Cultural China

Some Chinese Musical Instruments

Some Chinese Musical Instruments (click image for music sample)

• Gu-qin (literally “Ancient Musical Instrument”). A seven string plucked Chinese musical instrument of zither family.
  

  Chinese Musical Instrument: Gu Qin (click image for a sample music)

• Gu-zheng. Traditional Chinese musical instrument typically with 21 strings.
  

  Chinese Musical Instrument: Gu Zheng (click image for sample music)

• Er-Hu. A two-string bowed Chinese musical instrument, known in the West as the “Chinese violin” or “Chinese two-string fiddle”.
  

  Chinese Musical Instrument: Er Hu (click image for a sample music)

• Pi Pa. A plucked Chinese musical instrument with four strings. Sometimes called the Chinese lute. It has a pear-shaped wooden body.
  

  Chinese Musical Instrument: Pi Pa (click image for sample music)

• Di Zi, or Bamboo Flute, is a Chinese traverse flute. Normally made of bamboo. There is also Dizi made of jade.
  

  Chinese Musical Instrument: Di Zi (click image for a sample music)

• Xiao.  A Chinese vertical end-blown flute. Normally made of bamboo.
  

  Chinese Musical Instrument: Xiao (click image for sample music)

• Yang Qin.  A center piece in a Chinese musical band.


Chinese Musical Instrument: Yang Qin

The widely agreed 10 classics in Chinese music, representative of the Chinese music in the early days (from 2000+ years ago to 100’s years ago) . Most of the music were composed for and played  with the traditional Chinese musical instruments (see another article in this blog).

1. Gao Shan Liu Shui (”high mountain, flowing water”). Legend says that this work was by BoYa, a musician during the early Qin dynasty (around 333 BCE). The music was known for its sophistication so not many people could truly understand or appreciate it at his time. A woodsman named Zhong ZiQi heard BoYa playing this work and recognized that the music was describing high mountains, flowing waters.  Subsequently BoYa took ZiQi as close friend who truly understands music. After ZiQi’s death, BoYa felt that he lost a true understanding friend and never played the music again.
2. Guang Ling San (”A Tune from GuangLin”). This work was believed to be from the Han and Wei era.
3. Ping Sha Luo Yan (”Wild Geese landing on sandy ground”). It is believed that the music was composed between the Tang and Ming dynasty. It was first recorded in a music book in 1634.
4. Mei Hua San Nong(”Plum Blossom”).
5. Shi Mian Mai Fu (”Ambushes from ten sides”). This work was the story of XiangYu, a legendary hero, ambushed by his enemy Liu Bang. XiangYu’s army fought to the last and could not break out. Refusing to surrender, XiangYu killed himself after killing his concubine. As a widely known tragedy story, director Zhang Yimou even borrowed this story as the title for his 1993 awarding-winning movie: farewell to my concubine.
6. Xi Yang Xiao Gu (”Flute and drum with sunset”). A piece of music describing the beautiful scenery in Southeast China (JiangSu, ShangHai area)
7. Yu Qiao Wen Da (Dialog between a fisherman and a woodsman). A romantic piece of work that paints the beautiful picture of mountains and rivers,  through dialogs between a fisherman and a woodsman.
8. Hu Jia Shi Ba Pai (”Episods with HuJia”). HuJia is a rare type of musical instrument. This work was allegedly from Cai Wenji, daughter of a famous linguist and musician. During a war between XiongNu and the Han empire, Cai WenJi was captured by XiongNu (Ancesters of the Hungarian) and abducted to the remote Northwest region (present day Mongol region), where she spent many unhappy years. When she was finally brought back home, she wrote a long poetry to describe all the suffering she went through, which was composed to music. The music is very sad and touching.
9. Han Gong Qiu Yue (Autumn moon in the Han palace). This work, with author unknown, describes the sad, depressing, prison-like life of the many concubines of the emperor that lived in the Han Palace.
10. Yang Chun Bai Xue (White Snow in Bright Spring). A PiPa music describes the lively scenery of early spring.

Download all the above from HERE.
Enjoy!

Spring Festival to Chinese people is as important (if not more important) as Christmas to Western people. The theme of the festival is mainly family reunion, foods, fireworks, and of course some music.

Chinese festival music is typically very joyful (and noisy:-), which is consistent with what most Chinese people expect for a festival: Re4 Nao4 (lively, with noise and excitement). Below are some samples for you to get a flavor.

• Chun Jie Xu Qu (Overture of Spring Festival). You will hear this piece of music played again and again, especially on television during the spring festival.
• Xin Chun Le (Happy New Spring). Another popular work dedicated to Spring Festival.
• Gong Xi Fan Cai (Wish You Prosperity). Music for Festival Greeting that is popular in HongKong and also in Guangdong area.
  Also try these: Gong Xi Gong Xi, and Ying Chun Jie Fu
• Bu Bu Gao (Step by Step Higher), Xi Yang Yang (Happy and Joyful), and Cai Yun Zhui Yue (Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon). These are some samples of Guangdong music, which is an important component of Chinese folk music.
• Bai Niao Chao Feng (A Hundred Bird Paying Respect to Phoenix). A very popular festival music, typically played in traditional Chinese weddings.
• Hua Gu. A piano work adapted from a popular folk song of An Hui province.
• Liang Xiao (An Enjoyable Night). This gives you a flavor of the traditional Chinese folk music.
• Mu DI (flute) and Mu Tong Duan Di. Another example of Chinese music
• Si Xiang Qu (homesick). A piano work by Ma Sicong (1912—1987), a Guangdong born popular pianist, and composer.
• Liang Zhu (The Butterfly Love Story). A violin concerto that is probably the most widely played Chinese music. Based on a popular love story.
• Gao Shan Liu Shui (High Mountain and Flowing Water).  With a history of more than 2000 years, this music is a true representative of ancient Chinese music.
• Yuan Fang de Ke Ren (Please stop by, Guest from afar). Music based on a Yuan Nan folk song.
• Finally, if you have the courage, try this: an eight minute long recording of fireworks. Fireworks is banned in all major cities, so playing this recording on your stereo with full volume is an alternative to real fireworks.

Download all the above from this link.

Enjoy!

Steve