Post on 18-Oct-2019
Steve Vai and
Classical Chinese Music
Access Code: gmr487
Han Dynasty Demographics and Music
Population and Ethnicities
☉ During the Han Dynasty population grew quickly๏ At the start of the Han
Dynasty China's population was around 20 million
๏ At the end was just below 60 million
☉ Grew quickly due to political and economic success
☉ The Han dynasty was a time of ethnic and cultural merging๏ This was due to the political
unity and success ๏ Became unified
☉ Grew quickly due to political and economic success
☉ Became today's largest single ethnic group in the world๏ 19% of the world's
population๏ 92% of china's population
Buddhism
☉ Believes in the indestructibility of of the soul
☉ Belief of Karma☉ Values charity and compassion☉ Brought from North India
through the Silk Road
Religion
Taoism
☉ Belief of cosmic balance๏ No love without hate, No
light without dark, etc.
☉ Observance of natural world
☉ Was both a philosophy and a religion
PhilosophyConfucianism ☉ Used alongside Buddhism☉ Promoted education☉ Focus on everyday concerns
๏ Indifference to big mysteries๏ Meaning of life,
afterlife, etc.☉ Stresses family, morals and role of
good leader☉ Most importantly, considers music
an intellectual pursuit
☉ Large empire but was culturally unified
☉ In close proximity to Indian empire of the time๏ Through the Silk Road there
were Indian influences on the Chinese culture๏ Instruments such as
the lute made their way to China
Land Mass (size) and Geographical Influences
Political Influences ☉ An “office of music” was created to
collect folk music๏ Named the Yuefu
๏ Employed around 829 people in orchestras
๏ Played traditional folk songs
☉ Confucianism as the basis for correct individual conduct and for the educational curriculum
Traditional Chinese Orchestra Music
Traditional Chinese Orchestra Music
☉ Small ensemble๏ About seven musicians
☉ Mostly for entertainment☉ Instruments would accompany a
vocalist☉ At the time played by ensembles
created by the government☉ Played folk songs
Common Instruments
Pipa ☉ 4 Stringed instrument
๏ 12 frets๏ Traditionally pentatonic
tuned☉ The pronunciation (pee-paa) is
suppose to imitate the sound of the instrument
☉ Been around for over 2000 years๏ Played as resentment for
being forced to build the Great Wall
Common InstrumentsErhu☉ Pronounced like “Arr-hoo”☉ 2 strings “Chinese Violin”☉ Played vertically☉ Sound resonates from instruments
wooden drum☉ Alto instrument with high musical
range☉ Intonation is very difficult
๏ Due to lack of fingerboard๏ Players fingers only push on
the strings
Zi Zhu Diao
Zi Zhu Diao☉ Originally a folk lullaby☉ In 2/4 time signature with no
changes☉ No changes in tempo except a fast
ritardando at the end☉ Melody mostly in the Erhu
๏ Other instruments are mostly background
๏ Sometimes play melody with Erhu
☉ Contains Erhu, Pipa, Guzheng, Triangle, and Flute
Erhu
Pipa
Yangqin
GuZheng
Zi Zhu Diao
Steve Vai
BackgroundSteve Vai is an American guitarist most known for songs such as For the Love of God, Tender Surrender, The Audience is Listening and Bad Horsie. Mostly an instrumental rock artist but has been in a few other genres. He has won 3
Grammy awards and has been nominated for 9 others.
● Born on June 6th 1960● Raised in New York● Began Guitar lessons with Joe Satriani
at age 12● Became Frank Zappa's transcriber and
began to tour with him at age 18● Former guitarist for David Lee Roth's
solo band named The David Lee Roth Band
● Mostly plays in instrumental songs● Known for his ability to play fast but has
numerous songs composed of slower melodic lines
● Likes to insert chromatic riffs● Plays almost exclusively on Ibanez guitars
○ Polished necks○ Emphasis on whammy bar
Musical Characteristics
Song Examples
☉ Instrumental rock song☉ Key of C# minor to start but later
changes multiple times☉ 4/4 throughout☉ Lead guitar has melody ☉ All other instruments are
accompaniment☉ Steady tempo nothing over or
below 5 bpm original tempo
Lotus Feet
☉ Use of stringed instruments in a similar way to create a legato feel๏ Use of vibrato throughout
both songs๏ Use of falls and glissandos๏ Lack of harsh attacks
Secondary LinkFall/Glissando represented by small downward arrow as seen before the number 3
☉ Homophonic๏ Zi Zhu Diao
๏ One melody with supporting chords.
๏ Can be seen in how the first three instruments have the same melody
๏ Other instruments either have chords or are percussion
Primary Link
☉ Homophonic๏ Lotus Feet
๏ What is labelled at guitar 4 has melody
๏ Guitar 2 and 3 have only embellishments
๏ All other instruments play chords
Primary Link
China Demographics
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/china-history/the-han-dynasty.htmhttp://www.china-mike.com/chinese-history-timeline/part-4-han-dynasty/https://images.chinahighlights.com/allpicture/2017/04/easternhan.jpghttps://www.ancient.eu/Han_Dynasty/http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/timelines/china_timeline.htmhttp://online.sfsu.edu/rone/Buddhism/Buddhism%20in%20China.htmhttps://www.thoughtco.com/demographics-of-ancient-china-117655http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Han_Chinesehttp://www.china.org.cn/e-groups/shaoshu/history.htmhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Confucianism
Bibliography
China Musichttps://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/much/hd_much.htmhttps://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/traditional-music.htmhttp://factsanddetails.com/china/cat2/sub2/entry-5425.htmlhttp://www.k12tlc.net/content/pages/handynas.htmPipahttp://www.philmultic.com/pipa.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksiM1wRcutQ&feature=youtu.beErhuhttp://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/learn/article/read/item/94I3V_FwFbM/chinese-music-instruments-erhu-violin.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fdFGEg-9R8&feature=youtu.be
Bibliography
Zi Zhu Diaohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUzsAu4P-twhttp://orgs.wku.edu/cmc/music/zizhudiao/zizhudiao.pdfhttp://orgs.wku.edu/cmc/music/music.phphttps://books.google.com/books?id=9BrfLWdeISoC&pg=PA770&lpg=PA770&dq=zi+zhu+diao+classic&source=bl&ots=zZQD1ZeARc&sig=V3O34WSPOY5EVi8NiVsfN2ru9nY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjv4f3tz6_XAhVBRWMKHVpbABs4FBDoAQhWMAk#v=onepage&q=zi%20zhu%20diao%20classic&f=falsehttps://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/830A864B-9D4E-3112-3C050F50A3E1B13D/2014_aapi_flyer.pdf
Bibliography
Steve Vaihttps://www.vai.com/vaiography/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-vai-mn0000045475/biographyhttps://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/steve-vaiSteve Vai Songshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IrWyZ0KZukhttps://youtu.be/0ra5jwhKLtAhttps://youtu.be/W9-KSIYmik8https://youtu.be/qn7zWAw59Bk
Bibliography