音樂基本要素：音樂的基本要素是指構成音樂的各種元素，包括音的高低，音的長短，音的強弱和音色。由這些基本要素相互結合，形成音樂的常用的“形式要素”，例如：節奏，麯調，和聲，以及力度，速度，調式，麯式，織體等。構成音樂傢的形式要素，就是音樂的表現手段。音樂的最基本要素是節奏和旋律。
1、節奏：音樂的節奏是指音樂運動中音的長短和強弱。音樂的節奏常被比喻為音樂的骨架。節拍是音樂中的重拍和弱拍周期性地、有規律地重複進行。我國傳統音樂稱節拍為“板眼”，“板”相當於強拍；“眼”相當於次強拍（中眼）或弱拍。
2、麯調：麯調也稱旋律。高低起伏的樂音按一定的節奏有秩序地橫嚮組織起來，就形成麯調。麯調是完整的音樂形式中最重要的表現手段之一。麯調的進行方向是變幻無窮的，基本的進行方向有三種：“水平進行”、“上行”和“下行”。相同音的進行方向稱水平進行；由低音嚮高音方向進行稱上行；由高音嚮低音方向進行稱下行。麯調的常見進行方式有：“同音反復”、“級進”和“跳進”。依音階的相鄰音進行稱
為級進，三度的跳進稱小跳，四度和四度以上的跳進稱大跳。
3、和聲：和聲包括“和弦”及“和聲進行”。和弦通常是由三個或三個以上的樂音按一定的法則縱嚮（同時）重疊而形成的音響組合。和弦的橫嚮組織就是和聲進行。和聲有明顯的濃、淡、厚、薄的色彩作用；還有構成分句、分樂段和終止樂麯的作用。
4、力度：音樂中音的強弱程度。
5、速度：音樂進行的快慢。
6、調式：音樂中使用的音按一定的關係連接起來，這些音以一個音為中心（主音）構成一個體係，就叫調式。如大調式、小調式、我國的五聲調式等。調式中的各音，從主音開始自低到高排列起來即構成音階。
7、麯式：音樂的橫嚮組織結構。
8、織體：多聲音樂作品中各聲部的組合形態（包括縱嚮結合和橫嚮結合關係）。
9、旋律：聲音經過藝術構思而形成的有組織、有節奏的和諧運動。旋律是樂麯的基礎，樂麯的思想感情都是通過它表現出來的。
【音樂理論】
音樂學
音樂他律論
音樂自律論
樂理
音樂美學
音樂史學
麯式與作品分析
音樂的功效
【音樂功能】
音樂是一種符號，聲音符號，表達人的所思所想。是人們思想的載體之一。音樂是有目的的，是有內涵的，其中隱含了作者的生活體驗，思想情懷。音樂從聲波上分析它介於噪聲和頻率不變的純音之間，從效果上講它可以帶給人美的享受和表達人的情感。
音樂是社會行為的一種形式，通過音樂人們可以互相交流情感和生活體驗。這在歌麯中這種作用表現得最為突出。
【音樂起源】
人類社會從什麽時候開始有了音樂，已無法查考。在人類還沒有産生語言時，就已經知道利用聲音的高低、強弱等來表達自己的意思和感情。隨着人類勞動的發展，逐漸産生了統一勞動節奏的號子和相互間傳遞信息的呼喊，這便是最原始的音樂雛形；當人們慶賀收穫和分享勞動成果時，往往敲打石器、木器以表達喜悅、歡樂之情，這便是原始樂器的雛形。
一、弦樂器的起源傳說
墨丘利（Mercury）是希臘神話中諸神的使神。據說他在尼羅河畔散步時，腳觸一物發出美妙的聲音，他拾起一看，發現原是一個空龜殼內側附有一條幹枯的筋所發出的聲響。墨丘利從此得到啓發，而發明了弦樂器。雖說後人考證在墨丘利以前就已經有了弦樂器，但也可能是由此得到了啓發。
二、管樂器的起源傳說
中國古代歷史記述了距今五千年前的黃帝時代，有一位名叫做伶倫的音樂傢，他進入西方昆化山內采竹為笛。當時恰有五衹鳳凰在空中飛鳴，他便合其音而定律。雖然這一故事也不能完全相信，但是，可將其看做是有關管樂器起源的帶有神秘色彩的傳說。
三、中國古代音樂
中國最初的帝王———黃帝，是五千年前創造了歷法和文字的名君。當時，除了前述的伶倫之外，還有一位名叫“伏羲”的音樂傢。據說伏羲是人首蛇身，曾在母胎中孕育了十二年。他彈奏了張有五十弦的琴，由於音調過於悲傷，黃帝將其琴斷去一半，改為二十五弦。
此外，在黃帝時代的傳說中，還有一位名為神農的音樂傢，他教人耕作，並發現了醫藥，據說是牛首人身。他創造了五弦琴，如果設想當時的音樂是使用五聲音階，那麽這是理所當然的。
【中國音樂】
正式的中國音樂歷史文字記載，始於周朝。
中國音樂從很早已經掌握七聲音階，但一直偏好比較和諧的五聲音階，重點在五聲中發展音樂，同時將中心放在追求旋律、節奏變化，輕視和聲的作用。中國音樂的發展方向和西方音樂不同，西方音樂從古希臘的五聲音階，逐漸發展到七聲音階，直到十二平均律；從單聲部發展到運用和聲。所以西方音樂如果說像一堵厚重的墻壁，上面輪廓如同旋律，磚石如同墻體，即使輪廓平直衹要有和聲也是墻，正像亨德爾的某些作品。中國音樂則不同，好像用綫條畫出的中國畫，如果沒有輪廓（旋律）則不成其為音樂，但和聲是可有可無的。所以西方人聽中國音樂“如同飄在空中的綫”，而從未接觸西方音樂的中國人則覺得西方音樂如同“混雜的噪聲”。
【史前古樂】
中華民族音樂的蒙昧時期早於華夏族的始祖神軒轅黃帝兩千餘年。據今六千七百年至七千餘年的新石器時代，先民們可能已經可以燒製陶塤，挖製骨哨。這些原始的樂器 無可置疑地告訴人們，當時的人類已經具備對樂音的審美能力。遠古的音樂文化根據古代文獻記載具有歌、舞、樂互相結合的特點。葛天氏氏族中的所謂“三人操牛尾，投足以歌八闋”的樂舞就是最好的說明。當時，人們所歌詠的內容，諸如“敬天常”、“奮五穀”、“總禽獸之極”反映了先民們對農業、畜牧業以及天地自然規律的認識。這些歌、舞、樂互為一體的原始樂舞還與原始氏族的圖騰崇拜想聯繫。例如黃帝氏族曾以雲為圖騰，他的樂舞就叫做《雲門》。關於原始的歌麯形式，可見《呂氏春秋》所記塗山氏之女所作的"候人歌"。這首歌的歌詞僅衹"候人兮猗"一句，而衹有"候人"二字有實意。這便是音樂的萌芽，是一種孕而未化的語言。河南舞陽縣賈湖遺址的骨笛溯源於公元前6000年左右，是全世界最古老的吹奏樂器。其中的一支七孔骨笛保存得非常完整，專傢們進行過實驗，發現仍然能使用該骨笛演奏音樂，能發出七聲音階。但中國古代基本上衹使用五聲音階。
【古代音樂】
中國古代“詩歌”是不分的，即文學和音樂是緊密相聯繫的。現存最早的漢語詩歌總集《詩經》中的詩篇當時都是配有麯調，為人民大衆口頭傳唱的。這個傳統一直延續下去，比如漢代的官方詩歌集成，就叫《漢樂府》，唐詩、宋詞當時也都能歌唱。甚至到了今天，也有流行音樂傢為古詩譜麯演唱，如蘇軾描寫中秋佳節的《水調歌頭》還有李白的《靜夜思》。
中國古代對音樂傢比較輕視，不像對待畫傢，因為中國畫和書法聯繫緊密，畫傢屬於文人士大夫階層，在宋朝時甚至可以“以畫考官”（其實也是因為宋徽宗個人對繪畫的極度愛好）。樂手地位較低，衹是供貴族娛樂的“伶人”。唐朝時著名歌手李龜年也沒有什麽政治地位，現在的人知道他也是因為他常出現在唐詩中，受人贊揚。
