Every Asian country has its own form of music which is part of their culture and tradition.

This music is handed down from generation to generation and some improvements were made along the way. MUSIC OF CHINA In ancient times, Chinese music was almost completely ritualistic. Music held an important place in the affairs of the state was considered an important part of the educational system. Ceremonial music was present in religious rituals at the temples and in secular rituals at the imperial court. Folk music is also part of the Chinese heritage. Workmen were said to have sung songs to cheer themselves up at the workplace. Farmers would sing to celebrate the harvest or to accompany the movements of the sowing. Such melodies are still heard; they are similar to the folk songs of other nations, simple and rhythmic. A unique aspect of the Chinese music is its close association with the language. Chinese is an inflected tongue and there is difficulty distinguishing the point at which speech ends and begins. FOUR STAGES OR PERIOD OF CHINESE MUSIC FORMATIVE PERIOD- music was used infolk festivals that are meant to give honor to the ancestors. Clay ocarinas and stone chimes were some of the instruments used to accompany these celebrations. INTERNATIONAL PERIOD- in this period, there was an overflow of musical ideas brought about by Western contacts and Asian trade. NATIONAL PERIOD- in this period, music of the Chinese showed signs of stability and affluence to China. WORLD MUSIC PERIOD- a new kind of music was born in this period from the tradition of Western instruments and forms.

PEKING OPERA Started in 1790 on the 80th birthday of King Chien Lung, that consists of recitatives with percussive interjections and arias. Recitative refers to the rhythmically free vocal style that imitates the natural inflections of speech that is used for dialogue and narrative operas. Aria is accompanied elaborate melody sung (as in opera) by a single voice. PEKING OPERA is a musical art form, it combines singing, heightened speech, mime, dancing, literature, theatre and acrobatics. It is the national art form of the Chinese. The basic characteristics of the Peking Opera are its simplicity, symbolism, and synchronization. CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS The original Chinese orchestra had instruments made of eight materials found in nature or the 8 sound giving bodies according to the Chinese: skin, stone, metal, reed, clay, wood, bamboo and gourd. Special Orchestras were established at the imperial court to entertain the emperor and his retinue. YA-YIIEH- used to describe the instrumental ensemble which performs in the court. YIIEH-HSUAN- music chime TANG-KO- chamber song or music that is being performed in a private room. There are two (2) dances used to accompany the yiieh-hsuan: wen-wu which is a civil dance and wu-wu refers to a military dance. AEROPHONE/WIND INSTRUMENTS HSIAO- an end blown flute made from a smooth bamboo. TI- a transverse flute tipped with ivory or bone at the end. SHENG- a mouth organ with 17 pipes.

CHORDOPHONE/STRING INSTRUMENTS CHIN- a seven stringed zither played by plucking

the strings.