Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing China Introduction •China (中国), the most populous country in the world with over 1.3 billion people •This country is about 9.6 million square kilometers or 3.7 million square miles •China borders 14 nations: Vietnam, Laos, Burma, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia and North Korea. Major Cities •Beijing (北京), a metropolis in Northern China with more than 20 million people, is China’s capital city •Shanghai (上海) is the most populous city in China, located in the east of the country. Major Cities •Xi’an (西安) is one of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history. •Hong Kong (香港) is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Ethnic Groups • Han Chinese is the largest ethnic group classifying 91.59% of the population. Han • 55 other "nationalities" or ethnic groups are recognized in China. Zhuang Man Ethnic Groups Uyghur Mongol Miao Ethnic Groups Stamps of 56 Chinese Ethnic groups Religion • Confucianism is the main • religion of the Chinese, named after Confucius. People also follow the religions of Taoism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity in China. Confucius Lao Zi: the creator of Taoism Shakyamuni Buddha Language • The most spoken varieties are: – – – – – Mandarin (spoken by over 70% of the population) Wu, Yue (Cantonese), Min, Xiang, Gan Hakka • All of these are tonal languages Geography • Topography of China Administrative Divisions • Administrative map of China Money • The Ren-Min-Bi (RMB) is the official currency of China. Food & Drink • Chinese cuisine developed various features in different periods and regions. • Chinese people mainly live on the five common cereals and vegetables, sometimes adding a small quantity of meat. Food & Drink • Chinese tea has become the national drink and one of three main soft drinks in the world (the other two are coffee and cocoa). • It is from China that the tea planting techniques, processing, drinking methods and tea ceremony were directly or indirectly introduced to the world Festivals of China • New Year Festival/Spring Festival (Chun Jie) • Lantern Festival celebrated on the15th day of the first month. Festivals of China • Dragon Boat Festival is held on the fifth day of the fifth month in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar Medicine • China was one of first countries to have a medical culture. Yin and Yang theory in Chinese Medicine Martial Arts • Martial Arts are traditional Chinese sports which have developed over a long historical period Literature • TV show “The Water Margin” • TV show “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” Literature • TV show “The Pilgrim to the West” • TV show “The Water Margin” Calligraphy • In China calligraphy occupies a distinguished position in the field of traditional art. Artwork Music • Traditional Chinese music can be traced back 7,000 - 8,000 years. Chime-bells (ancient Chinese instrument used in royal court) Gu-qin Music Flute (Di-zi) Er-hu Music Horse-Headed Fiddle Pi-pa Songs Shu ha ma (Toad Song) 一 只 yi zhi 跳 下 tiao xia 蛤 ha 水 shui 蟆 ma 一 张 嘴， yi zhang zui, 呀， 蛤 蟆 不 吃 水， ya, ha ma bu chi shui, 荷 儿 妹 子 兮， he er mei zi xi, 水 上 漂。 shui shang piao. 两 只 liang zhi 眼 睛 yan jing 太 平 年， tai ping nian, 荷 儿 妹 子 兮， he er mei zi xi, 四 条 腿， si tiao tui, 乒 乓 乒 乓 ping ping pang pang 蛤 蟆 不 吃 水， ha ma bu chi shui, 太 平 年。 tai ping nian. 水 上 漂。 shui shang piao. Shu ha ma (Toad Song) • This playful children’s song is from Sichuan Province, China • In traditional Chinese culture the toad is associated with wealth Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IFE8 NZc3qw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PJ4w4 pVG74 Hong Cai Mei Mei (Rainbow Sister) Hong Cai Mei Mei (Rainbow Sister) • Rainbow Sister is a folk song from Inner Mongolia. • A Mongolian boy falls in love with a girl playing with her horse and dancing with butterflies. Hong Cai Mei Mei (Rainbow Sister) • Traditional Mongolian dress and scenery. Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdybD67OZC4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRjZz4BfTwg Gong Xi Gong Xi (Happy New Year) 每 mei 条 tiao 见 面 jian mian 恭 gong 大 da 第 di 喜 恭 xi gong 街 jie 一 yi 喜 xi 小 xiao 巷， xiang, 句 ju 话， hua, 恭 喜 gong xi 你 ni 每 个 mei ge 就 jiu 呀！ ya! 是 shi 恭 Gong 人 ren 的 de 嘴 zui 里。 li. 恭 gong 喜 xi 恭 gong 喜! xi! 喜 恭 xi gong 喜 xi 恭 喜 gong xi Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBCKq0uLFdQ&feature=fvst (original recording) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGJb38u82Zo&feature=related 你！ ni! Gong Xi Gong Xi (Happy New Year) • Happy New Year is a wide • Chinese New Year is the most spread “new year song” of important of the traditional south China and Southeast Chinese holidays. Asia Gong Xi Gong Xi (Happy New Year) Chinese New Year Picture (Golden boy and jade girl) Composer Ge-Xin Chen Diu Shou Juan (Drop the Handkerchief) Diu Shou Juan (Drop the Handkerchief) • Drop the Handkerchief is a traditional Chinese children’s game. Diu Shou Juan (Drop the Handkerchief) Lyrics by Kan Bao (1916~) Music by He-Yan Guan (1921~2005) Mo Li Hua (Jasmine flower) Mo Li Hua (Jasmine flower) • This song is about Jasmine Flowers which are beautiful and have a good smell, but are also very strong Qing Chun Wu Qu(Youth Dance Song) Qing Chun Wu Qu(Youth Dance Song) • “Youth Dance Song” is a well-know song adapted from dance music of Uygur people in Xinjiang • Muqam is the classical musical style of Uyghur.