中國古代的“士大夫”階層認為，一個有修養的人應該精通“琴棋書畫”，所謂的“琴”就是流傳至今的古琴。不過古琴衹限於士大夫獨自欣賞，不能對公衆演出。古琴音量較小，也是唯一地位較高的樂器。
總結：中國古代的音樂理論發展較慢，在“正史”中地位不高，沒有能留下更多的書面資料。但音樂和文學一樣，是古代知識分子階層的必修課，在古代中國人的日常生活中無疑有着重要地位；民間則更是充滿了多彩的旋律。
夏、商時期音樂
夏商兩代是奴隸製社會時期。從古典文獻記載來看，這時的樂舞已經漸漸脫離原始氏族樂舞為氏族共有的特點，它們更多地為奴隸主所占有。從內容上看，它們漸漸離開了原始的圖騰崇拜，轉而為對徵服自然的人的頌歌。例如夏禹治水，造福人民，於是便出現了歌頌夏禹的樂舞《大夏》。夏桀無道，商湯伐之，於是便有了歌頌商湯伐桀的樂舞《大蠖》。商代巫風盛行，於是出現了專司祭祀的巫（女巫）和覡（男巫）。他們為奴隸主所豢養，在行祭時舞蹈、歌唱，是最早以音樂為職業的人。奴隸主以樂舞來祭祀天帝、祖先，同時又以樂舞來放縱自身的享受。他們死後還要以樂人殉葬，這種殘酷的殉殺制度一方面暴露了奴隸主的殘酷統治，而在客觀上也反映出生産力較原始時代的進步，從而使音樂文化具備了迅速發展的條件。據史料記載，在夏代已經有用鰐魚皮蒙製的鼉鼓。商代已經發現有木腔蟒皮鼓和雙鳥饕餮紋銅鼓，以及製作精良的脫胎於石樺犁的石磐。青銅時代影響所及，商代還出現了編鐘、編鐃樂器，它們大多為三枚一組。各類打擊樂器的出現體現了樂器史上擊樂器發展在前的特點。始於公元前五千餘年的體鳴樂器陶塤從當時的單音孔、二音孔發展到五音孔，它已可以發出十二個半音的音列。根據陶塤發音推斷，中國民族音樂思維的基礎五聲音階出現在新石器時代的晚期，而七聲至少在商、殷時已經出現。
西周、東周時期音樂
西周和東周是奴隸製社會由盛到衰，封建製社會因素日趨增長的歷史時期。西周時期宮廷首先建立了完備的禮樂制度。在宴享娛樂中不同地位的官員規定有不同的地位、舞隊的編製。總結前歷代史詩性質的典章樂舞，可以看到所謂"六代樂舞"，即黃帝時的《雲門》，堯時的《鹹池》，舜時的《韶》，禹時的《大夏》，商時的《大蠖》，周時的《大武》。周代還有採風制度，，收集民歌，以觀風俗、察民情。賴於此，保留下大量的民歌，經春秋時孔子的刪定，形成了中國第一部詩歌總集－－《詩經》。它收有自西周初到春秋中葉五百多年的入樂詩歌一共三百零五篇。《詩經》中最優秀的部分是"風"。它們是流傳於以河南省為中心，包括附近數省的十五國民歌。此外還有文人創作的"大雅"、"小雅"，以及史詩性的祭祀歌麯"頌"這幾種體裁。就其流傳下來的的文字分析，《詩經》中的歌麯以可概括為十種麯式結構。作為歌麯尾部的高潮部分，已有專門的名稱"亂"。在《詩經》成書前後，著名的愛國詩人屈原根據楚地的祭祀歌麯編成《九歌》，具有濃重的楚文化特徵。至此，兩種不同不同音樂風格的作品南北交相輝映成趣。
周代時期民間音樂生活涉及社會生活的十幾個側面，十分活躍。世傳伯牙彈琴，鐘子期知音的故事即始於此時。這反映出演奏技術、作麯技術以及人們欣賞水平的提高。古琴演奏中，琴人還總結出"得之於心，方能應之於器"的演奏心理感受。著名的歌唱樂人秦青的歌唱據記載能夠"聲振林木，響遏飛雲"。更有民間歌女韓娥，歌後"餘音饒梁，三日不絶"。這些都是聲樂技術上的高度成就。
周代音樂文化高度發達的成就還可以一九七八年湖北隨縣出土的戰國曾侯乙墓葬中的古樂器為重要標志。這座可以和埃及金字塔媲美的地下音樂寶庫提供了當時宮廷禮樂制度的模式，這裏出土的八種一百二十四件樂器，按照周代的"八音"樂器分類法（金、石、絲、竹、匏、土、革、木）幾乎各類樂器應有盡有。其中最為重要的六十四件編鐘樂器，分上、中、下三層編列，總重量達五千余公斤，總音域可達五個八度。由於這套編鐘具有商周編鐘一鐘發兩音的特性，其中部音區十二個半音齊備，可以旋宮轉調，從而證實了先秦文獻關於旋宮記載的可靠。曾侯乙墓鐘、磐樂器上還有銘文，內容為各諸侯國之間的樂律理論，反映着周代樂律學的高度成就。在周代，十二律的理論已經確立。五聲階名（宮、商、角、徵[zhi三聲]、羽）也已經確立。這時，人們已經知道五聲或七聲音階中以宮音為主，宮音位置改變就叫旋宮，這樣就可以達到轉調的效果。律學上突出的成就見於《管子－地員篇》所記載的" 三分損益法"。就是以宮音的弦長為基礎，增加三分之一（益一），得到宮音下方的純四度徵音；徵音的弦長減去三分之一（損一），得到徵音上方的純五度商音；以次繼續推算就得到五聲音階各音的弦長。按照此法算全八度內十二個半音（十二律）的弦長，就構成了"三分損益律製"。這種律製由於是以自然的五度音程相生而成，每一次相生而成的音均較十二平均律的五度微高，這樣相生十二次得不到始發律的高八度音，造成所謂"黃鐘不能還原"，給旋宮轉調造成不便。但這種充分體現單音音樂旋律美感的律製一直延續至今。
秦、漢時期音樂
秦漢時開始出現"樂府"。它繼承了周代對採風制度，搜集、整理改變民間音樂，業績終了大量樂工在宴享、郊祀、朝賀等場合演奏。這些用作演唱的歌詞，被稱為樂府詩。樂府，後來又被引申為泛指各種入樂或不入樂的歌詞，甚至一些戲麯和氣越也都稱之為樂府。
漢代主要的歌麯形式是相和歌。它從最初的"一人唱，三人和"的清唱，漸次發展為有絲、竹樂器伴奏的"相和大麯"，並且具"豔--趨--亂"的麯體結構，它對隋唐時的歌舞大麯由着重要影響。漢代在西北邊疆興起了鼓吹樂。它以不同編製的吹管樂器和打擊樂器構成多種鼓吹形式，如橫吹、騎吹、黃門鼓吹等等。它們或在馬上演奏，或在行進中演奏，用於軍樂禮儀、宮廷宴飲以及民間娛樂。今日尚存的民間吹打樂，當有漢代鼓吹的遺緒。在漢代還有"百戲"出現，它是將歌舞、雜技、角抵（相撲）合在一起表演的節目。漢代律學上的成就是京房以三分損益的方法將八度音程華劃為六十律。這種理論在音樂實踐上雖無意義，但體現了律學思維的精微性。從理論上達到了五十三平均律的效果。
三國、兩晉、南北朝時期音樂
由相和歌發展起來的清商樂在北方得到曹魏政權的重視，設置清商署。兩晉之交的戰亂，使清商樂流入南方，與南方的吳歌、西麯融合。在北魏時，這種南北融合的清商樂又回到北方，從而成為流傳全國的重要樂種。漢代以來，隨着絲綢之路的暢通，西域諸國的歌麯以開始傳入內地。北涼時呂光將在隋唐燕樂中占有重要位置的龜茲（今新疆庫車）樂帶到內地。由此可見當時各族人民在音樂上的交流已經十分普及了。
這時，傳統音樂文化的代表性樂器古琴趨於成熟，這主要表現為：在漢代已經出現了題解琴麯標題的古琴專著《琴操》。三國時著名的琴傢嵇康在其所著《琴操》一書中有"徽以中山之玉"的記載。這說明當時的人們已經知道古琴上徽位泛音的産生。當時，出現了一大批文人琴傢相繼出現，如嵇康、阮籍等，《廣陵散》（《聶政刺秦王》）、《猗蘭操》、《酒狂》等一批著名麯目問世。
