Asian MusicWhat is it?

What instruments are used in it?

Asian Music

Where is Japan?

Japan•Koto- a string instrument with 13 strings and 13 bridges; played with finger picks

•Finger picks are placed on thumb, index finger and middle finger

•National instrument of Japan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75uAD-XYs6U

Japan• Taiko Drums – Taiko means drum in

Japanese• Drums are typically made of wood

and played with sticks• They are typically very large

instruments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n-6KC2RdGQ

Where is China?

China• Qin or Guqin – stringed

instrument that is plucked• Soft Dynamic instrument• Range of about four octaves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2Zf_RrEqx4

China

• Dizi – instrument made out of bamboo or wood

• Played like a flute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxsOks4V35w

China• In America, we have four instrument

families (brass, woodwind, percussion and string).

• In China, they have three instrument families (woodwind, percussion and string).

• *String family is MOST IMPORTANT!!!• In America, we have a conductor

typically.• In China, there is usually NO conductor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4VEuTM_gBI&feature=related

Where is Indonesia?

Indonesia

• Gamelan Ensemble – from Indonesia that uses percussion instruments

• The word ‘gamelan’ comes from the word ‘GAMELS’ which means to hammer.

• Metallophones, Xylophones, Drums and Gongs are used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55_ngjs8prU

Pentatonic Scale

• Pentatonic Scale- scale commonly used in Asian music

• Built on five notes (Do, Re, Mi, Sol and La)

• Penta = five Tonic = Notes

Why does Asian music sound different?

• Government - Communism • Government control of the spread of

Western ideas (including music) into Asian culture kept Asian music from developing and modernizing.

• Government isolated/shielded Asian culture from the influence of Western cultures/arts.

• Instruments and techniques did not develop like in the Western cultures. Instruments used today are the same as instruments used in ancient Asia.

• Today, China is more open (still Communist), and Japan is democratic; therefore, some more modern ideas/techniques are coming into Asian culture.