Music of China Chinese music refers to the music of the Chinese people, which may be the music of the Han Chinese as well as other ethnic minorities within mainland China. It also includes those music produced by people of Chinese origin outside of mainland China using traditional Chinese instruments or in the Chinese language. Different types of music have been recorded in historical Chinese documents from the early periods of Chinese civilization which, together with archaeological artifacts discovered, provided evidence of a well-developed musical culture as early as the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BC – 256 BC). These further developed into various forms of music through succeeding dynasties, producing the rich heritage of music that is part of the Chinese cultural landscape today. History[edit] According to legends, the founder of music in Chinese mythology was Ling Lun at the time of the Yellow Emperor, who made bamboo pipes tuned to the sounds of birds including the phoenix. Early history[edit] Instruments
Northumbrian Smallpipes, Pipes used in Traditional Celtic Music at Celtic-Instruments.com Northumberland County, or Northumbria, is located at the northeast corner of England, and shares its northern border with Scotland. Northumberland is also the native region for the pipes which bear its name, the Northumbrian smallpipes (the name is sometimes abbreviated to NSP). All the drones on the Northumbrian smallpipes are mounted in a common stock, and the pipes are bellows-blown. The NSP are unique among British Isles bagpipes in having a closed-end chanter. Evolution and the Northumbrians There are no historical traces of bellows-driven pipes prior to the 16th century, so it is likely that they were invented around the middle of that century, the first models probably being imported from Germany. Throughout most of the 18th century, the basic design and functionality of both Border pipes and Northumbrian smallpipes did not make much progress. Reids to the Rescue Modern Modifications In 1983, however, the evolutionary path of the Northumbrian smallpipes took a sudden left turn.
African Music - Music of Africa By Espie Estrella African Music Africa is a continent where a rich and diverse cultural heritage exists; hundreds of different languages are spoken in Africa. Musical Instruments The drum, played either by hand or by using sticks, is an important musical instrument in African culture. They use drums as a means of communication, in fact, much of their history and culture have been passed on for generations through music. The variety of musical instruments is as diverse as their culture. Singing and Dancing A singing technique called "call and response" is evident in African vocal music. continue reading below our video Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% This technique is still very much used in today's music, for example in gospel music. Dancing requires the movement of various body parts in time to the rhythm. For more information on African music visit our Go Africa website.
Music of Ireland The bodhrán, a traditional Irish drum. Irish Music is music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland. The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. Early Irish music[edit] By the High and Late Medieval Era, the Irish annals were listing native musicians, such as the following: Modern interpretation[edit] Early Irish poetry and song has been translated into modern Irish and English by notable Irish poets, song collectors and musicians. Early Irish musicians abroad[edit] Some musicians were acclaimed in places beyond Ireland. Helias of Cologne (died 1040), is held to be the first to introduce Roman chant to Cologne. Donell Dubh Ó Cathail (c. 1560s-c.1660), was not only musician of Viscount Buttevant, but, with his uncle Donell Óge Ó Cathail, harper to Elizabeth I. Early Modern times[edit] Traditional music[edit] A traditional music session, known in Gaelic as a seisiún.
Celtic Music Instruments From the thump of the Bodhrán to the airy rasp of the wooden flute, celtic music is known by its instruments. Here's an introduction to the main players, with links to more information, for players and afficionados. Fiddle The fiddle is the mainstay of most Scottish and Irish music. Flute Flutes of one sort or another have been played in the celtic countries for over a thousand years. Tin Whistle (pennywhistle) The simplest and cheapest of traditional instruments, yet not so simple to master. More information: Ceolas Tin Whistle guide. Bagpipes & uilleann pipes Several forms of bagpipe are used in celtic music. The Scottish highland pipes are the loudest, played standing, usually in pipe bands. Bagpipe FAQ Bagpipe Web David Daye's Bagpipe site, for Scottish and uilleann pipes. Bombarde This is a small oboe-like shawm with a penetrating sound, used widely in Breton music. Free reed instruments This family of instruments was developed in the early nineteenth century. Banjo Bouzouki Website.
