A Musicultural History Of The Chinese Guzheng Flashcards
China’s appropriation of minority traditions..
Is for the sake of projecting a desired image of multicultural diversity and national unity which is often resented by the minority populations. This issue figures significantly in the discussion of some of the musics discussed in this chapter.
What makes up China?
92% Han, and 8% the 55 recognized minority groups like Uighur and Tibetans
Music was important in China because
Music was regarded as an important component of political life. Rulers recognized, respected and exploited what they perceived as music’s special capacity to reflect, influence, and model an idealized Chinese social order. The history of imperial music ministries and other official music institutions such as conservatories covers a span of more than 3000 years.
The three principal periods of the People’s Republic of China:
-the initial communist era of Mao’s regime from 1949-1965z which saw profound reformation of Chinese society and culture under communist rule
-the Cultural Revolution(1966-1976) witnessed unprecedented levels if intolerance of deviation from state ideology and a concomitant(meaning naturally associated or accompanying)
toward extreme restrictions on cultural and artistic expression, both for Han and minority pops
-the Period of Openness-began to take shape after Mao’s death in 1976 and fully crystallized around 1980 under rule of Deng Xiaoping. Deng brought major economic reforms with intro to free enterprise, increases involvement in China in global economic and cultural markets which loosened existing constraints in a variety of spheres(social, artistic, cultural, civil) even though there were problems and costs.
Guzheng
A board zither chordophone. It is historically related to the Japanese koto (CD 2-1).
What is the difference between bugaku and kangen?
Bugaku are pieces that are made to accompany dance performances(they can be called dance compositions)
While the kangen are pieces of togaku music which are not written to be accompanied by dancing; it is designed for musical performance alone
What consists of a togaku ensemble?
Two koto(/guzheng instruments) players and two biwa(pipa) players
Other togaku instruments include: cariety of traditional drums and aerophones
Aerophone features the mouth organ called the “sho”(think of 山. It is related to the sheng.
Chordophones tend to not be used with dance.
The drums and aerophones are used in dance compositions and non damce compositions.
The shakuhachi
A long end-blown flute made of thick, strong bamboo
The word shakuhachi comes from a traditional measurement of length: the original flutes measured one shaku and hachi (eight) sun. It is roughly 54.5cm. It is possible to make the shakuhachi sing like a human voice. Goal is to make shakuhachi sing.
Koto
A Japanese instrument derived from the Chinese guzheng during the first few years of the Nara period (710-784).
Gagaku
Means “elegant music in Japanese”. It is a reference to its refined aestheic and courtly repertoires of the gagaku.
There are two main repertoires: togaku and komagaku.
Togaku(means “music from Tang dynasty China): this repertoire descends from China
-in togaku, the koto is used in kangen pieces but not bugaku pieces
Tang dynasty era represented golden age, both in terms of political power and cultural development
Tang dynasty was not preserved in a continuous living tradition in China, but it was in china through Togaku
Komagaku:descends from Korea
Komagaku is easy to distinguish between china and kora: china wears red for komagaku while korea wears green.
The oldest piece of gagaku were played to accompany bugaku(dance performances)
Pieces designed for musical performances alone were called “kangen”
The Han dynasty era
Next section are questions about the Han dynasty and the guzheng
During the Han dynasty
Confucianism was established as the foundation of Chinese social order(202BCE-220 CE).
Who played the guzheng during the Han Dynasty(202 BCE-220 CE)?
Court musicans, females, slaves and common folk. Favoured by diverse social classes-courtesans, poets, soldiers and servants
The solo gu zheng may have developed with Confucian practices of using music for purposes of self cultivation.
What was the ideal Confucian and social political philosophy?
Disciplined self-cultivation and self-refinement at the individual level which were seen as key development and maintenance of a morally virtuous social order on larger scale of society
Deng Haiqiong
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