南北朝末年還盛行一種有故事情節，有角色和化妝表演，載歌載舞，同時兼有伴唱和管弦伴奏的歌舞戲。這已經是一種小型的雛形戲麯。
這一時期律學上的重要成就，包括晉代荀瑁找到管樂器的"管口校正數"。南朝宋何承天在三分損益法上，以等差迭加的辦法，創立了十分接近十二平均律的新律。他的努力初步解决了三分損益律黃鐘不能還原的難題。
隋、唐時期音樂
隋唐兩代，政權統一,特別是唐代，政治穩定，經濟興旺，統治者奉行開放政策，勇於吸收外城文化，加上魏晉以來已經孕育着的各族音樂文化融合打基礎，終於萌發了以歌舞音樂為主要標志的音樂藝術的全面發展的高峰。
唐代宮廷宴享的音樂，稱作"燕樂"。隋、唐時期的七步樂、九部樂就屬於燕樂。它們分別是各族以及部分外國的民間音樂，主要有清商樂（漢族）、西涼（今甘肅）樂、高昌（今吐魯番）樂、龜茲（今庫車）樂、康國（今俄國薩馬爾漢）樂、安國（今俄國布哈拉）樂、天竺（今印度）樂、高麗（今朝鮮）樂等。其中龜茲樂、西涼樂更為重要。燕樂還分為坐部伎和立部伎演奏，根據白居易的《立部伎》詩，坐部伎的演奏員水平高於立部伎。
風靡一時的唐代歌舞大麯是燕樂中獨樹一幟的奇葩。它繼承了相和大麯的傳統，融會了九部樂中各族音樂的精華，形成了散序－－中序或拍序－－破或舞遍的結構形式。見於《教坊錄》著錄的唐大麯麯名共有46個，其中《霓裳羽衣舞》以其為著名的皇帝音樂傢唐玄宗所作，又兼有清雅的法麯風格，為世所稱道。著名詩人白居易寫有描繪該大麯演出過程的生動詩篇《霓裳羽衣舞歌》。
唐代音樂文化的繁榮還表現為有一係列音樂教育的機構，如教坊、梨園、大樂署、鼓吹署以及專門教習幼童的梨園別教園。這些機構以嚴密的考績，造就着一批批才華出衆的音樂傢。文學史上堪稱一絶的唐詩在當時是可以入樂歌唱的。當時歌伎曾以能歌名傢詩為快；詩人也以自己的詩作入樂後流傳之廣來衡量自己的寫作水平。在唐代的樂隊中，琵琶是主要樂器之一。它已經與今日的琵琶形製相差無幾。現在福建南麯和日本的琵琶，在形製上和演奏方法上還保留着唐琵琶的某些特點。
受到龜茲音樂理論的影響，唐代出現了八十四調，燕樂二十八調的樂學理論。唐代曹柔還創立了減字譜的古琴記譜法，一直沿用至近代。
宋、金、元時期音樂
宋、金、元時期音樂文化的發展以市民音樂的勃興為重要標志，較隋唐音樂得到更為深入的發展。隨着都市商品經濟的繁榮，適應市民階層文化生活的遊藝場"瓦捨"、"勾欄"應運而生。在"瓦捨"、"勾欄"中人們可以聽到叫聲、嘌唱、小唱、唱賺等藝術歌麯的演唱；也可以看到說唱類音樂種類崖詞、陶真、鼓子詞、諸宮調，以及雜劇、院本的表演；可謂爭奇鬥豔、百花齊放。這當中唱賺中的纏令、纏達兩種麯式結構對後世戲麯以及器樂的麯式結構有着一定的影響。而鼓子詞則影響到後世的說唱音樂鼓詞。諸宮調是這一時期成熟起來的大型說唱麯種。其中歌唱占了較重的分量。
承隋唐麯子詞發展的遺緒，宋代詞調音樂獲得了空前的發展。這種長短句的歌唱文學體裁可以分為引、慢、近、拍、令等等詞牌形式。在填詞的手法上已經有了"攤破"、"減字"、"偷聲"等。南宋姜夔是既會作詞，有能依詞度麯的著名詞傢、音樂傢。他有十七首自度麯和一首減字譜的琴歌《古怨》傳世。這些作品多表達了作者關懷祖國人民的心情，描繪出清幽悲涼的意境，如《揚州慢》、《鬲溪梅令》、《杏花天影》等等。宋代的古琴音樂以郭楚望的代表作《瀟湘水雲》開古琴流派之先河。作品表現了作者愛戀祖國山河的盎然意趣。在弓弦樂器的發展長河中，宋代出現了"馬尾鬍琴"的記載。
到了元代，民族樂器三弦的出現值得註意。在樂學理論上宋代出現了燕樂音階的記載。同時，早期的工尺譜譜式也在張炎《詞源》和瀋括的《夢溪筆談》中出現。近代通行的一種工尺譜直接導源於此時。宋代還是中國戲麯趨於成熟的時代。它的標志是南宋時南戲的出現。南戲又稱溫州雜劇、永嘉雜劇，其音樂豐富而自然。最初時一些民間小調，演唱時可以不受宮調的限製。後來發展為麯牌體戲麯音樂時，還出現了組織不同麯牌的若幹樂句構成一種新麯牌的"集麯"形式。南戲在演唱形式上已有獨唱、對唱、合唱等多種。傳世的三種南戲劇本《張協狀元》等見於《永樂大麯》。戲麯藝術在元代出現了以元雜劇為代表的高峰。元雜劇的興盛最初在北方，漸次嚮南方發展，與南方戲麯發生交融。代表性的元雜劇作傢有關漢卿、馬致遠、鄭光祖、白樸，另外還有王實甫、喬吉甫，世稱六大傢。典型作品如關漢卿的《竇娥冤》，《單刀會》，王實甫的《西廂記》。元雜劇有嚴格的結構，即每部作品由四折（幕）一楔子（序幕或者過場）構成。一折內限用同一宮調，一韻到底，常由一個角色（末或旦）主唱，這些規則，有時也有突破，如王實甫的《西廂記》達五本二十折。元雜劇對南方戲麯的影響，造成南戲（元明之際叫做傳奇）的進一步成熟。出現了一係列典型劇作，如《拜月庭》、《琵琶記》等等。這些劇本經歷代流傳，至今仍在上演。當時南北麯的風格已經初步確立，以七聲音階為主的北麯沉雄；以五聲音階為主的南麯柔婉。隨着元代戲麯藝術的發展，出現了最早的總結戲麯演唱理論的專著，即燕南之庵的《唱論》，而周德清的《中原音韻》則是北麯最早的韻書，他把北方語言分為十九個韻部，並且把字調分為陰平、陽平、上聲、去聲四種。這對後世音韻學的研究以及戲麯說唱音樂的發展均有很大的影響。
明、清時期音樂
由於明清社會已經具有資本主義經濟因素的萌芽，市民階層日益壯大，音樂文化的發展更具有世俗化的特點明代的民間小麯內容豐富，雖然良莠不齊，但其影響之廣，已經達到"不問男女"，"人人習之"的程度。由此，私人收集編輯，刊刻小麯成風，而且從民歌小麯到唱本，戲文，琴麯均有私人刊本問世。如馮夢竜編輯的《山歌》，朱權編輯的最早的琴麯《神奇秘譜》等。
明清時期說唱音樂異彩紛呈。其中南方的彈詞，北方的鼓詞，以及牌子麯，琴書，道情類的說唱麯種更為重要。南方秀麗的彈詞以蘇州彈詞影響最大。在清代，蘇州出現了以陳遇幹為代表的蒼涼雄勁的陳調；以馬如飛為代表的爽直酣暢的馬調；以俞秀山為代表的秀麗柔婉的俞調這三個重要流派。以後又繁衍出許多新的流派。北方的鼓詞以山東大鼓，冀中的木板大鼓、西河大鼓、京韻大鼓較為重要。而牌子麯類的說唱有單弦，河南大調麯子等；琴書類說唱有山東琴書，四川揚琴等；道情類說唱有浙江道情，陝西道情，湖北漁鼓等，少數民族也出現了一些說唱麯如蒙古說書、白族的大本麯。明清時期歌舞音樂在各族人民中有較大的發展，如漢族的各種秧歌，維吾爾族燈木卡姆，藏族的囊瑪，壯族的銅鼓舞，傣族的孔雀舞，彝族的跳月，苗族的蘆笙舞等等。以聲腔的流佈為特點，明清戲麯音樂出現了新的發展高峰。明初四大聲腔有海????、余姚、弋陽、昆山諸腔，其中的昆山腔經由江蘇太倉魏良甫等人的改革，以麯調細膩流暢，發音講究字頭、字腹、字尾而贏得人們的喜愛。昆山腔又經過南北麯的匯流，形成了一時為戲麯之冠的昆劇。最早的昆劇劇目是明梁辰魚的《浣紗記》，其餘重要的劇目如明湯顯祖的《牡丹亭》、清洪升的《長生殿》等。弋陽腔以其靈活多變的特點對各地的方言小戲發生重要影響，使得各地小戲日益增多，如各種高腔戲。明末清初，北方以陝西西秦腔為代表的梆子腔得到很快的發展，它影響到山西的蒲州梆子、陝西的同州梆子、河北梆子、河南梆子。這種高亢、豪爽的梆子腔在北方各省經久不衰。晚清，由西皮和二黃兩種基本麯調構成的皮黃腔，在北京初步形成，由此，産生了影響遍及全國的京劇。
