What are the Prominent Features of the Vocal Music of East Asian Countries Music 8 Q2

 Vocal music of Japan

The main tone of Japanese music has two modes; the Yo-sen and the In-sen. Both consist of five

primary tones based on a scale with seven tones. The two remaining tones are considered as auxiliary

tones. The ancient melody of Japanese music is commonly based on these modes. However, one melody is not always in one mode alone. The melody of Japanese music commonly shifts on both modes. They often give emphasis on the second to fourth tone of the mode.

Chinese Vocal Music

Chinese Vocal Music has traditionally been sung in a thin, non-resonant voice or in falsetto and is

usually solo rather than choral. All traditional Chinese music is melodic rather than harmonic. Chinese

vocal music probably developed from sung poems and verses accompanied by music.Mo Li Hua is a

traditional Chinese song with a beautifully gentle and lyrical melody. The lyrics about the jasmine flower also turn it into a love song. The song describes a custom of giving Jasmine flowers, popular in the southern Yangtze region of China. Another version describes the fear of plucking the flower.

Korean Vocal Music

Arirang – is a Korean folk song. It is sometimes used as a symbol of Korea and Korean culture.

Arirang is in essence a song of farewell. The word “Arirang” means “the hill”. It pertains to the foothills of Korea where most Koreans had parting on. 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.

Activity No. 1: TRUE or FALSE

Directions: True if the statement is correct otherwise, False

if the statement is incorrect. Use a separate sheet of paper.

1. Among the three representative countries of East Asia, China is the only country which uses a pentatonic scale.

2. Japanese melodies are based on the Yo-sen and Bo-sen modes.

3. The time signature of the song Mo Li Hua is in quadruple meter.

4. Arirang is the official national anthem of Korea.

5. Sakura is a song depicting the Jasmin flower that blooms during spring.

6. The vocal timbre of East Asian music is nasal and throaty.

7. Homophonic texture is usually accompanied with chordal arrangement.

8. Sakura is a song in triple meter.

9. In Chinese musical culture, a pentatonic scale is based on a heptatonic scale.

10. East Asian music is mostly in the Strophic form.

11. The meaning of Arirang is “the hill” which depicts Korea to be a mountainous country.

12. Chinese vocal music is usually solo rather than choral.