MUSIC OF EAST ASIA
CONTENT STANDARDS
• The learner demonstrates
understanding of common and
distinct musical characteristics
of East Asian countries
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
• The learner performs East
Asian music with
appropriate pitch, rhythm,
expression and style
LEARNING TARGETS:
1 2 3
Identify the musical Identify the Identify, classify and
characteristics of East similarities and compare the
Asian countries musical instruments
(Japan, China, Korea) differences of the
music of East of Japan, China and
in relation to their
Korea
history and culture Asian countries
MUSIC OF EAST ASIA
What countries are
part of East Asia?
JAPAN SOUTH KOREA
CHINA
REVIEW
Elements of Music
What are the elements of
music?
CHARACTERISTICS
OF EAST ASIAN
MUSIC
East Asian Music Characteristics
Linearity Transparency Word
Orientation
Linearity
• which emphasizes the
melody. Harmonies are
very rare and when used at
all, aren’t part of the
tension or release of the
music.
Transparency
• which focuses on the
individual instruments.
• No matter how big the
orchestra is, each
instrument has an
individual role and is
meant to be heard
playing its melody
Word orientation
• which just means a
very low use of
abstraction in music.
Traditional Asian music
has a title or lyrics, and
that is exactly what the
piece is about.
East Asian Music Characteristics
A focus on melody and rhythm.
A use of instruments such as the zither and flute.
A use of pentatonic scales.
The Development
of Pentatonic
Tonal System of
East Asia
• According to Chinese
Mythology, Ling Lun (2697
BC) was the legendary
founder of music. During
the time of the Yellow
Emperor (Huangdi), Ling
Lun constructed bamboo
pipes so carefully tuned to
the sound of the birds. The
Yellow Emperor, reigning
from (2697-2596 BC), is
said to have ordered the
casting of bells in tune with
these flutes.
From this early
development, the
Chinese 5-tone musical
scale was established
(In Western Solfeggio
the notes were
equivalent to Do, Re,
Mi, So, and La, and
were called Gong,
Shang, Jiao, Zhi and Yu.
• “Correct” music
according to Zhou
concept would involve
instruments correlating
to the five elements of
nature and would bring
harmony to nature.
Around or before the 7th
century BC, a system of
pitch generation and
pentatonic scale was
derived from a cycle-of-
fifths theory.
• Wu-sheng – Chinese musical scale or
pentatonic scale.
• Pyongjo – one of the three modes of Korean
music which has five tones
• Ryo and Ritsu– basic pentatonic scale in
Gagaku music of Japan. Now called in-sen (soft
mode) and yo-sen (hard mode).
ASSESSMENT
Fill in the blanks to complete
the sentences.
1. The founder of music in Chinese mythology
was _ I _ G L _ N.
2. According to Zou concept, a system of pitch
generation and pentatonic scale was derived
from C Y _ L _ O F _ I F _ H T H E O R _.
3. Linearity emphasizes on _ _ L O _ Y.
4. One of three modes of Korean music which
has five tones is called P Y _ _ J _.
5. The five notes of the ancient Chinese five-
tone scale are gong, shang, jiao, zhi and Y _.
JAPAN
ACTIVITY
Music Analysis
QUESTIONS
1. What is the mood of the music?
2. How did you feel after listening to the music?
3. Which country did the music come from?
JAPANESE MUSIC
TRADITIONAL
INTRUMENTAL MUSIC
TRADITIONAL VOCAL
MUSIC
JAPANESE MUSIC
meditative in nature
highly ritualized and spiritual in character
focuses on value & spiritual self-mastery of music
Slow tempo
Usually about religious festivals, work, dance, love & regional songs
Two Basic Types of Scales
Yo-Sen – These are the male scale
used specifically In-Sen – female scale which contains
in folksongs and early popular songs. minor notes, is used specifically in
- described as ‘bright’ music for the koto and shamisen
sounding.