明清時期，器樂的發展表現為民間出現了多種器樂合奏的形式。如北京的智化寺管樂，河北吹歌，江南絲竹，十番鑼鼓等等。明代的《平沙落雁》、清代的《流水》等琴麯以及一批豐富的琴歌《陽關三疊》、《鬍茄十八拍》等廣為流傳。琵琶樂麯自元末明初有《海青拿天鵝》以及《十面埋伏》等名麯問世，至清代還出現了華秋萍編輯的最早的《琵琶譜》。明代末葉，著名的樂律學家朱載育計算出十二平均律的相鄰兩個律（半音）間的長度比值，精確到二十五位數字，這一律學上的成就在世界上是首創。
【音樂樂理】
音樂的發展是沒有限製與範圍的，但是音樂是有時間性的，所以若衹靠口耳相傳，難免會有一些差錯，久而久之，便無法保持原來樂麯的原味。因此，前人便發明了各種音樂符號，利用這些符號組成了樂譜，後人就可以利用這些譜，演奏出與作者意思相同的音樂，而記錄在樂譜上的各種符號及規則，就稱為樂理。
中國古代音樂屬於五聲音階體係，五聲音階上的五個級被稱為“五聲”，即宮（do）、商（re）、角（mi）、徵（sol）、羽（la）。比較著名的中國古代音樂有《廣陵散》、《高山流水》、《梅花三弄》等。
【民族樂器】
《周禮·春官》中把樂器分為金、石、土、革、絲、木、匏、竹八類，稱“八音”，也是最早的樂器分類法之一。
金音包括編鐘、特鐘、鐃
石音包括編磬、特磬
土音包括塤
革音包括鼓
絲音包括古琴、古瑟
木音包括柷、敔
匏音包括笙、竽
竹音包括簫、笛、管、篪
編鐘、磬這兩種樂器所發出的音響清脆明亮，被稱為“金石之聲”，是官方認可的“最高雅的聲音”。現在所說的絲竹就是絲音和竹音的簡稱。
古代樂器主要有塤、缶、築、排簫、箜篌、箏、古琴、瑟等，樂麯一般緩慢悠揚，主要是為了適合宮廷生活或宗教的需要。
到漢朝和唐朝以後，中國通過西域和國外的交流頻繁，西方主要是伊斯蘭教世界和印度的音樂和樂器大量流入，漢唐時中國強大，心胸寬廣，善於吸收其他文化，源於外國的樂器如笛子、篳篥、琵琶、鬍琴等大量為中國音樂采納，並被中國人改良發展，逐漸替代了中國原來的本土樂器。除了古琴一直被文人寵愛，得以樂器流傳，正式在“民樂”公衆中演出的樂器幾乎都是外來的。近年來，音樂工作者致力於發掘、改良古代樂器，塤、箏、排簫等樂器重新發揮光彩，但較少納入民族樂隊的合奏麯目。
【近代音樂】
19世紀末，中國被迫開放南方沿海，開始接觸西方音樂和樂器，廣東音樂首當其衝，首先吸收西方和聲方法，創造了新樂器揚琴和木琴，發展了樂隊合奏的音樂，至今廣東音樂仍然有其獨特的魅力，是中西結合比較成功的典範。
1838到1903年(即狹義的“學堂樂歌”運動興起前的六十多年)教會音樂也對中國現代音樂教育産生了巨大影響。在鴉片戰爭後，傳教士赴華數量增加，西方傳教士在中國傳教時，往往用唱聖詩來做為輔助方法，因此半音等概念都得到了傳播。
民間音樂傢為中國樂器的演奏發展創造了新的階段，二鬍作麯傢劉天華創作了大量的二鬍獨奏麯，如《良宵》、《光明行》、《江河水》等，演奏傢華彥鈞（瞎子阿炳）創作了《二泉映月》等二鬍和琵琶麯。儘管當時時世動亂，但中國民族音樂不論在獨奏和樂隊合奏方面都有很大的發展。
1910年代到1920年代的新文化運動期間，很多到海外留學的中國音樂傢回國之後，開始演奏歐洲古典音樂，也開始用五綫譜紀錄新作品。大城市裏組成了新興交響樂團，混合歐洲古典音樂和爵士樂，在音樂廳和收音機裏非常流行。在1930年代的上海達到其鼎盛時期。
雖然使用西方的樂器和音樂手段，但通俗音樂仍然是以中國的方式，即旋律為主，五聲音階為主，才能受到最多人的喜愛。周璇是當時最受歡迎的表演傢之一，是當時通俗音樂的代表，其為電影《馬路天使》演唱的主題歌《天涯歌女》和《四季歌》一時極為流行，符合當時的民衆的抗日情緒，被稱為“金嗓子”。
中華人民共和國建立之後，流行歌麯除革命歌麯之後，又加入翻譯成中文的蘇聯流行歌麯。各地開始建立交響麯團，演奏西方古典音樂，和中國作麯傢的新作。東歐的樂團曾多次到中國表演，中國樂團也參加了許多國際表演會。中國音樂傢也嘗試用西方的樂器方法寫作具有中國風味的音樂，比較成功的有小提琴協奏麯《梁祝》，采納了越劇的部分旋律。
和第三世界的國傢交往也不斷增加，為此成立了東方歌舞團，專門學習、演唱亞洲、非洲和拉丁美洲國傢各民族的民歌樂麯，在中國廣受歡迎，從此發展中國傢的音樂開始對中國音樂産生影響。中國民族樂隊的配器、合奏方式也基本定型，産生了不少成功的民族器樂交響麯。
近年來，中國的民族音樂開始受到世界各國的廣泛關註，每年春節，都會被邀請到維也納金色大廳舉行中國新年音樂會，並座無虛席。
在臺灣的校園歌麯和香港鄧麗君開創的演唱方式，使中國通俗音樂發展到一個高峰，具有中國音樂獨特的風格和魅力，鄧麗君在美國開演唱會時，吸引得許多舞臺劇務美國人在後臺全程欣賞，雖然他們聽不懂中國唱詞。
【革命音樂】
在北伐戰爭時期，中國的音樂傢配合革命，作了大量的革命歌麯，在國民革命軍中廣為傳唱，有的是用國外通俗歌麯旋律直接配以革命歌詞。
在抗日戰爭時期，音樂傢更是同仇敵愾，寫作了大量的抗日歌麯。冼星海的《黃河大合唱》氣勢磅礴，反映了當時全民抗日的精神。聶耳為電影配麯作的《義勇軍進行麯》更是雄壯，成為抗日軍民的軍歌被到處傳唱，中華人民共和國成立後，為了居安思危，不忘中華民族如何抵抗外國侵略，將義勇軍進行麯定為國歌。
1942年延安會議之後，共産黨控製的地區開始把當地民歌改寫成革命歌麯，如陝西民歌《東方紅》。改寫的目的是在大多是文盲的農民人口中傳播共産主義思想。
文革期間，西方音樂，尤其是蘇聯音樂又不合法了。重新流行革命歌麯和所謂的“語錄歌”，加上獨裁的“樣板戲”，和國外的交往幾乎停止，甚至在歡迎美國總統尼剋鬆的宴會上，樂隊演奏美國歌麯《草堆上的火雞》，當時的文化部長都要嚮總理抗議，大陸中國音樂進入一個低𠔌時期。可音樂的發展也不是完全停滯不前。
文革期間的“樣板戲”雖然過於霸道，但將西方管弦樂隊引入為京劇伴奏，産生了特殊的效果，在渾厚的管弦樂背景下的京鬍和皮鼓聲，更突出了京劇音樂特點，也是一種中西結合的發展。尤其是“打虎上山”過門中的圓號獨奏，和後面京鬍唱腔渾然天成，很值得欣賞。
【流行音樂】
自中國改革開放以來，流行音樂首先從香港及臺灣地區進入中國，尤其是臺灣的校園歌麯和鄧麗君演唱的歌麯，在大陸中國大受歡迎。曾在中國中央電視臺春節聯歡晚會演出的張明敏的《我的中國心》在中國一炮走紅，這也是中國大陸第一次公開的港臺歌麯演出。此後，中國的流行歌麯與世界其他地區的各種風格、各種流派的音樂結合，産生了不少膾炙人口的歌麯。現在，中國的流行音樂發展迅速，成為世界流行音樂中一支不可低估的生力軍。
