Introduction:
Chinese traditional music has a different tonality to most western music. There is no octave, but instead five notes - a pentatonic scale. In Chinese folk music, notes do not move up and down a scale; each tonic has four surrounding notes. These notes not only are of musical importance but philosophical importance as well. Confucius the great Chinese philosopher as well as a talented musician, influenced traditional Chinese music for thousands of years. Music was to be simple, peaceful, and suit the conduct of the ceremony it was being played in. Confucius believed music should “have a “magnificent beginning,” be “harmonic” and “clear,” have an easy structure, and be “smoothly continuous.”” Chinese philosophy states that all energy in the universe is connected to sound, and this idea of nature, purity, and energy is reflected in the way their music sounds. In Chinese traditional music instruments such as the dizi (a bamboo flute), erhu, guqin, are commonly used.
("Traditional Chinese Music.")
The Tang Dynasty was during 618AD to 907AD. It was a prosperous period in Chinese history. The music of the time was played for entertainment and banquets. ("Tang Dynasty.") It was during the Tang Dynasty that song, dance and instruments such as the flute became popular in China. Interestingly, I have found that some songs of the Tang dynasty stray from the 5 note pentatonic scale to include one or two additional notes.
("Xi'an Tang Dynasty : About Us.")
("Traditional Chinese Music.")
The Tang Dynasty was during 618AD to 907AD. It was a prosperous period in Chinese history. The music of the time was played for entertainment and banquets. ("Tang Dynasty.") It was during the Tang Dynasty that song, dance and instruments such as the flute became popular in China. Interestingly, I have found that some songs of the Tang dynasty stray from the 5 note pentatonic scale to include one or two additional notes.
("Xi'an Tang Dynasty : About Us.")
Musical Analysis:
Extract 1 - "The Tang Dynasty Show in Xi'an"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgXq2hOnwuw (Please click URL if embedded video does not work)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgXq2hOnwuw (Please click URL if embedded video does not work)
This extract is of Tang Dynasty music played at a historical show in Xi'an, China. It depicts how music was sounded and looked when played in the time of the Tang Dynasty.
This piece uses traditional instruments such as the flute, the pipa (a type of plucked instrument similar to a lute or mandolin), the guzheng, erhu, did, drum and cymbals. A pentatonic scale is used, as common in Chinese music, however, interestingly, like in Sharon Shannon's "The Diamond Mountain", an additional note was used in the scale of the song, shown below:
This piece uses traditional instruments such as the flute, the pipa (a type of plucked instrument similar to a lute or mandolin), the guzheng, erhu, did, drum and cymbals. A pentatonic scale is used, as common in Chinese music, however, interestingly, like in Sharon Shannon's "The Diamond Mountain", an additional note was used in the scale of the song, shown below:
The first melody played is a short antecedent phrase followed by a similarly structured consequent phrase. The antecedent phrase can be looked at as a theme that repeats twice, before then progressing. Due to the small range of notes used, the other melodic lines within this song all sound similar to the first phrase.
The beginning melody split into a question and answer:
The beginning melody split into a question and answer:
There is musical dialogue between instruments at 1:19, and the instruments also play in unison in an octave harmony at times during the extract, for example at 0:46 this melody is played in tutti.
Extract 2 - "Tang Dynasty Dance"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6SPSRAVU2A (Please click URL if embedded video does not work)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6SPSRAVU2A (Please click URL if embedded video does not work)
This extract makes use of more interesting Chinese instruments such as the harp, the reed pipe and bianzhong (the hanging bells that can be seen on the sides of the stage). A prominent repeating theme/melody begins the piece and is later overlapped by different melodies to create a polyphonic texture. The pipa uses trills, a type of ornamentation in its playing style, e.g. 0:00-0:15. The scale of this extract is pentatonic also with the exception of one note:
The repeating theme is like a ground bass, and also a riff while the melody played by the flute is formed with antecedent and consequent phrases.
The instruments play in unison, and also the bells contribute the high part to an octave harmony. Rhythmic ostinato is created by a bass drum and a temple block (tapping sound):
There is also an exchange of musical dialogue between the pipes and bells at 0:30. All the features of the extract and their respective locations are summarized in the table below:
Summary:
All the features of the extract and their respective locations are summarized in the table below: The elements that make up Chinese music from the Tang Dynasty consist of: using a pentatonic scale (altered), octave harmonies between instruments, musical dialogue, musical unison, ornamentation in the form of grace notes and trills, use of a repeating theme, and both melodic and rhythmic ostinato.
Sources:
"Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show." China Spring Tour. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.chinaspringtour.com/guide/foodentertainment/880.htm>.
"Traditional Chinese Music." ChinaHighlights. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/traditional-music.htm>.
"Xi'an Tang Dynasty : About Us." Xi'an Tang Dynasty. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.xiantangdynasty.com/Column.aspx?ColId=37>.
"Tang Dynasty." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_dynasty>.
"Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show." China Spring Tour. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.chinaspringtour.com/guide/foodentertainment/880.htm>.
"Traditional Chinese Music." ChinaHighlights. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/traditional-music.htm>.
"Xi'an Tang Dynasty : About Us." Xi'an Tang Dynasty. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.xiantangdynasty.com/Column.aspx?ColId=37>.
"Tang Dynasty." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_dynasty>.