TYPE OF MUSIC
• Kagura - “God Music”, music of
Shinto
• Shomyo - classic Buddhist chanting
• Hogaku - authentic Japanese music
• Gagaku - oldest surviving Japanese
court music
• Naga-uta - “long song”, vocal, dance
and dramatic compositions
• Ko-uta - “small song”, such folk
songs (a cappella
SAKURA
• Sakura or Cherry Blossoms is a
traditional Japanese folksong depicting
spring, the season of cherry blossoms.
• The ‘Sakura’ melody has been popular
since the Meiji, and the lyrics in their
present form were attached then.
ASSESSMENT
Fill in the blanks to complete
the sentences.
1-3. East Asian music three major characteristics are
_________, _________, and _______________.
4. East Asian music uses ______________ scale.
5. Traditional Japanese music is primarily
_____________ in character.
6-7. The main tone of Japanese music has two modes:
______________ & ______________.
8. The Japanese music performances are usually about
________________, work, dance, love, and regional
songs.
9. _________ is a traditional Japanese folksong depicting
spring.
10. According to Chinese Mythology, ____________was
the legendary founder of music.
REFLECTION
1. I learned that
________________________.
2. I enjoyed most on
________________________.
3. I want to learn more on
________________________.
GROUP ACTIVITY
Sakura Song Performance
GROUP PRACTICE
GROUP ACTIVITY
Sakura Song Performance
JAPANESE MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
odaiko
▪ “big drum”
▪ Integral part of many Japanese festival
tsuzumi
▪ “hourglass shape”
▪ played by squeezing the laces
▪ Two types:
1. Kotsuzumi
➢ smaller
➢ Held on the right shoulder
2. Otsuzumi
➢ larger
➢ placed on the left thigh
tsuridaiko
▪ Large hanging barrel drum
taiko
▪ drum with various sizes
▪ central instrument of
percussion ensemble
koto
▪ 13 string zither
▪ made of 2 m long wood
▪ plucked using picks on
thumb and 1st two fingers
of right hand
▪ left hand – modify pitch &
tone
shamisen
▪ Plucked string instrument
▪ looks like a guitar but the neck is fretless and
slimmer than that of guitar
BIWA
▪ A Japanese short-necked
fretted lute, often used in
narrative storytelling. It is
the chosen instrument of
Benten, the goddess of
music, eloquence, poetry,
and education in Japanese
Shinto.
shakuhachi
▪ The most famous flute
made from bamboo. It has
4 or 5 finger holes on the
front face and a
thumbhole on the rear
face.
▪ It was imported from
China for gagaku.
hichiriki
▪ A double reed Japanese
flute (fue) used as one of
two main melodic
instruments in Japanese
gagaku music, the other
being the ryūteki.
sho
▪ is a Japanese free reed
musical instrument that
was introduced from
China during the Nara
period.
ryuteki
▪ “dragon flute”
▪ Transverse flute made of
bamboo
Nokan
• A parallel, bamboo flute
(fue) is the only melodic
instrument used in noh.
• The melody of the flute
has no specific pitch
relationship with the
melody of the chanting.
ASSESSMENT
Choose the letter of the
correct answer.
1. It is a 13-stringed zither which is about
two meters long and made of Paulownia
wood.
A. Biwa
B. Koto
C.Ryuteki
D. Shamisen
2. Which among the following Japanese
instruments is known as “dragon flute”?
A. Biwa
B. Koto
C.Ryuteki
D. Shamisen
3. It is the smaller type of tsuzumi which
is held on the right shoulder of the player.
A. Shamisen
B. Tsuridaiko
C. Otsuzumi
D. Kotsuzumi
4. It is the larger type of tsuzumi which is
placed on the left thigh of the player.
A. Koto
B. Tsuridaiko
C. Otsuzumi
D. Kotsuzumi
5. It is a large hanging barrel drum.
A. Shamisen
B. Tsuridaiko
C. Otsuzumi
D. Kotsuzumi
6. It is a plucked stringed instrument
which is like that of a guitar or a banjo.
