ASIAN LISTENING #1:
Title:
Hungry Horses Ringing
Bells
Country:
China
Artist: Chen Dacan
Terms: Pentatonic: 5-note scale
Heterophony: “different sounds”; each instrument or
voice plays a variation on the main melody.
Other: Not much percussion. Very melody-oriented. No formal harmony or
drone. Pipa—lute, Erhu—violin.
ASIAN LISTENING #2
Title:
Sakura
Country:
Japan
Artist:
unknown koto player
Terms:
Koto: Japanese zither (table-top plucked string instrument)
Other: Japanese music uses one of two scales: pentatonic or a more minor, sadsounding scale. Sakura is a famous folk-song about cherry blossoms.
Translation of Words to Sakura
Cherry blossoms, mist and clouds
Gently floating in the air
As far as one can see.
The fragrance is everywhere.
Come, come, let us go and see.
ASIAN LISTENING #3
TITLE: unknown
COUNTRY:
Japan
ARTIST:
from a Noh Drama
TERMS:
Noh Drama: combines dance, acting, music, very stylized.
Parlando: singing style that sounds like speaking.
ASIAN LISTENING # 4
Title: Princess Mononoke
Country:
Japan
Artist: written by Joe Hisaishi and Hayao Miyazaki, sung by Yoshikazu Mera
Terms:
ASIAN LISTENING # 5
TITLE: Ketawang Puspawarna (“Kinds of Flowers”)
COUNTRY:
Indonesia
PERFORMER: Gamelan “Invitation to Beauty” (instruments crafted in 1755),
K.R.T. Wasitodiningrat, leader
TERMS: Gamelan: the set of instruments in Indonesian music
Wayang kulit: All night shadow puppet play in Indonesia
OTHER: Gamelans: gong-chimes, metallophones, xylophones, spike fiddle. This
composition is played at the prince’s entrance into the court.
Other: Japanese pop style. From anime movie by director Hayao Miyazaki.
ASIAN LISTENING #6
Title: Phram Dit Namtao
Country:
Thailand
Artist: unknown
Terms: Heterophony. Equidistant pitched scale (not ½ and whole steps)
Other: contains similar instruments to Indonesian gamelan.
ASIAN LISTENING #7
Country:
India
Selection: Introduction to Indian
Music
Performer: Ravi Shankar
Terms:
Raga: a scale-like melody that a piece of music is based on.
Tala: same for rhythm.
Things to Note:
Sitar (big plucked instrument with a drone)
Tabla (drums) Tambur: drone (plucked)
ASIAN LISTENING #8
Country:
India
Selection: Temple Prayer
Performer: Dozor
Terms:
Raga,Tala.
Things to Note:
Does not use harmony like our music. Uses drone, rag, and
tal put together.
ASIAN LISTENING #9
Country:
India
Selection: Aaj Mera Jee Kardaa
(Today my Heart Desires)
Performer: Sukhwinder Singh
Terms:
Indian Popular.
Things to Note: Uses similar texture to Indian Classical, but more western pop
influence, & electric instruments.