臺灣和香港的流行音樂發展非常迅速，基本和國際流行趨勢同步，尤其是香港，因為政府不幹擾音樂的創作，出現了許多著名的歌手和歌麯，不僅風靡大陸中國，而且受到日本、韓國等地歌迷的崇拜。
近年來，大陸、臺灣、香港以及全球其它地區的華人流行音樂不斷交流，開始出現互相融合、彙聚的趨勢。因此，開始出現“全球華語流行音樂”的總體稱謂。一個突出的表現：中國大陸作為全球最大的消費市場之一，港臺、海外各大流行音樂榜單的發佈和編製越來越多地開始關註大陸市場。
值得註意的是，在流行音樂當中，有着一種民謠性質的音樂，它們的典型代表是校園民謠、都市民謠、軍營民謠，這些民謠音樂在流行音樂當中亦占有一席之地，曾經都有過其輝煌的歲月，民謠淳樸的麯調，通俗的歌詞同樣感動了很多人。
【說唱音樂】
這種音樂是以一段固定的旋律、節奏，配上合成器、颳唱片和快得聽不懂的說唱所組成，很多人覺得太怪異、太單調，所以預測它維持不了多久，可是事實證明，從它發展到現在所有正式的音樂頒奬禮及歌麯排行榜上都有說唱這個項目的細分，像Billboard的年度說唱專輯大奬便是瞭解美國說唱流行趨勢的最佳指南。許多人認為所有的說唱音樂聽起來都是一樣的，其實不然。你要先去聽說唱所表現出來的節奏和押韻的感覺，再去瞭解它要表達的內容。比如說幫匪說唱，他們反抗社會、帶有明顯的種族主義傾嚮、政治化，專門挑政府是非。而且這些歌手大多都有地方幫派的背景，再加上有說唱的天賦才能出唱片。因此他們的話題總是圍繞在槍械、毒品、暴力和生存的話題上，但不論如何，這些說唱風格的形成，充分表現出美國黑人的心聲及不滿。任何有話想說，且具有才華的年輕人，都可以在不同的說唱形式中，找到自己的天空。
【民族音樂】
狹義上的中國民族音樂指的是漢族音樂，簡稱“民樂”。中國的少數民族音樂卻有着更多的樣式和內容，如藏族音樂、蒙古族音樂、壯族音樂等。
藏族音樂
藏族是個能歌善舞的民族，他們的歌麯旋律優美遼闊、婉轉動聽。藏族音樂大體上可以分為佛教音樂和民間音樂。佛教音樂中最著名的是喇嘛唱的無詞的歌頌麯調。
藏族民歌高亢嘹亮，聽起來就有高原藍天遼闊的氣象，麯調悠揚，但也是以五聲為主。歌舞形式有“ 果諧”、“果卓”（鍋莊）等。藏族音樂的一些元素被漢族和西方音樂所吸收。有一些漢族歌麯作者模仿藏族音樂的特點創作了一些諸如《逛新城》、《青藏高原》一類的歌麯。近年來，西藏的藏族歌麯也融入了其它音樂的元素。著名的藏族歌手除了纔旦卓瑪和主要演唱漢語歌麯的韓紅外，還有容中爾甲、亞東、瓊雪卓瑪等大量在藏區知名度很高的歌手。
正規戲劇方面，現在已經挖掘整理演出了藏族傳統歌劇《格薩爾王》。
滿族音樂
中國的東北和北京等地是滿族的聚居地。滿族最有名的民間樂器是源自清朝的八角鼓。滿族的搖籃麯《悠悠紮》等作品很著名，經常被用現代的漢語翻唱。
蒙古族音樂
蒙古族民歌分“長調民歌”和“短調民歌”。 “長調”有許多無意義的諧音字拉長唱腔，有草原空闊的風格。最有特色的樂器是馬頭琴，是一種拉弦樂器，由於琴柱上一般都雕刻一個馬頭裝飾，所以由此命名。
壯族音樂
壯族聚居區廣西是民歌的故鄉，男女青年經常對歌，有人甚至說壯族人一生唱歌的時間比說話的時間長。壯族民歌基本和漢族音樂風格相似，以五聲音階為主。歌詞有明顯的對仗格式，內容則以象徵、比喻等手法表述，以生活中的交流為主，有時歌詞也引用中國古典故事和典故。 壯族音樂可以在電影音樂劇《劉三姐》中一窺其妙。
傣族音樂
傣族音樂和南亞地區緬甸、泰國的音樂風格類似，麯調婉轉柔美，典型的樂器是葫蘆絲和象腳鼓，葫蘆絲獨特的音色一演奏就是傣族的音樂風格。
納西古樂
納西古樂是在雲南麗江納西族老人中間演奏的音樂，據說是從明朝時中原地區傳入的，由於當地原來交通不便，和外界交往不多，始終原汁原味地流傳下來，現在衹有一批老人樂隊可以演奏，正在培養接班人，是中國14世紀音樂的活化石，受到音樂界的廣泛關註。
侗族音樂
侗族“大歌”是中國唯一采用和聲的民歌係統，基本為女聲無伴奏合唱，由各聲部嗓音的和聲配合非常和諧，曾在國際引起轟動，並多次獲奬。
維吾爾族音樂
維吾爾族音樂基本是阿拉伯音樂風格，非常註重節奏，用手鼓可以打出多達幾十種不同的節奏，樂器主要是適合在馬上彈奏的都它爾和熱瓦甫，最大的是鼕不拉。維吾爾族的傳統音樂《十二木卡姆》包羅萬象，是許多民間音樂的源頭。
塔吉剋族音樂
塔吉剋族音樂和漢族音樂有較大的區別，善於運用半音，旋律婉轉多變，如同山鷹高鳴，最典型的是作麯傢雷振邦為電影《冰山上的來客》配的歌麯，完全運用了塔吉剋民歌的旋律。
朝鮮族音樂
朝鮮族音樂和朝鮮、韓國的音樂基本相同，主要樂器有長鼓和伽倻琴。伽倻琴類似中國古代的箏，比現代的箏小，彈法也不一樣，是放到盤坐的膝蓋上彈。音樂旋律有其獨特的風格。
【戲麯音樂】
19世紀的京劇表演中國的戲麯麯藝是在中國很受歡迎也較為普及的藝術之一，廣大地區都有自己的地方戲麯。目前，最具代表性的是發展於北京的京劇。中國戲麯音樂通常以高調的唱腔為主，並以笛、皮鼓、梆子、鑼和京鬍等弦樂器伴奏。其他的戲麯音樂代表有：河北梆子、豫劇、評劇、越劇、粵劇、昆麯、秦腔、黃梅戲、高甲戲和儺戲等。全中國共有600多個地方戲劇品種。昆麯被聯合國列為世界口頭文化遺産保護目錄。
【搖滾音樂】
中國改革開放之後，西方現代音樂通過各種途徑傳入中國。音樂青年或多或少的接觸到搖滾音樂，並開始組建樂隊，進行模仿與創作。
中國的搖滾音樂第一次登上舞臺應該說是在1986年5月9日。當時在北京工人體育館舉行紀念 “'86國際和平年”的中國百名歌星演唱會，名不見經傳的崔健身着長褂，背着吉他，褲腳一高一低地蹦上了舞臺，在臺下觀衆目瞪口呆之際吼出了“我曾經問個不休/你何時跟我走……”，即那首中國搖滾作品的開山之作《一無所有》。隨後，崔健便被稱作中國搖滾第一人。
80年代末和90年代初，中國搖滾樂壇陸續出現了如唐朝、黑豹、輪回、超載、指南針、北京 1989等樂隊。到了1994年，香港紅磡體育館舉行的“中國搖滾樂勢力”演唱會，成為中國搖滾史上最富激情的一幕，當時被稱為魔岩三傑的竇唯、張楚和何勇，以及唐朝樂隊將中國搖滾樂推嚮了一個頂峰。隨後的中國搖滾樂呈現了非常大的分化趨勢，各種樂風依次登場。如走嚮流行的鄭鈞、許巍和零點等；走低保真的朋剋樂隊盤古；花樣倍出的蒼蠅、左小祖咒和王磊；電子樂與說唱樂逐漸流行以及各種樂風之間的相互影響、相互融合。老牌的樂隊解散、主要成員單飛，如竇唯離開黑豹樂隊後，組建過做夢樂隊，又和許多樂隊即興演出合作唱片；以及新樂隊出現，如花兒、新褲子、走英式路綫的麥田守望者和清醒等；這之中一些流派是值得關註的，以北京的子曰（現已更名“爻釋·子曰”）和東北的二手玫瑰為代表的民俗搖滾正受到越來越多的關註。衆多唱片公司，如摩登天空、京文唱片以及娛樂公司在推出新樂手和樂隊、舉辦演唱會中也做出了很多嘗試和貢獻。
