5.) Sheng: Also called as Chinese

mouth organ and looks like a set of
panpipes with 12-36 bamboo pipes.
Each pipe is of different length with a
brass reed at the bottom and a hole that
must be blocked in order for the note to
sound. This makes it possible to sound
several notes simultaneously, so chords
 Chinese musical instruments

6.) Dizi: Is a traditional chinise

flute. It can have a membrane over
am extra hole to give the
characteristic rattle effect. The
player plays the Dizi by blowing
across the mouthpiece and produces
the different notes by stopping the
  Chinese musical instruments

7.) Zheng: An ancient instrument

that has an arched surface and an
elongated-trapezoid with 13-21
strings stretched over individual
bridges. Its playing range spans to
four octaves.
  Chinese musical instruments

8.) Pengling: These are two small

bells made of high-tin bronze,
without internal clappers, and
hemispheric or bottomless gourd-
like in shape. Te instrument has a
delicate, clarion and melodious
tone. It is a coloring rhythmic
 THAT’S ALL THANKYOU

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