A. Shamisen
B. Tsuridaiko
C. Otsuzumi
D. Kotsuzumi
7. What is the most famous flute made from
bamboo which has 4 or 5 finger holes on the
front face and a thumbhole on the rear face.
A. Koto
B. Otsuzumi
C. Nokan
D. Shakuhachi
8. Which of the following is the Japanese
short-necked fretted lute often used in
narrative storytelling?
A. Biwa
B. Nokan
C. Koto
D. Otsuzumi
9. Which of the following instruments is a
parallel bamboo flute usually used
in Noh?
A. Koto
B. Ryuteki
C. Nokan
D. Tsuridaiko
10. A Japanese drum that comes in
various sizes and has become the central
instrument of percussion ensemble.
A. Taiko
B. Ryuteki
C. Sho
D. Tsuridaiko
CHECKING
“Honesty is the best policy.”
1. It is a 13-stringed zither which is about
two meters long and made of Paulownia
wood.
A. Biwa
B. Koto
C. Ryuteki
D. Shamisen
2. Which among the following Japanese
instruments is known as “dragon flute”?
A. Biwa
B. Koto
C. Ryuteki
D. Shamisen
3. It is the smaller type of tsuzumi which
is held on the right shoulder of the player.
A. Shamisen
B. Tsuridaiko
C. Otsuzumi
D. Kotsuzumi
4. It is the larger type of tsuzumi which is
placed on the left thigh of the player.
A. Koto
B. Tsuridaiko
C. Otsuzumi
D. Kotsuzumi
5. It is a large hanging barrel drum.
A. Shamisen
B. Tsuridaiko
C. Otsuzumi
D. Kotsuzumi
6. It is a plucked stringed instrument
which is like that of a guitar or a banjo.
A. Shamisen
B. Tsuridaiko
C. Otsuzumi
D. Kotsuzumi
7. What is the most famous flute made from
bamboo which has 4 or 5 finger holes on the
front face and a thumbhole on the rear face.
A. Koto
B. Otsuzumi
C. Nokan
D. Shakuhachi
8. Which of the following is the Japanese
short-necked fretted lute often used in
narrative storytelling?
A. Biwa
B. Nokan
C. Koto
D. Otsuzumi
9. Which of the following instruments is a
parallel bamboo flute usually used
in Noh?
A. Koto
B. Ryuteki
C. Nokan
D. Tsuridaiko
10. A Japanese drum that comes in
various sizes and has become the central
instrument of percussion ensemble.
A. Taiko
B. Ryuteki
C. Sho
D. Tsuridaiko
ACTIVITY
Music Analysis
QUESTIONS
1. What is the mood of the music?
2. How did you feel after listening to the music?
3. Which country did the music come from?
CHINA
CHARACTERISTICS OF
CHINESE MUSIC
• Slow tempo and melodic
• Gentle and peaceful
• Usually high pitched (singer use falsetto voice)
• Usually performed by solo singer
CHINESE CULTURE & MUSIC
• The ultimate goal of Confucius's teachings
- to obtain ultimate righteousness
• sound influences the harmony of the
universe
CONFUCIUS
• music is not for entertainment, but for
optimizing social utility/ happiness
• Traditional Chinese music isn't meant to be danced or moved
to. That would tend to orient people toward bodily sensual
and sexual drives.
• As Confucius taught, beautiful and appropriate music is
meant to promote social tranquility.
• Most of the traditional music of the elites used the ancient
Chinese pentatonic scale.
• In accord with Confucius' idea of music being "smoothly
continuous”, traditional music generally doesn't have sharp
breaks in tempo. However, instead of a regular tempo
throughout, many pieces feature a regular but smoothly
accelerating tempo. The tempo slowly increases towards a
finale at the end.
• This connotes a river gaining speed as it cascades
downwards, and this is often the rhythmic feature of
traditional Chinese music.
