Transcript China
China has a long musical tradition You’re looking to understand some key concepts Your risk feeling overwhelmed if you do not You want your understanding to improve Focus on China’s politics, instruments, and cultural diversity A Billion and a Quarter People, Includes 56 Recognized Minorities Beijing Jingju means the “capitol theater” Peking Opera is the main type of Chinese popular musical theater The Qin and Its Music The Qin is a Chinese zither Video To which Western musical instrument would you compare qin practice, and why? The Pipa and Its Music The Pipa is a four-stringed lute Video What are some comparisons in the Western music repertoire to programmatic pipa music? The erhu is a stringed instrument Video Wind and String Ensembles in Shanghai Jiangnan sizhu is a type of Chinese chamber ensemble Video What could be a Western equivalent to Jiangnan sizhu? Jingju Theater is Capital Theater or Peking Opera in the West Jingju theater includes arias, recitative-like short phrases, and heightened speech Video Jingju instrumental music serves many functions Wenchang literally means “civic instrumentation” Wuchang are percussion instruments played to provide rhythmical punctuation In what ways can we compare jingju to Western opera or a Broadway musical? The Value and Functions of Music The Value and Functions of Music are ancient and complex Shi yin is proper sound Chi yue equates to extravagant music Is music used for propaganda in Canada? Before 1949, professional musicians had low social status New Musical Directions in the 20th Century There are four key people who shaped music culture in 20th Century China They are: Kang Youwei Xiao Youmei Zhao Yuanren and Jiang Qing • Why did the Communists during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) utilize Western musical practices such as orchestration, harmony, ballet, and scenic design, in spite of being anti-Western? The Rise of Popular Music Shanghai popular song of the 1920s used jazz and western orchestration Cantonese popular song is inspired by White rock of the 1950s Xibeifeng means literally “northwestern wind” Let’s not forget Cui Jian and Zhong Jinshu How could we say that minority music affected mainstream music in our country the way it did in China? Mongolian Music Mongolian music has some unique instruments and singing styles Key Concepts for the Unit The Written Language is Important to Chinese Music China has Highly Specific Musical Systems with Codification at Many Levels Music and Politics Have Long Been Interconnected Summary