Music Art in China's Intangible Cultural Heritage

Brief introduction of Music Art

Music is an auditory image composed of organized sounds, used to express people's thoughts and emotions as well as social realities. Every form of art its own means of expression and artistic image creation, such as dance through body movements and facial expressions, painting through lines, colors, and composition, and literature through, words, sentences, and paragraphs. Usually, people distinguish different types of art based on their different means of expression.

Categories:

Vocal Works

Songs: Including folk songs, art songs, pop songs, children's songs, etc. These songs convey emotions and information through the human voice, making them one of the most intuitive and easily accessible forms of music.

Rap Music: Street dance is a form of American street culture that originated in the late 1960s. The earliest form of street dance was Lock. In the 1970s, it was categorized as part of hip-hop culture. It has strong performative, participatory, and competitive elements

Opera Music: Opera music is an important part of Chinese traditional music, including Peking Opera, Henan Opera, Yue Opera, Huangmei Opera, and other operatic forms. Opera music integrates singing, speaking, acting, and martial arts, possessing a high degree of artistry and entertainment value.

Instrumental Works

Solo Pieces: Solo pieces are musical works performed by a single instrument, such as erhu solo, pipa solo, etc. Solo pieces showcase the charm and emotion of music through the unique timbre and playing techniques of the instrument.

Ensemble Pieces: Ensemble pieces are musical works performed by multiple instruments, such as folk orchestral music and symphony. Ensemble pieces create rich musical layers and effects through the coordination of different instruments' timbres and playing techniques.

Traditional Music and Modern Music

Traditional Music: Traditional music refers to musical forms with a long history and profound cultural heritage, such as folk music, court music, and religious music. Traditional music typically features unique melodies, rhythms, and performance styles, serving as an important part of Chinese musical culture.

Modern Music: Modern music refers to newly emerged musical forms in recent years, including pop music, rock music, electronic music, etc. Modern music often features more diverse and open creative ideas, blending multiple musical elements and styles, and is deeply loved by young people.

Folk Music and Scholar-Gentleman Music

Folk Music: Folk music is created collectively by ordinary people, usually reflecting their lives and emotions. Folk music has strong regional characteristics and ethnic styles, forming an important part of Chinese musical culture.

Scholar-Gentleman Music: Scholar-gentleman music is created by scholars and refined individuals, often featuring elegant artistry and cultural connotations. Scholar-gentleman music focuses on the beauty of melodies and the depth of artistic conception, serving as a treasure in Chinese traditional music.

Music Art in China's Intangible Cultural Heritage

Music art occupies a pivotal position in China's intangible cultural heritage. These musical art forms not only demonstrate the profound cultural heritage of the Chinese nation but also reflect the unique artistic styles and aesthetic tastes of various regions and ethnic groups. The Representative List of the Human Nonmaterial Cultural Heritage of Humanity includes multiple Chinese musical art forms with profound cultural heritage and unique artistic charm. The following are some Chinese musical art forms listed on this representative list:

Kun Opera:

Introduction: Kun Opera is one of the oldest existing opera genres in China, originating in the Ming Dynasty (14th to 17th centuries). It is a comprehensive performing art that integrates singing, speaking, acting, martial arts, and dancing. Its singing style is highly artistic and has had a significant impact on all modern Chinese theatrical genres.

Artistic Characteristics: Kun Opera performances feature a unique system and style, with delicate movements and a clever and harmonious combination of singing and dance gestures. It uses drums and clappers to control the singing rhythm, with bamboo flute and sanxian as the main accompaniment instruments, primarily using Zhongzhou Mandarin as the singing and speaking language.

Year Listed: Kun Opera was named a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 2001.

 
Ancient Guqin Art

Introduction: The guqin is the most representative solo instrument in China, with a history of over 3,000 years. Along with Chinese painting, poetry, and literature, it serves as a bearer of traditional Chinese culture.

Artistic Characteristics: The guqin's sound is deep, melodious, and possesses unique charm and expressive power. Its playing techniques are rich and diverse, including techniques such as Yin, Nao, Chuo, and Zhu, capable of expressing a wide range of emotional changes.

Year Listed: Ancient guqin art was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.

Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam Art

Introduction: "Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam" is the general term for various muqam styles circulating among Uyghur communities in Xinjiang, China. It is a large-scale comprehensive art form integrating song, dance, and music. Besides the main representative of Uyghur Muqam, the "Twelve Muqam," other forms such as "Daolang Muqam," "Turpan Muqam," and "Hami Muqam" are also circulating.

Artistic Characteristics: Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam features strong ethnic and regional characteristics, with beautiful musical melodies, lively rhythms, and dance movements that are passionate and infectious.

Year Listed: Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam art was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at some point, but the specific year may differ for different suites or regions.

Other Musical Arts

Besides the above-mentioned three musical arts, other traditional Chinese musical arts such as Mongolian Long Song (jointly declared with Mongolia) and Nanyin (also known as "Xianguan" or "Quanzhou Nanyin") have also been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These musical arts each have their unique characteristics, collectively constituting China's rich and diverse musical culture.

In summary, the Chinese musical arts listed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity showcase China's profound cultural heritage and unique artistic charm. These musical arts are not only treasures of traditional Chinese culture but also important components of world musical culture.

Famous Musical Works in Chinese History

High Mountains and Flowing Water: A Chinese guqin piece belonging to one of the Ten Ancient Chinese Melodies. It is said that in the pre-Qin period, the musician Bo Ya, while playing the guqin, was understood by the woodcutter Zhong Ziqi, and they became soul mates. After Zhong Ziqi's death, Bo Ya, deeply grieved at losing his soul mate, broke his guqin and vowed never to play it again, hence the melody of "High Mountains and Flowing Water." The phrase "High Mountains and Flowing Water" is often used to metaphorically refer to a soul mate or a connoisseur of music, or to describe music that is sublime and profound.

