Music History
World Music – The Music of China
Lecture Notes
I. The Music of Asia
A. When early humans migrated out of Africa approximately 50,000 years ago,
they moved beyond Western Europe, populating Asia, the Americas and
Australia.
B. There is music history in every region of the world.
C. The continent of Asia includes the countries of China, Japan, Korea, India, and
Turkey.
II. Cultural Context of China
A. Largest and oldest country in the region
1. 16th century B.C. – emergence of the Chinese civilization
2. 3rd century B.C. – unification of China and the beginning of the age of
the dynasties
3. 1912 – Republic of China formed
4. 1949 – Beginning of Chinese communism
5. 1966 – Cultural Revolution
B. Religion in China
1. Confucianism
a. Established strict norms of moral behavior
b. Ritualistic
c. Promotes discipline
2. Taoism
a. Mystical, nature based religion
b. Emphasis on the yin and the yang
c. Promotes simplicity and spontaneity
3. Buddhism
a. One of the world’s major religions
b. Religion and philosophy founded in the sixth century
c. Based on Four Noble Truths
1) existence is suffering (illness, old age, fear, loss and
death)
2) the cause for suffering is desire (desire for possessions,
belief in importance of oneself, misplaced sense of values)
3) the end of suffering comes by getting rid of all earthly,
selfish desires
4) The path to freedom (enlightenment) is attained
through following the Eightfold Path (meditation and the
practice of good religious and moral behavior)
d) Believers are awakened to the profound realization that the
true path to liberation is to let go of everything.
e) Learning to lie is to let go.
1
C. Society
1. Focus on family and government hierarchy
2. Focus on family unity
3. Most populous country on earth
III. Style of Chinese Music
A. Time Aspects
1. pulse – mostly weak
2. rhythms – simple
3. tempo – medium fast to medium slow
B. Pitch Aspects
1. Melody – much ornamentation, use of pentatonic scale
a. our scale is based on 12 pitches, pentatonic on five pitches
b. comparable to playing the first, second, third, fifth and sixth
notes of a major scale
c. Chinese scale does not employ equal tuning (equal
temperament) – therefore, an A in one scale does not sound the
same as an A in another scale.
2. Harmonies – use very few harmonies and the pentatonic scale
3. Textures are very thin, mostly one or two parts
4. Dynamics of Chinese music are mostly soft
5. The form of Chinese music is mostly variations
C. Music has a deep connection to nature and history; tends to be
programmatic.
D. Chinese music encompasses several different genres of music, including folk,
classical and pop music.
E. Chinese music is as old and interesting as Western music – stretched back
more than 3000 years.
IV. Evolution of Chinese Music
A. Artifacts suggest a well-develop musical culture as early as 1122 – 256 B.C.
1. This mirrors the development of musical development in Egypt and
Mesopotamia.
2. Also tells musicologist that music developed at approximately the
same rate in different regions of the world after humans migrated north
out of Africa.
B. Oldest documented written music in China is a melody
1. Titled “Solitary Orchid”
2. Written for a Chinese stringed instrument
3. Composed approximately 6 A.D.
4. Manuscript appears to be a copy of an earlier piece of music and
contains corrections.
C. Role of Chinese music differed under different rulers
1. During the Qin dynasty (221 – 206 B.C.), music was denounced as a
wasteful pastime; almost all musical books, instruments and manuscripts
were ordered to be destroyed.
2
2. The Imperial Music Bureau was formed during the Han dynasty (206
B.C. to 220 A.D.) to supervised court and military music and determined
what folk music would be officially recognized by the state.
3. During the reign of Han Ming Di (58 – 75 A.D.), the Han palace had
three official orchestras: one for religious services, one to play for royal
archery contests and a third for entertaining at royal banquets and
events.
D. Chinese opera first evolved in the period of the Three Kingdoms (220 – 280)
1. This is perhaps the best known type of traditional, Chinese classical
music.
2. There are several different styles of Chinese operas (think Western
opera, operetta, musical theatre, etc.)
3. The best known of these is the Beijing opera. Originated in 1790
a. style of opera that features distinctive, high pitched singing
usually accompanied by a traditional Chinese orchestra.
b. There are more than 1,000 works in the Beijing style of Chinese
opera.
c. Stories of the operas generally come from historical novels
about political and military struggles.
d. Combines acting, spoken dialogue, singing, dancing, and
acrobats.
e. There are very few props and sets are minimal.
f. Has 4 types of characters:
* Male: characters such as government officials, warriors,
scholars; divided into old men (beards) and young men
*Female: characters such as elderly dignified widows and
mothers, elegant aristocratic women, maids, women
warriors and comedians. These roles were originally
played by men.
* Painted Face: characters include warriors, nobles,
adventurers, nobles and demons
* Clown: special makeup, comedic character
g. Actors wear very brightly colored costumes, very elaborate
h. Facial makeup in the theatre is very important, acts as a “mask”
for the actor; the main color is used to display the characters
general disposition.
i. There are still many professional companies performing in China
today.
E. Chinese Folk Music
1. Often played at weddings and funerals as well as other public
ceremonies and events
2. There are minimal western influences in this music
3. Music reflects the area of China that it is from.
3
F. National Music
1. In addition to the traditional folk music of China, the communist
government uses music to promote national pride.
2. Lighter forms of this music are labeled “patriotic”, the equivalent of a
national anthem in another country.
3. “Revolutionary” music is a more political type of music that usually
promotes the propaganda and policies of the government.
4