【西方音樂】
西方音樂史是指西方音樂的發展歷程，詳細的時代可分為：古希臘羅馬時期的音樂，中世紀時期的音樂，文藝復興時期的音樂，巴洛剋音樂，古典主義音樂，浪漫音樂，現代音樂和新世紀音樂等等。
【西洋樂器】
鍵盤樂器
鋼琴
風琴
管風琴
古鋼琴
羽管鍵琴
手風琴
電子琴
電鋼琴
電子三角鋼琴
撥弦樂器
吉他
電吉他
竪琴
低音吉他
木管樂器
單簧管
雙簧管
英國管
長笛
短笛
口琴
巴鬆管
薩剋斯管
簧風琴
手風琴
管風琴
爵士風琴
探戈手風琴
排簫
巴鬆管
舌簧直管
銅管樂器
小號
短號
衝鋒號
法國號
長號
次中音號
上低音號
低音號
弓弦樂器
小提琴
中提琴
大提琴
低音提琴
打擊樂器
定音鼓
木琴
鐘琴
馬林巴琴
鑼
鈸
小軍鼓
大鼓
爵士鼓
日本鼓
清脆鈴
【爵士音樂】
在爵士樂的麯調中，除了從歐洲傳統音樂、白人的民謠和通俗歌麯中吸取的成分之外，最有個性的是 “布魯斯音階”（關於這種音階的結構，我們將在有關布魯斯的部分專門介紹），而爵士樂的和聲可以說是完全建立在傳統和聲的基礎之上，衹是更加自由地使用各種變化和弦，其中主要的與衆不同之處，也是由布魯斯和弦帶來的。
爵士樂在使用的樂器和演奏方法上極有特色，完全不同於傳統樂隊。自“爵士樂時代”以來，薩剋斯管成為銷售量最大的樂器之一；長號能夠奏出其他銅管樂器做不到的、滑稽的或是怪誕的滑音，因而在爵士樂隊中大出風頭；小號也是爵士樂手偏愛的樂器，這種樂器加上不同的弱音器所産生的新奇的音色以及最高音區的幾個音幾乎成了爵士樂獨有的音色特徵；鋼琴、班卓琴、吉他以及後來出現的電吉他則以其打擊式的有力音響和演奏和弦的能力而占據重要地位。相反，在傳統樂隊中最重要的弦樂器（小提琴、中提琴、大提琴）的地位相對次要一些；圓號的濃郁音色在管弦樂隊中是很迷人的，但是對於爵士樂隊來說，它的氣質太溫順了，幾乎無人使用。在管弦樂隊中，每件樂器在音色和音量的控製上都盡量溶入整體的音響之中，在爵士樂隊中卻恰恰相反，樂手們竭力使每一件樂器都“站起來”。
樂隊的編製很靈活，最基本的是兩個部分——節奏組與旋律組。在早期的爵士樂隊中，節奏組由低音號、班卓琴和鼓組成，後來，低音號和班卓琴逐漸被低音提琴和吉他所取代，鋼琴也加入進來。在30年代，興起一種舞麯樂隊，當時稱為“大樂隊”，它有三部分組成：節奏組、銅管組和木管組。節奏組使用的樂器仍然是低音提琴、吉他、鋼琴和鼓；銅管組常見的編製是三支小號和兩支長號，但這個數目並不固定；木管組通常由四五支薩剋斯管組成，每個人都兼吹單簧管或是別的木管樂器，如果編製是五支薩剋斯管，一般是兩支中音、兩支次中音、一支上低音。還有一種商業性的（有時也稱為“甜美型”、“旅館型”等等）的樂隊，編製與“大樂隊”差不多，但薩剋斯管往往全部用次中音的，木管組會較多地使用其它的樂器（如長笛、雙簧管），有時還加上三四個小提琴，在商品錄音帶中經常可以聽到這類樂隊的音響。
與傳統音樂比較而言，爵士樂的另一大特徵是它的發音方法和音色，無論是樂器還是人聲，這些特徵都足以使人們絶不會將它們與任何傳統音樂的音色混淆。這些特殊之處大多來源於用樂器或人聲對美洲黑人民歌的模仿。如果我們有機會聽到真正的黑人田間歌麯和靈歌，就會發現那些由粗嘎到圓滑、由窒悶到響亮、由刺耳到柔美、由野蠻到抒情的大幅度的變化是多麽地富有特色、動人心魄。而在爵士樂中，更加入了非歌唱的吼聲、高叫和呻吟，突出了這種感覺。除此以外，特殊的演奏和演唱技巧也是造成特異效果的重要手段，在這些技巧中最常用的是不同於傳統觀念的顫音。我們知道，所謂顫音是音高（有時也可能是力度）的有規律的變化造成的；比如小提琴上的揉弦，就是利用這種變化而産生富有生命力的音響效果。
爵士樂中的顫音是有變化的，變化的方向一般是幅度由窄到寬，速度由慢到快，而且常常在一個音臨近結束時增加抖動的幅度和速度，更加強了這種技巧的表現力。同時，在一個音開始時，爵士樂手們會從下嚮上滑到預定的音高，在結束時，又從原來的音高滑下來。所有這些變化都是無法用樂譜來詳細記錄的，有經驗的爵士樂手都熟練地掌握了這一類的方法、尤其是這種觀念，他們可以根據不同的旋律或伴奏音型將這些效果“製造”出來。因此可以這樣說：由於即興的傳統和技巧的個人發揮，爵士樂是由作麯傢和樂手共同創造的。受過傳統教育的音樂傢之所以很難表演爵士樂，就是因為他們沒有培養出這樣的特殊的音樂觀念。如果我們細心地比較一下真正的民間歌手和受過正規訓練的歌手演唱同一首民歌的差別，對此中的含義就會有一個更直觀的概念。
從爵士樂誕生之初，它就吸引了衆多的轉業作麯傢。1920年，美國指揮傢保羅·懷特曼組織了一支著名的樂隊，將改編的爵士樂作品帶進了音樂廳。這種新潮流引起了許多“嚴肅”的爵士樂愛好者的激烈反對，然而，正是從這以後，爵士樂在美國和歐洲傢喻戶曉，受到廣泛的歡迎。格什溫的《藍色狂想麯》在這時誕生，為這部作品配器的人就是懷特曼樂隊的作麯傢格羅菲。按照手稿上的記錄，寫這部作品衹用了三個星期，演出後幾乎是立即引起轟動。歐洲作麯傢也有許多以爵士樂為基礎或是受爵士樂影響的作品，例如：德彪西的鋼琴麯《醜黑怪步態舞》（1908）、《遊吟詩人》（1910）、《怪人拉維納將軍》（1910）；拉威爾的小提琴奏鳴麯中的慢樂章（布魯斯）；斯特拉文斯基的《11件獨奏樂器的雷格泰姆》（1919）、《士兵的故事》（1918）、《黑木協奏麯》；欣德米特的《室內樂第一號》（作品24，無調性）和鋼琴組麯（1922）。
Basic elements of music: music that constitute the basic elements of music in a variety of elements, including sound level, sound length, the strength of sound and tone. By the combination of these basic elements to form a common music "form factor", such as: rhythm, melody, harmony, and the intensity, speed, tone, form, texture and so on. Elements constitute the form of musicians, music is the means of expression. The basic elements of music rhythm and melody.