CHINESE MUSIC
TRADITIONAL
INTRUMENTAL MUSIC
TRADITIONAL VOCAL
MUSIC
Three Kinds of Traditional Music
➢ Chinese opera music meant for
theatrical performances
➢ ensemble or orchestra music
for cultured audiences
➢ solo instrumental performance
• Famous folk song composed
during the Qing dynasty (AD
1616-1912) and was one of
the first Chinese songs to
Jasmine become popular abroad.
Flower • The song's tune entertains
(Mo Li three phrases and depicts
the purity of love between
Hua) young people by highlighting
the beauty of jasmine
flowers.
Mo Li Hua
ASSESSMENT
Choose the letter of the
correct answer.
1. Which of the following describes
Chinese music?
A. It is gentle and melodic/lyrical.
B. It is slow and melancholy.
C. It is meditative and highly ritualized.
D. It is slow in tempo and is very
peaceful.
2. What does the traditional Chinese
song Mo Li Hua all about?
A. It describes the beauty of China
B. It describes the positivity of the
Chinese
C. It describes a custom of giving Jasmine
flower
D. It describes the tradition of singing and
dancing of Chinese
3. Which of the following is a
traditional Chinese song with a
beautifully gentle and lyrical melody?
A. Arirang
B. Mo Li Hua
C. Rasa Sayang
D. Sakura
4. Traditional Chinese music isn't
meant to be ____________.
A. Sung
B. Performed
C. Danced
D. Voiced
5. According to _______, beautiful
and appropriate music is meant to
promote social tranquility.
A. Ling Lun
B. Lao Tzu
C. Confucius
D. Mao Zedong
GROUP ACTIVITY
Mo Li Hua Song Performance
GROUP PRACTICE
GROUP ACTIVITY
Mo Li Hua Song Performance
CHINESE MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
YUEQIN
▪ moon-shaped lute with 4 strings
pipa
▪ pear-shaped lute with 4 strings
and 30 frets
erhu
▪ fiddle with 2 strings
yunluo
▪ “cloud gongs”
▪ Set of 10 small, tuned
gongs in a wooden frame
▪ equal diameter but
different thickness
sheng
▪ “Chinese mouth organ”
▪ Set of panpipe with 12-36
bamboo pipes
▪ each pipe- different length
with brass reed at the
bottom and hole
▪ produces sound of several
notes simultaneously
dizi
▪ can produce a rattle effect by putting
membrane over an extra hole
▪ produces different notes
by stopping the 6 holes
found in the rod
zheng
▪ elongated trapezoid with
arched surface
▪ has 13- 21 strings
pengling
▪ 2 small bells made of high
tin bronze
▪ has no internal clappers
REVIEW
I. Identify, classify and describe the musical instruments
of China
Musical Hornbostel-Sachs Description
Instruments Classification
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. Who is the Chinese philosopher who had a
great influence on Chinese music and highlighted
the of role music in honing individuals into
becoming a righteous person ?
10. What are the characteristics of Chinese music
REFLECTION
1. I learned that
________________________.
2. I enjoyed most on
________________________.
3. I want to learn more on
________________________.
KOREA
Korean Music Characteristics
• Slow in tempo
• Uses bright rhythms and
melodies
KOREAN MUSIC
TRADITIONAL
INTRUMENTAL MUSIC
TRADITIONAL VOCAL
MUSIC
Two Categories of Korean Music
Sog-Ak/
Chong-Ak
Minsogak
Chong-Ak
➢ means literally "right (or correct)
music", and its tradition includes
both instrumental and vocal music,
which were cultivated mainly by
the upper-class literati of the
Joseon society.
➢ also refers to ensemble music for
men of high social status outside of
the court.
Sog-Ak/ Minsogak
➢ a category of Korean music traditionally
associated with the lower classes or for the
general public and are vibrant and energetic.
➢ It includes genres such as pansori and minyo.
➢ Pansori is a kind of music presented to
audiences by skilled vocal singers and
drummers. But even the unskilled could sing
these songs. They sang when they worked in the
rice paddy or fields, sang when they went off
their lover and sang when their life was troubled
and weighing them down.
