Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Group Name: Chinese Music Group Group members: Vicky Lee #19, Jiang Hong Huang#14, Miao Na Tan#36,Guo Hao Liang#21, Yi Xiong Cai#2, Jia Lin Kong# 17 Chinese Traditional Instruments and Music Traditional Chinese musical instruments can be divided into four categories: stringed instruments, percussion instruments, plucked instruments, and wind instruments. Ancient Chinese have left a wealth of musical instruments and classic tunes. Erhu, Guzheng, Guqin, Xiao, Pipa, and other traditional Chinese music instruments may alter your acquired definition of "music". The great works that have been playing for hundreds or thousands of years may also echo in you. Coming next, we will introduce four Chinese traditional musical instruments. Pipa (琵琶): Pipa, a four-string lute in pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12–26, is an instrument that witnesses the cultural communication. The instrument was introduced from Central Asia around 2,000 years ago, and became very popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when the society embraced exotic art forms fervently. Through ages, the instrument has become an indispensable part of traditional Chinese music. The Pipa tunes have very diverse styles, and are traditionally classified as either Wen Qu (civil and mild tone) or Wu Qu (martial and fierce tone). Xiao (箫): Xiao is a traditional Chinese wind instrument made of bamboo. Its earliest appearance can be traced back to the Qiang nationality (one of the Chinese minorities of China's Mid-West) in the 1st century. It became popular nationwide around 600 A.D. usually played as a solo instrument; it is sometimes also played with other instruments. An ordinary Xiao has six tone-holes. The tone of the Xiao is extremely beautiful, suitable for expressing a peaceful or melancholy mood. Xiao in ancient times also included the side-blown bamboo flute, Dizi. Dizi is a major Chinese musical instrument, and is widely used in many genres of Chinese folk music, as well as Chinese opera, and the modern Chinese orchestra. Guzheng(古筝): It is a Chinese plucked zither typically with 21-25 strings. Guzheng is build with a special wooden sound body with strings arched across movable bridges along the length of the instrument for the purpose of tuning. Guzheng can in principle be tuned to any desired scales. Traditionally, pentatonic scale is used. Full scale can also be obtained by skillfully applying press on certain strings from the other side of the bridge with the left hand. The Guzheng playing appears (and sounds) like playing harp or piano. It can create sounds that can evoke the sense of a cascading waterfall, thunder, horses' hooves, and even the scenic countryside. Erhu (二胡): Erhu is a kind of violin (fiddle) with two strings, known in the West as the “Chinese violin” or “Chinese two-string fiddle”. The strings are usually made of silk, nylon or metal. The player creates different pitches by touching the strings at various positions along the neck of the instrument. The Erhu sounds similar to human voice, and can imitate many natural sounds such as birds and horse. It is a very expressive instrument, most well-known for playing melancholic tune, but also capable of play merry melody. The Erhu plays the same role as the violin in the Western orchestras. There are some masterpieces of Chinese traditional music below. Each piece of the music has a story in it, and thus forming a specific aesthetic and spiritual enjoyment. Spring Moonlight on the Flowers by the River (春江花月夜): It is one of the most famous Chinese traditional music works. It had been popular among ordinary people before the year 1875, and has become one of the masterpieces in the treasury of Chinese classical music. The intro has a background of musical harmony, and then a Pipa is plunked faster and faster, giving out drumbeat-like notes. The technique, often used in folk music, of phrases repeated over and over, and seemingly chasing one another, gives a vivid impression of ripples on water. The understated melody, the fluid rhythmical meter, the ingenious subtlety, painted a quiet scene of a river on a moonlit night in spring. Laughing over the blue sea (沧海一声笑): It is a classic fantasy martial arts movie theme song which was composed and wrote the lyrics by Wong Jim. The movie, The Swordman, directed by Tsui Hark in 1990s, adapted to a fantasy martial arts novel, The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (笑傲江湖) which was written by Jin Yong in 1967 during the time of the Cultural Revolution of China. The Smiling, Proud Wanderer means to live a carefree life in a mundane world of strife. An alternative English title is State of Divinity. It was intentionally written as a reflection of politicians. The characters were representative of actual politicians who lived during that time. The music is played combining traditional Chinese instruments, Pipa, Dizi and Guzheng. It conveys a theme not only about having power and strength to smile and looking down troubles, but also an attitude, keeping a positive mind and letting go lots of trouble things. It is somewhat like the song “Let It Be”. "High Mountains and Flowing Water" (高山流水): This melody is a masterpiece of Guzheng works. One of ten best ancient Chinese music pieces was composed by Boya (伯牙) before 221 BC. There is a legendary friendship between Boya and Ziqi. Whatever Boya tried to convey in his music, Ziqi would never fail to understand. Boya said, “Amazing! Your heart and mines are the same!'” When Ziqi died, Boya broke the strings and vowed never to play again. Thus, there was the melody of High Mountains Flowing Water. It represents cherished friendship in Chinese culture. It also conveys the same idea, the magnificence of high mountains and the power of moving water. From that time on, people call their best friend as “知音 (Zhi Yin)” which means the person who understands their music in China. Best Erhu Masterpiece Ever – Er Quan Ying Yue (二泉映月): Er Quan Ying Yue means "second spring reflecting the moon." This piece of music is full of heart-breaking soreness. It was written by Hua Yanjun (known as Ahbing), a blind artist in 1930s. He had a very complicated life and suffered from poverty, disease and repression from corrupted authorities in the old China. You will be touched by the sadness beauty of music, the legendary life of Ah-Bing, his spirit of integrity, honesty, and his talent. It is perhaps the most famous Erhu tune.