MUSIC 8

Quarter 2 – Module 5
Traditional Music of East Asia

Japanese Music

Traditional Japanese music is basically meditative in character. Its performance is highly ritualized, as much in the
music itself, as in the composure of the musicians when performing it. It is usually about religious festivals, work,
dance, love, and regional songs. Audiences are looking for this self-mastery in musicians. This is the reason why
music has become highly ritualized. Musicians must show this spiritual self-mastery in their performance and
composure.

Japanese music has two basic types of scales. These are the male scale called Yo-sen and the female scale known as
In-sen. The In-sen scale, which contains minor notes, is used specifically in music for the koto and shamisen and is
contrasted with the yo-sen scale, which does not contain minor notes.

According to a traditional theory, yo-sen is a pentatonic scale which used in Japanese music including gagaku and
shomyo. The Yo-sen scale is used specifically in folksongs and early popular songs. The yo-sen scale is described as
‘bright’ sounding.

Type of Music
Kagura “God Music”, music of Shinto
Shomyo classic Buddhist chanting
Hogako authentic Japanese music
Gagako oldest surviving Japanese court music
Naga-uta “long song”, vocal, dance and dramatic
compositions
Ko-uta “small song”, such folk songs (a cappella
An example of folk song from Japan is Sakura or Cherry Blossoms.

Sakura - 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. The
tune uses a pentatonic scale known as the In-sen, or in modern Western music theory, the fifth mode of the
harmonic minor.

(Japanese Folk Song) Cherry Blossoms

Sakura
Sakura sakura Yayoi no Cherry blossoms,
sorawa mi-watasukagiri Cherry blossoms,
kasumikakumoka Across the spring sky,
nioizoizuru izayaizaya As far as you can see,
mini yukan Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air
Come now, come,
Let’s look, at last.
Chinese Music
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. The scale lends to make simple harmonies,
but perhaps to maintain the Confucian norms of simplicity. If music is part of an official ceremonial function, the music is
meant to regulate the behavior of the people so that they perform the ritual appropriately and obey authority.

Famous Folk song

The folksong Jasmine Flower (Mo Li Hua) was composed during the Qing dynasty (AD 1616-1912)
and was one of the first Chinese songs to become popular abroad.
The song's tune entertains three phrases and depicts the purity of love between young people by
highlighting the beauty of jasmine flowers.
The Jasmine Flower song can be found throughout China and there are many regional variations. The origin of the song
was considered a myth until two Yangzhou scholars, Zhu Xiangsheng and Nie Feng, published an academic article in 2000
detailing the history between the folk song and Yangzhou Ditty - an old fashioned type of folk music.

Mo Li Hua Mo Li Hua
Hao yi duo mei What a beautiful jasmine flower
Li di mo li hua, What a beautiful jasmine flower
Hao yi duo mei Li di mo li hua Sweet-smelling, beautiful,
Fen fang mei li stems full of buds
Man zhiya, Fragrant and white, everyone
You xiang you bai Ren renkua praises
Rang wo lai jiang ni zhai xia, Let me pluck you down
Song gei bie ren jia Give to someone's family
Mo li hua ya mo li hua. Jasmine flower, oh jasmine
flower.
Korean Music

Traditional Korean music is broad and deep in terms of genre and meaning. There is farmer's music, which expresses the lives of
farmers through its exciting rhythms; pansori (long vocal and percussive music played by vocal singer and skilled drummer) and
talchum (mask dance), rich in parody and humor; the majestic court music played at important events at the royal palace; and
standard music (called "jeongak" in Korean) like gagok, yeongsanhoesang, and sijo that embody the elegant, refined spirit of the
seonbi (intellectuals of the Joseon Dynasty). Religious music like the Buddhist beompae and the music of shamanic rituals are also
part of the traditional Korean music canon, adding a special diversity and richness.

Some of the most prominent pieces and folk music forms are as follows:

Chong-ak music for the elite or ruling class

Sog-ak music for the common or ordinary people
Nong-ak song of the farmer
Sanjo song for solo instrument
Pansori song for the stage which the performer sing a long vocal and
percussive music played by vocal singer and skilled drummer
Ninjo Folk song

Korean Music

Arirang is a Korean folk song sometimes considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea. It is used as a symbol of
Korea and Korean culture. Arirang in essence is a song of farewell. The origin of the word 'Arirang' is ‘the hill’. With
Korea’s land being mountainous, there are also many foothills throughout the country. Most Koreans had partings on a
number of such hills. An emotion of deep regret is imbued in the rhythm of Arirang. The song evokes the feeling of the
tears shed by Koreans and the remembrance of their sad stories.

Arirang Arirang
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo... Arirang Arirang arariyo
Arirang go gae rul num Crossing over Arirang Pass
uganda. The one who abandoned me
Na rul burigo gasinun nimun Shall not walk even 4 kilometers before
Siprido motgasu their feethurt.
balbyungnanda.

Activity
Directions: From the folk song that you have heard, choose one traditional folk song from Japan,
China and Korea. Create a musical presentation by choosing one folk song and play it by making
your own musical accompaniment.
- Japan folk song “Sakura”
-Chinese folk song “Mo Li Hua”
-Korean folk song “Arirang”

Assessment
Test I. Identification
Directions: Identify the following music if it is from JAPAN, CHINA AND KOREA. Write the answer
on your paper.
_____________1. Arirang
_____________2. Mo Li Hua
_____________3. Sakura
_____________4. Sog-ak
_____________5. Chong-ak

Test II. Identification

Directions: Read the sentence carefully and choose the best answer in the box. Write the answer
on your paper.

_____________6. It is a 13-string zither, about two meters long and made of Paulownia wood.
_____________7. A musical element that is nasal and throaty.
_____________8. It is a Korean instrument made of bamboo. Its large reed and cylindrical bore
gives it a sound mellower than that of many types of oboe.
_____________9. A musical element that has pentatonic scale and diatonic scale.
_____________10. The most popular folk song of Japan depicting spring, the season of cherry blossoms

Test III. Multiple Choice

Directions: Read the questions carefully. Choose the letter of your correct answer.
11. How is Chinese music described?
a. It is gentle and lyrical
b. It is slow in tempo and is very peaceful
c. It is meditative and highly ritualized
d. It is slow and melancholy
12. It is Japan traditional folk music.
a. Sakura
b. Sog-ak
c. Arirang
d. Mo li Hua
13. What melody is used in the folk song Mo Li Hua?
a. Melodic
b. Pentatonic
c. Diatonic
d. Harmonic
14 How is the Arirang song classified?
a. Welcome song
b. Love song
c. Song for spring
d. Farewell song
15. Which Korean music category is tradionally associated with the lower class.
a. Tang-ak
b. Chong-ak
c. Sog-ak
d. A-ak