The Task
1. What is the philosophy behind Chinese music? How is it related tothe seasons?
2. How is music used in Chinese culture?
3. What kind of musical scale is used in Chinese music?
4. What kinds of instruments are used in traditional Chinese music?
5. List at least 2 Chinese instruments in each musical family.
6. What is Chinese opera?
7. Describe what traditional Chinese music sounds like.
Websites:
Music from Around the Worldhttp://library.thinkquest.org/11315/world.htm
- information on China and its music
The Music of China and Taiwan
http://www.sngmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/cultures/china.html
The Sound Museum of Chinese Instruments
- click on the instrument families
- pictures and explanations of instruments
- click on the picture for sound examples
Chinese Art and Performance
http://www.chinatoday.com/art/a.htm
- information on traditional Chinese opera
Chinese Traditional Music
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/multimedia/chinese-media/Traditional_Music/
- audio clips of Chinese music
Books
Kalman, Bobbie. China: the culture. Crabtree Publishing Comp., 1947.
951 KAL - information on the performing arts and traditional festivals
Teague, Ken. Growing Up in Ancient China. Troll Assoc., 1994.
931 TEA - information on festivals, ceremonies, and children playing instruments