1, rhythm: the rhythm of music is the music the length and intensity of exercise Alto. Rhythm of the music is often compared to music of skeleton. Beat music in the remake and the weak beat periodically, regularly repeated. Chinese traditional music called rhythm as "methodical," "board" is equivalent to strong beat; "eye" is equivalent to second strong beat (the eye) or weak beat.
2 tunes: tunes, also known as the melody. Ups and downs of musical rhythm by a certain lateral organized in an orderly manner, to form a melody. Tune is a complete music forms one of the most important means of expression. Tune to the direction is constantly changing, fundamental to the direction of three: "levels", "upstream" and "down." The same direction that the conduct of sound level; from the bass to treble, said upstream direction; from the direction of said treble down to bass. Conduct of a common tune: "Never mind repeatedly," "progressive" and "jump." According to that scale of the adjacent sound
For the progressive three degrees jumped into that little dance four times and jumped more than four times said fauna.
3, harmony: harmony, including "chord" and "Harmony for." Chords usually by three or more of the musical by certain rules of vertical (simultaneous) overlap to form the sound mix. Chord is the sound for the horizontal organization. Sound obvious thick, thin, thick, thin color effect; also constitute a clause, sub-paragraph and termination music music role.
4, strength: the strength of music degree Alto.
5, speed: Music for the speed.
6, Mode: music sound using the relationship between a certain link, the sound of a voice-centric (vocals) constitute a system, called Mode. Such as the flat type, minor type, such as China's five-tone style. Mode of the sound from the vocalist began to line up from the low to constitute a high scale.
7, form: music, horizontal organizational structure.
8 Texture: Polyphonic music of various combinations of voices form (including the relationship between vertical integration and horizontal integration).
9, melody: the idea of sound through the arts formed an organized, harmonious rhythmic movement. Melody is the foundation for music, music of the thoughts and feelings are shown through it.
】 【Music Theory
Music
Music of his law
Self-discipline of music
Music Theory
Music Aesthetics
Music History
Musical form and the work of
The effect of music
【Function】 music
Music is a symbol, sound, symbol, expression of people are thinking. Is a carrier of people's thinking. Music is a purpose, there is a connotation, which implied the author's life experience, feeling. Music from the sound of it between the constant noise and frequency between the pure tone, from the effects of speaking, it can bring people of beauty and expression of human emotion.
Music is a form of social behavior, people can exchange through music, emotions and life experience. This song was the most prominent manifestations of this role.
【Origin】 music
Since when human society with music, can not be traced. Has not produced in human language, have known the level of use of sound, strong or weak, etc. to express their own meaning and feelings. With the development of human labor, has the effect of a unified labor rhythmic chant and pass information between each other cry, this is the most original musical shape; when people celebrate the harvest and share the fruits of labor, they often beat stone, wood to express joy joy feelings, this is the prototype of the original instrument.
First, the origin of legend strings
Mercury (Mercury) is the Greek mythology the gods to God. He was reportedly walking along the Nile, the feet touch a thing given wonderful voice, he picked up, he discovered an empty shell was originally inside of a dry bar with the sounds. Mercury inspiration from this, the invention of the stringed instrument. Although research in the Mercury later generations ago already had strings, but it may be this was inspired.
Second, wind instruments legend
Account of the ancient history of China five thousand years ago the Yellow Emperor, a name known musician Ling Lun, he entered the mountains in western Queensland-based mining and bamboo flute. Phoenix was exactly five in the air Hita, he combined his voice and the law. Although this story can not be completely sure, but it could be seen as the origin of the instrument with a mysterious legend.
Third, the ancient Chinese music
--- China's first emperor Huangdi, is five thousand years ago created a calendar and writing the name of the ruler. At that time, Ling Lun in addition to the foregoing, there is one called "Fu Xi," the musician. Fu Xi was the first snake who is said to have given birth in the mother-to-twelve years. He played a 50 string, Zhang Qin, as tone is too sad, the Yellow Emperor Qin down to half its changed to 20 Wu Xian.
In addition, the legendary Yellow Emperor, also called Shen Nong, a musician, he taught to farm, and found a medicine, is said to be the first person cattle. He created the banjo, then if the idea is to use the pentatonic music, then this is taken for granted.
【Music】 China
The official written record of the history of Chinese music began in the Zhou Dynasty.
Prehistoric Ancient Music】 【
Chinese music of ignorance during the early ancestor of the Huaxia Huangdi two thousand years of God. According to this 6700 years to 7000 years of the Neolithic Age, the ancestors may have been able to burn Pottery Xun, digging system bone whistle. The original instrument undoubtedly tell people, when the human already has the capability of the musical aesthetic. According to the ancient musical culture of ancient literature with song, dance, music combined with the characteristics of each other. Getian Shi clan in the so-called "three operating Shelter, eight songs enough to tie down vote," the dance is the best description. At that time, people are singing the contents, such as "Respect always," "Fen grain," "the extreme of total animal" reflects the ancestors of agriculture, animal husbandry and the world know the laws of nature. These songs, dance, music and dance music each other with one of the original totem worship like the original clan ties. Such as Huangdi Shi Yun Zeng Yi family totem, his music and dance called "Cloud Gate." Songs on the original form, can be seen in "Lu" Tu Shi Zhinv Recorded in the "Song of Waiting." This song only been "on Xi Yi-man," one and only "on" and the words have real meaning. This is the music of the bud, of a pregnancy without the language. Henan Wuyang Jiahu origin of the bone flute around 6000 BC, is the world's oldest wind instrument. One of a seven-hole bone flute preserved very complete, the experts carried out experiments and found that the use of the bone flute still playing music, can be issued seven sound stage. But basically only use the ancient Chinese pentatonic scale.
【Music】 ancient
Ancient Chinese "poetry" is, regardless, that is, literature and music are closely linked to the department. The oldest Chinese poetry collection "The Book of Songs" in the Psalms at all with a tune, as sung by the masses orally. This tradition continues, and such integration of the Han Dynasty official poetry known as "Han Dynasty", Tang, Song was also able to sing. Even today, there are pop musicians as poetry _set_ to music concerts, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival Sushi description of "Prelude to Water" also Li Bai's "Poem."
Ancient China contempt musician, not to treat artists as Chinese painting and calligraphy are closely connected, the painter is literati class, even when in the Song Dynasty "to draw the examiner" (actually because of the extreme Huizong personal hobby of painting). Musicians of a lower status, but for the noble entertainment "actor." During the Tang dynasty in the famous singer Li turtles have no political status, now people know he is because he often appears in the Tang poetry, praised by others.
Ancient Chinese "scholar" class that a cultivated person should master "poetry and painting", the so-called "piano" is popular since the qin. Guqin scholar alone, but only appreciate, not on public show. Guqin smaller volume, higher status is the only musical instrument.
Summary: the development of music theory in ancient China slow in the "official history" of high status, not to leave more information in writing. But the music and literature as a compulsory subject in ancient intelligentsia, in the daily life of ancient China no doubt has an important position; it is even more full of colorful folk melody.
Xia, Shang Dynasty Music
Xia and Shang dynasties during slavery society. Literature from the classical view, when the dance music and dance have been gradually away from the original clan for the clan shared characteristics, they share more for the slave owners there. From the content point of view, they gradually left the primitive totem worship, instead of the conquest of nature for the people who carol. For example, Yu's water management for the benefit of the people, there will be a praise of the emperor Yu Dance "big summer." Xia Jie is no way, cutting the Shang Dynasty, and as a result of the praise music and dance Shang Tang Expending "big oblique." Shang Wu Fengsheng OK, so there solely on the worship of the Witch (Witch) and wizard (wizard). Nurtured by their slave owners, the line festival, dance, singing, was the first person to music as a career. Slave to music and dance to worship the Emperor of Heaven, ancestors, the same time have to indulge their own to enjoy music and dance. They died but also to musicians and sacrificial victims, the martyrdom of this brutal killing system on the one hand exposed the cruel rule of slave owners, and objectively reflects the progress of productivity compared to primitive times, making music culture with a rapidly growing conditions. According to historical records, the Xia has been a useful system Tuo crocodile Piemonte drum. Shang Dynasty have been found in wooden drums and double-cavity birds taotie Skin to drums, and the production of well-bred Shi Hua Shi Pan plow. Bronze Age As a result, the Shang Dynasty also appeared bells, cymbals musical instrument series, most of them three to one group. The emergence of various types of percussion instruments in the history of hit musical instrument embodies the characteristics of the development of the former. Years beginning in 5000 the body of instruments Pottery Xun Ming tone from the hole at the time, the development of two to five sound hole sound hole, it can issue 12 semitones of the sound out. According to Tao Xun pronunciation inference, Chinese folk music, the pentatonic basis of thinking in the late Neolithic period, while the sound of at least seven companies, Yin had already occurred.
