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

Modern Pipa

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

Modern Erhu

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