China

Question 1

List four Chinese ensembles.

Answer 1

Bell & Stone Chimes ensemble, Silk & Bamboo ensemble, Beijing Opera ensemble, modern ‘traditional’ orchestra

Question 2

Daoism view of music

Answer 2

• Music is a natural phenomenon
• Represents unity of man and nature
• Self-cultivation; music enhances spirituality
• maximum efficiency in greatest simplicity
• No distinction b/w artistic sound and ordinary sound (sound of nature)

Question 3

Confucianism

Answer 3

• Utilitarian view: music promotes social harmony and institutional order
• Social control: harmonic relationship in smaller social settings model that of larger settings
• Music is good to cultivate people
• If people follow music rules (play in tune, etc.), society will survive and prosper

Question 4

What are the 8 classifications of Chinese instruments?

Answer 4

-Metal
-Stone
-Silk
-Bamboo
-Gourd
-Earth
-Leather
-Wood
(Matrices Shoot Saxophones Because Girls Eat Lovesick Whiskers)

Question 5

Contrast elegant and banquet music

Answer 5

Elegant - refined, ritual, ceremonial, religious

Banquet - entertainment, secular

Question 6

Connection b/w state and music in China

Answer 6

Artists were tasked with inspiring social change by providing positive images of new society (socialism) and providing negative images of the past. Idea taken from Soviet Union by Mao Zedong.

Question 7

List Western and Central Asian influences on Chinese music.

Answer 7

• Buddhism from India
• Erhu, pipa, and harp introduced by Central Asia
• Western-style theaters
• Western instruments
• Western minor key and compound time signatures
• Nationalistic music incorporating western elements with local traditions
• Banquet music from Central Asia/India

Question 8

Skills used in Beijing Opera

Answer 8

Singing, recitation, dancing/acrobatics, combat

Question 9

Han dynasty

Answer 9

• Control over ceremonial music
• Collecting folk songs and music
• Sent ambassadors to Western region through silk road
• Central Asian instruments introduced (pipa, harp)
• Buddhism from India

Question 10

Tang dynasty

Answer 10

• Academy of performing arts
• Banquet music becomes more important than elegant music
• Influences on other East Asian countries - Korea, Japan
• More stringed instruments than bell/stone chimes

Question 11

Qing dynasty

Answer 11

• Folk music
• Ballade singing/story telling
• Music and poetry
• Music theater/opera
• San Xian (middle east), erhu (prohibited during part of Qing dynasty), yangqin (hammered dulcimer)

Question 12

Erhu

Answer 12

2-string fiddle

Question 13

Pipa

Answer 13

lute

Question 14

Sanxian

Answer 14

3-string long neck lute

Question 15

Yangqin

Answer 15

hammered dulcimer

Question 16

Guqin

Answer 16

7-string zither

Question 17

Sheng

Answer 17

mouthorgan

Question 18

Guzheng

Answer 18

25-string zither

Question 19

Performance contexts of Beijing opera

Answer 19

Urban theaters, teahouses, aristocratic residences, village fairs, temples, birthdays, funerals, agricultural rites, religious festivities, clan anniversaries, etc.

Question 20

4 roles of Beijing opera

Answer 20

Man, woman, painted face, clown