MAPEH 8

1. CHINA
For several thousand years Chinese culture was
dominated by the teachings of the philosopher Confucius.
He conceived music in the highest sense as a means of
calming the passion and of dispelling unrest and lust,
rather than as a form of amusement.

2. Traditionally, the Chinese believed that sound
influences the harmony of the universe. Significantly, one of
the most important duties of the first emperor of each new
dynasty was to search out and establish that dynasty’s
through standard of pitch. A result of this philosophical
orientation was that the Chinese theoretically opposed
music performed solely for entertainment.

3. CHINESE
MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS

4. 1. YUEQIN
– A moon-shaped lute with shorter neck and four
strings, played with a spectrum, used for
accompanying local operas.

5. 2. Pipa
– A four-stringed lute with 30 frets and a pear-
shaped body. This instrument has an extremely
wide dynamic range and remarkable expressive
power.

6. 3. Erhu
– A two-stringed fiddle and one of the most
popular Chinese instruments. It is used as a solo
instrument as well as in small ensembles or large
orchestra, and by various ethnic groups.

7. 4. Yunluo
– Literally “cloud gongs” or “cloud of gongs”,
the yunluo is a set of ten small tuned gongs
mounted frame. The yunluo’s gongs are
generally of equal diameter but different
thickness . The thicker gongs produce a
higher pitch.

8. 5. SHENG
– Also called as Chinese mouth organ and looks like a set
of panpipes with 12 to 36 bamboo pipes. Each pipe is of
different length with a brass reed at the bottom and a
hole that must be blocked in order for the note to sound.
This makes it possible to sound several notes
simultaneously, so chords and melody can be performed
at the same time. Sheng is one of the oldest Chinese
musical instruments.

9. 6. DIZI
– Is the traditional Chinese flute. It can have a
membrane over an extra hole to give the
characteristic rattle effect. The player plays the
dizi by blowing across the mouthpiece and
produces the different notes by stopping the six
holes found in the rod.

10. 7. ZHENG
– An ancient Chinese instrument that has an
arched surface and an elongated-trapezoid
with 13 to 21 strings stretched over
individual bridges. Its playing range spans
three to four octaves.

11. 8. PENGLING
– These are two small bells made of high-tin
bronze, without internal clappers, and
hemispheric or bottomless gourd-like shape. The
instrument has a delicate, clarion and melodious
tone. It is a coloring rhythmic instrument, either
in ensembles or in theater music, bringing an
effect of peaceful dreams.