Traditional Japanese music Musicians and dancer, Muromachi period Traditional Japanese music is the folk or traditional music of Japan. Types of traditional Japanese music[edit] There are three types of traditional music in Japan: instrumental, theatrical and court music. Kabuki[edit] Kabuki (歌舞伎?) Noh[edit] Noh ( 能?) Gagaku[edit] Gagaku (雅楽?) Instrumental Music Kangen (管弦?) Shōmyō[edit] Shōmyō (声明?) Jōruri[edit] Gidayubushi (義太夫節?) There are other four jōruri styles which have largely died out. Katōbushi (河東節?) Nagauta[edit] Nagauta (長唄?) Ogiebushi (荻江節?) Shakuhachi music[edit] Shakuhachi (尺八?) Sōkyoku[edit] Ikuta ryu - Originated in Eastern Japan. Traditional music in modern culture[edit] Traditional Japanese musicians sometimes collaborate with modern Western musicians. Traditional musical instruments[edit] 鉦鼓 Shōko Traditional cultural events[edit] Artists[edit] See also[edit] References[edit] Jump up ^ "舞楽". External links[edit]
Uilleann Pipes, Chanters, Practice Pipes at Celtic-Instruments.com Traditional Celtic Music Uilleann pipes (pronounced ill-in) are a variety of bellows-blown bagpipes that is unique to Ireland. The word Uilleann is Irish for elbow, referring to the method used to play bellows-driven pipes. To fill the bag with air, the piper compresses the bellows by squeezing them between elbow and ribs. These pipes have many aliases, including elbow pipes, union pipes, and Irish pipes. Uilleanns—like Northumbrian smallpipes, Scottish smallpipes, and Border pipes—are quiet enough to be played indoors, unlike their mouth-blown cousins the Great Highland Bagpipes and Irish warpipes, which are for outdoor use only. Of the more than 200 types of bagpipes found across the globe, Uilleann pipes have earned a reputation as the most complex (and difficult to play) of all. Historical Notes At specific points in time, the history of the Uilleann pipes has moved in tandem with that of the Celtic harp. That Sweet Second Octave This range, however, causes a few problems of its own. The Bellows. The Bag.
About Japanese Music The earliest forms of music were drums and flute music accompanying the kagura shrine dances. From the 6th century on, music came from Korean and Chinese courts and monasteries and was performed at the Japanese court under the generic name gagaku (court music). The 8th-century court established a music bureau (gagakuryo) to be in charge of musical duties, both ritual and entertainment. The standard full-range gagaku ensemble has about 16 musicians on percussion, string, and reed instruments, the most distinctive being the free-reed mouth organ (sho), cyndrical oboe (hichiriki), the biwa lute, and the koto zither. Meanwhile with the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 6th century, Buddhist rites and liturgical chants gave rise to the development of a great variety of bells, gongs, wooden clappers, plaques, percussion tubes, and rattles, many of which found their way also into kabuki music of the Edo period (1600-1868).
Bluegrass Nation Old Time and Celtic songs are about whiskey, food and struggle. Bluegrass songs are about God, mother and the girl who did me wrong. If the girl isn’t dead by the third verse, it ain’t Bluegrass. If everyone dies, it’s Celtic. The Music Old Time and Celtic songs are about whiskey, food and struggle. Old Time and Celtic bands have nonsense names like “Flogging Molly’, “Fruit Jar Drinkers’ and “Skillet Lickers” while Bluegrass bands have serious gender-specific name like “Bluegrass Boys,’ “Clinch Mountain Boys’ and ”Backwoods Babes.” The most common Old Time keys are major and minor with only 5 notes (modal). A Bluegrass band has between 1 and 3 singers who are all singing about an octave above their natural vocal range. In a Celtic band, anyone who speaks during a performance gets “the look’, and songs are preceded by a call for silence and a detailed explanation of their cultural significance. The InstrumentsBanjo A Celtic banjo is small and quiet. Pete’s Placewww.bluegrasswest.com
List of Irish composers A list of composers from Ireland: A - E[edit] F - N[edit] O - Z[edit] Folk music Folk music includes both traditional music and the genre that evolved from it during the 20th century folk revival. The term originated in the 19th century but is often applied to music that is older than that. Some types of folk music are also called world music. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers. Starting in the mid-20th century a new form of popular folk music evolved from traditional folk music. Traditional folk music[edit] Definitions[edit] A consistent definition of traditional folk music is elusive. However, despite the assembly of an enormous body of work over some two centuries, there is still no certain definition of what folk music (or folklore, or the folk) is.[4] Folk music may tend to have certain characteristics[2] but it cannot clearly be differentiated in purely musical terms. Music in this genre is also often called traditional music. Terminology[edit]