Both music and art are very traditional features of the Chinese culture. I have chosen to concentrate on Chinese music only.
Music in China dates back to the very beginning of Chinese civilisation, to at least 1000BC. During the earliest Chinese Dynasties, only the royal family and officials enjoyed music, which was made on chimes and bells. Later with the introduction of foreign religions such as Buddhism and Islam, dancing and singing started to become enjoyed by common people.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), another very important type of music developed in China. This was the art of traditional opera and it developed quickly and differently across the regions of China. When performers brought together the different styles of opera, they developed the most popular form of Chinese opera, the Beijing Opera. This has been called one of three cornerstones or foundations of Chinese culture. Beijing Opera involves music, performance, literature and face painting. It is still very popular today.
Besides Opera, Chinese peasants over the years have composed folk songs, which often described working and daily life such as fishing, farming, and herding.
In China, musical instruments are grouped according to the material that they are made from. There are eight groups of instruments: these are bamboo, wooden silk, earthen, metal, stone, leather and gourd. Some of the most popular Chinese instruments are different types of bamboo flutes which can be in a cluster of 16 – 20 pipes bound together in a row, and many types of string instruments, such as the zither and the pipa lute. Chinese string instruments are different to string instruments from the West because their strings are made from silk. The most popular bowed string instrument is the Erhu, which is like a fiddle, but has only two strings.
In China, some instruments are used mainly during one season of the year. For example, bamboo flutes are used mainly at the beginning of Spring, string instruments are used in Summer, bronze bells are most popular in Autumn, and drums are played mainly in Winter.
A major influence on the development of Chinese music has been the communist party. Because TV, the media and all major concert halls in China are owned by the Communist party, music is very much controlled by the state. This has meant that certain types of more modern music, such as rock, have not had a chance to become very popular in China.
Music in China dates back to the very beginning of Chinese civilisation, to at least 1000BC. During the earliest Chinese Dynasties, only the royal family and officials enjoyed music, which was made on chimes and bells. Later with the introduction of foreign religions such as Buddhism and Islam, dancing and singing started to become enjoyed by common people.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), another very important type of music developed in China. This was the art of traditional opera and it developed quickly and differently across the regions of China. When performers brought together the different styles of opera, they developed the most popular form of Chinese opera, the Beijing Opera. This has been called one of three cornerstones or foundations of Chinese culture. Beijing Opera involves music, performance, literature and face painting. It is still very popular today.
Besides Opera, Chinese peasants over the years have composed folk songs, which often described working and daily life such as fishing, farming, and herding.
In China, musical instruments are grouped according to the material that they are made from. There are eight groups of instruments: these are bamboo, wooden silk, earthen, metal, stone, leather and gourd. Some of the most popular Chinese instruments are different types of bamboo flutes which can be in a cluster of 16 – 20 pipes bound together in a row, and many types of string instruments, such as the zither and the pipa lute. Chinese string instruments are different to string instruments from the West because their strings are made from silk. The most popular bowed string instrument is the Erhu, which is like a fiddle, but has only two strings.
In China, some instruments are used mainly during one season of the year. For example, bamboo flutes are used mainly at the beginning of Spring, string instruments are used in Summer, bronze bells are most popular in Autumn, and drums are played mainly in Winter.
A major influence on the development of Chinese music has been the communist party. Because TV, the media and all major concert halls in China are owned by the Communist party, music is very much controlled by the state. This has meant that certain types of more modern music, such as rock, have not had a chance to become very popular in China.
Pictures from the Chinese Opera.
Some traditional Chinese instruments:
Erhu Pipa lute Pan flute Zither Guzheng
Erhu Pipa lute Pan flute Zither Guzheng
Nice post!!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing.........
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