Guangling San: Also known as "Guangling Zhizhi," it is a large-scale guqin piece in ancient China and one of the very famous guqin pieces in Chinese musical history. The Wei-Jin period musician Ji Kang was renowned for his skill in playing this piece. Before his execution, he calmly played this piece and sighed, "The Guangling San is lost forever!" The entire piece consists of 45 sections, imbued with a sense of indignation and unyielding spirit.

Flat Sands and Wild Geese Landing: Also known as "Wild Geese Landing on Flat Sands," it is one of the famous guqin pieces in China. It aims to express the lofty ambitions of wild geese and reflect the breadth of mind of hermits. It was first published in "Ancient Music Authenticity" (1634) and has been transmitted in various genres since its inception.

Plum Blossoms Three Times Played: Also known as "Plum Blossom Introduction," "Plum Blossom Tune," or "Jade Concubine Introduction," it is said to be originally a flute piece composed by Huan Yi of the Jin Dynasty and later adapted into a guqin piece. The entire piece is divided into ten sections and two major parts, using the whiteness, fragrance, and cold resistance of plum blossoms to express the praises of people with noble moral integrity.

Popular Music Attractions in China

Beijing - Zhihua Temple Beijing Music
Originating from the court music of the Tang and Song dynasties, it is a traditional music that was popular in the Beijing area during the Ming and Qing dynasties, earning the reputation of being the "living fossil of Chinese music." Zhihua Temple Beijing Music is renowned for its quaint and elegant, melodious and profound tunes, as well as its rigorous method of inheritance and training. Visitors can experience the charm of this ancient music at Zhihua Temple.

Xi'an - Drum Music
Derived from the court banquet music of the Tang Dynasty, which dates back over 1,400 years, it is the world's oldest "symphony." At places like Datang Furongyuan, visitors can enjoy performances of Xi'an Drum Music that have preserved ancient musical tones, feeling its rich musical scales and sophisticated musical sense.

Shanghai - Taoist Music
As a national intangible cultural heritage, Shanghai Taoist Music has been valued and protected by the Shanghai Municipal Government since 2007. Visitors can listen to Taoist music performed by the Shanghai City God Temple Taoist Music Ensemble at the Shanghai City God Temple, experiencing its unique religious atmosphere and artistic charm.

Chengdu - Shu-style Guqin Art
Shu-style Guqin Art is a representative intangible cultural heritage music project in Chengdu and even the Sichuan region. Visitors can appreciate performances of this ancient musical instrument in Chengdu's cultural districts or guqin art inheritance bases, appreciating its profound cultural heritage.

Zhangjiajie - Sangzhi Folk Songs
As a national intangible cultural heritage, Sangzhi Folk Songs are renowned for their colorful tunes, beautiful melodies, and strong rural flavor. In Zhangjiajie, visitors can participate in folk song performances or experiential activities, feeling the charm of this traditional musical form.

Yunnan - Naxi Ancient Music
Lijiang Naxi Ancient Music is one of the representative intangible cultural heritage music projects in Yunnan. Visitors can enjoy performances of this ancient musical genre in places like Lijiang Old Town, appreciating its unique musical style and profound cultural heritage.

Tibet - Tibetan Opera
As a traditional theatrical form in Tibet, Tibetan Opera integrates various artistic elements such as music, dance, and drama. In Lhasa and other places, visitors can enjoy amazing performances of Tibetan Opera, feeling its unique artistic charm and profound cultural heritage.

Hong Kong - Chinese Orchestra Performances
Although Hong Kong is not renowned for its traditional music intangible cultural heritage projects, modern music groups such as the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra often hold traditional music concerts. Visitors can enjoy traditional music pieces performed by the Chinese Orchestra at venues like the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, feeling the extensive and profound wisdom of Chinese culture.

Xinjiang - Uyghur Muqam
Listed as a representative of the World's Intangible Cultural Heritage, Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam is a large-scale comprehensive art form integrating song, dance, and music. Visitors can enjoy wonderful performances of this ancient musical genre at major scenic spots or cultural venues in Xinjiang.

Inner Mongolia - Mongolian Long Tune Folk Songs
Listed as a representative of the World's Intangible Cultural Heritage, Mongolian Long Tune Folk Songs are renowned for their melodious melodies and heartfelt lyrics. On the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, visitors can enjoy long tune folk songs sung by herdsmen, feeling their unique musical style and strong ethnic flavor.

Guizhou - Dong Ethnic Group's Grand Song
Listed as a representative of the World's Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Dong Ethnic Group's Grand Song is an unaccompanied, directorless polyphonic folk song of the Dong ethnic group. Visitors can enjoy performances of this ancient musical genre in Dong villages in Guizhou, feeling its harmonious and beautiful musical effects.

Xiamen - Nanyin
Although Nanyin mainly circulates in Quanzhou, Fujian, Xiamen, as one of the important cities in Fujian, also frequently hosts Nanyin performances. Nanyin is an ancient form of folk music, renowned for its melodious melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Visitors can enjoy Nanyin performances in Xiamen's cultural districts or arts venues.

Harbin - Northeast Errenzhuan
Although Northeast Errenzhuan is not primarily expressed through music, its unique vocal melodies and accompaniment are also important components of its artistic charm. In Harbin and other places, visitors can enjoy Errenzhuan performances, feeling its unique artistic style and strong rural flavor.

Postscript
These intangible cultural heritage music art projects are not only important components of traditional Chinese culture but also treasures of world cultural heritage. Through generations of inheritance and development, they demonstrate the wisdom and creativity of the Chinese people and have also made significant contributions to the diversity of world culture.