➢ Minyo, the most renowned genre of Korean folk
music, reflects the heart of the common people
through their words of heartbreak, struggle and
despair.
➢ a Korean folk song, sometimes
considered the unofficial national
anthem of Korea.
➢ It is used as a symbol of Korean
culture.
➢ Arirang is in essence a song of
farewell.
➢ The origin of the word “Arirang” is
“the hill”.
➢ With Korea’s land being
Arirang mountainous, there are also many
foothills throughout the country.
➢ Most Koreans had partings on a
number of such hills. An emotion of
deep regrets is imbued in the rhythm
of Arirang. The songs evokes the
feeling of the tears shed by Koreans
and the remembrance of their sad
stories.
GROUP PRACTICE
GROUP ACTIVITY
Arirang Song
Performance
KOREAN MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
Kayagum (gayageum)
▪ Zither-like string instrument
with 12 strings ( 21 or more
strings)
haegum
▪ Two string vertical fiddle
▪ Has rod-like neck,
▪ Hollow wooden sound box,
▪ 2 silk strings,
▪ Held vertically on the
knee of performer and
played with bow
changgo
▪ Most widely used drum
▪ Hourglass-shaped body with
2 heads made from animal
skin
geomungo
▪ a six-string plucked zither and a traditional
Korean stringed musical instrument.
piri
▪ made of bamboo with a
large reed and cylindrical
bore which gives a sound
mellower than that of many
other types of an oboe
▪ used in both the folk and
classical (court) music of
Korea
ASSESSMENT
Choose the letter of the
correct answer.
1. What is a traditional Korean zither-
like string instrument, with 12
strings? Furthermore, the best-
known Korean musical instrument.
A. Geomungo
B. Piri
C. Kayagum
2. Which of the following wind
instrument that is made of bamboo
and used in both the folk and classical
(court) music of Korea.
A. Haegum
B. Piri
C. Changgo
3. What is the name of instrument with
a two-string vertical fiddle that has a
rod-like neck, a hollow wooden
soundbox, with two silk strings?
A. Haegum
B. Geomungo
C. Piri
4. Which of the following instruments
with a description of six-string plucker
zither and known as one of the
traditional Korean stringed musical
instrument of the zither family.
A. Kayageum
B. Haegum
C. Geomungo
5. What is the most widely used drum
in the traditional music of Korea?
A. Changgo
B. Kayagum
C. Haegum
SUMMATIVE
ASSESSEMENT
East Asian Music
A. Fill in the missing word/s.
1. The song Arirang is an example of Korean F _ L _ _ O N _.
2. The founder of music in Chinese mythology was _ I _ G L _ N.
3. Cherry Blossoms is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting
S P _ _ N _.
4. According to Zou concept, a system of pitch generation and pentatonic
scale was derived from C Y _ L _ O F _ I F _ H T H E O R _.
5. Linearity emphasizes on _ _ L O _ Y.
6. One of three modes of Korean music which has five tones is called
P Y _ _ J _.
7. The five notes of the ancient Chinese five-tone scale are gong, shang,
jiao, zhi and Y_.
8. Korean music for the common or ordinary people is called
S _ _ - A _.
9. The oldest surviving Japanese court music is called _ A _ A K _.
10. _ O L _ H _ A is a traditional Chinese song with a beautifully gentle
and lyrical melody.
B. Complete the table.
Musical Instrument Classification Country of Origin Description
Yueqin China
Shakuhachi Aerophone
2 small bells made
China
of high tin bronze
Haegum Korea
Large hanging
Membranophone
barrel drum
CHECKING
“Honest hearts produce
honest actions.”
B. Complete the table.
Musical Instrument Classification Country of Origin Description
Moon-shaped lute
Yueqin Chordophone China with 4 strings
most famous flute made
Shakuhachi Aerophone Japan from bamboo with 4 or
5 finger holes
Pengling Idiophone 2 small bells made
China
of high tin bronze
Haegum Korea Two string vertical
Chordophone
fiddle
Tsuridaiko Large hanging
Membranophone Japan
barrel drum