Xizhou Music
Western Zhou is a slave society from prosperity to decline, the feudal system of social factors, the growing period of history. Western Zhou Dynasty court first established a complete music system. Enjoy entertainment at the banquet the status of officials of different provisions have different status, dance team preparation. Summary judgments before the ancient epic nature of the music and dance, you can see the so-called "sixth generation of music and dance", that is, when the Yellow Emperor, "Cloud Gate", when Yao's "salt pond" when Shun, "Shao", Yu when the "big summer" , when the business "big geometrid" weeks "big arms." Zhou also mingling system, to collect folk songs, in order to observe customs, police sentiments. Depends on it, preserving a large number of folk songs, _delete_d by the Spring and Autumn Period Confucius _set_ to form China's first poetry collection - "The Book of Songs." It collects from the early Western Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn Period 500 years into the middle of a total of 305 music poetry. "Book of Songs" the best part is "style." They are spread in Henan Province as the center, including the number of provinces around the country folk song 15. There are also literary creations, "Taiga", "Xiao Ya," and the Sacrifice epic song "Song" these types of genre. Handed down its text analysis, "Book of Songs" songs to form structure can be summarized as ten. As the song's climactic end, has a special name "chaos." In the "Book of Songs," a book before and after, the famous patriotic poet Qu Yuan's sacrifice according to Chu songs compiled into "Nine Songs", with strong characteristics of Chu culture. Thus, two different works of different musical styles into a north and south pavilions interest.
Live folk music during the Zhou Dynasty social life involved a dozen side, very active. Shi-Chuan Boya piano, Zhong Ziqi Salon story that begins at this time. This reflects the performance technology, technology, and people appreciate the composition level. Guqin playing, the piano were also concludes that "purest heart of the device can only be" playing psychological feelings. QIN famous musicians singing the song, according to records to "Shaking the tree, ring containing Feiyun." More civil Genv Han E, after the song "Yin Yu Rao Liang, three days is not absolute." These are highly technical achievements in vocal music.
Zhou's cultural achievements can also be highly developed in 1978 with the County of Hubei's Warring States period unearthed tombs of ancient musical instruments Marquis Yi of Zeng as an important symbol. This can be comparable to the pyramids of Egypt provide a treasure trove of underground music at the court music system model, where unearthed eight 124 instrument, according to Zhou's "octave" instrument classification (gold, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, earth, leather, wood) everything almost all kinds of musical instruments. The most important of 64 bells musical instrument, at the upper and the lower-ranking provision, the total weight of up to five thousand kilograms, the total up to five octave range. However, as the Shang and Zhou bells chime a bell with two tone hair features, including the Department of the pitch is 12 semitones in place, you can transfer spin palace, which confirmed the pre-Qin literature on spin palace reliable records. Tomb clock, there are inscriptions on the pan instrument, says the feudal theory of temperament between countries, reflecting the height of the Zhou Dynasty Musical Temperament achievements. In the Zhou Dynasty, Temperament theory has been established. 5 sound stage name (gong, shang, jiao, zhi [zhi three times], birds) also have been established. At this time, people already know five or seven voices sound in order to voice the main palace, Palace, Palace Music from place to place is called spin, so that you can achieve the transfer effect. Law school to highlight the achievements found in "tube - to members of Chapter" recorded in the "one-third of the profit and loss method." Is to house the chord sound basis, increased by one third (Yi I), by Palace Music sign four degrees below the pure tone; sign minus one third of the chord tone (loss of one), be levied Music five degrees above the pure sound business; inferior race continues to be projected on the tone pentatonic chord. Operator in accordance with this method all 12 semitones within the octave (Temperament) the chord length, constitutes a "one-third of the profit and loss law system." Because of this legal system is based on the five-degree intervals of natural made with students, and each time with students than those made of sound micro-tempered high-five degrees, so not sending twelve law students with high-octave tone, resulting in the so-called "brass bells can not be restored" to the spin transfer Palace inconvenience. However, this fully reflects the melodic beauty of tone tuning system continues today.
Qin and Han Dynasties Music
Qin, start with "verse." It inherited the system of the Zhou Dynasty to the collecting folk songs, collecting, sorting changed folk music, the end results of a large number of musicians in the feast, Jiao Si, Asaga so on play. Such as singing the lyrics, known as the verse poems. Verse, and later be extended to all income refers to music or write it into music lyrics, even some of the more drama and gas are also called Yue.
Three Kingdoms, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties Music
Songs from the development phase and to clear up commercial music in the North get the attention Cao Wei, _set_ clear business department. Jin at the turn of the war, so clearly into the commercial music of the South, and South, Wu Ge, Western music fusion. In the Northern Wei Dynasty, the integration of this north-south commercial music back to clear the north, thus becoming the country's major popular genres. Han, along with the smooth flow of the Silk Road, Western countries have introduced the song to start the mainland. When Northern Liang Tang Yan Yue Lu Guang will occupy an important position in the Kucha (Kuqa, Xinjiang today) music brought to the mainland. This shows that people of all time music is already very popular on the exchange.
At this time, the representation of traditional music culture instrument Guqin mature, mainly as follows: there have been problems in the Han Dynasty the title of the qin melodies solution monograph, "Qin Cao." Three Kingdoms, the famous qin Kang in his book "Musical Instrument" in his book the "emblem of Zhongshan of Yu" records. This shows that people already know that Qin was the emblem bit harmonics generation. At that time, there have appeared a large number of scholars qin, such as Ji Kang and Ruan Ji and so on, "Guanglingsan" ("Niezhengciqin King"), "Yi-Lan Cao", "Tune", a famous track came.
Southern and Northern Dynasty is also a kind of popular story, their role and make-up performances, singing and dancing, while both accompaniment and orchestral accompaniment of song and dance drama. This is already a small prototype of opera.
Temperament in this period's important achievements, including the Jin Mao Xun find wind instruments, "the number of nozzle correction." Southern Song Hecheng days in one-third of the profit and loss method, the arithmetic superposition approach to the creation of a new law is very close to the tempered. His efforts to solve the one-third of the initial profit and loss can not restore law Huangzhong problem.
Sui and Tang Dynasty Music
Sui and Tang dynasties, political unity, especially in the Tang Dynasty, political stability, economic prosperity, the rulers policy of openness, the courage to absorb the culture of the outer city, together with Wei has been bred since the laying the foundation of all music and cultural integration, and finally germination taking music and dance music as the main indicator of the overall development of the peak.
Tang Dynasty palace feast of music, called "Yan Music." Sui and Tang Dynasty's seven-step music, nine belong to Yin Lok Lok. They are of all ethnic groups, and foreign folk music, mainly QingShang Music (Han), Western Liang (now Gansu) music, Gao (now Turpan) music, Kucha (Kuqa this) music, Kang country (now Russia Han Samar) music, Yasukuni (now Russian Bukhara) music, Tianzhu (now India), music, Korea (now North Korea) Theatre. One Kucha music, music Xiliang more important. Yan Yue was also divided into sitting and Li in the Department of Kabuki Kabuki play, according to Bai's "Legislative Department of Kabuki," poetry, the Department of trick the performer to sit higher than Li in Kabuki.
Tang song and dance rage music is unique in the wonderful work of Yan. It inherits the traditional phase and koji, a unique blend of nine music in the essence of all music, forming a bulk order - in order or making order - broken or dance all over the structure. Found in "Jiaofang recorded" Recording Tang Daqu Commissioned total of 46, which "霓裳羽衣舞" the emperor of its renowned musicians as the Emperor's, but also combines elegant style of the French song for the World praiseworthy. The famous poet, wrote a description of the performance process Daqu vivid poem "霓裳羽衣舞 song."
The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty's culture also finds expression in a series of music education institutions, such as teaching workshops, pear orchards, large music department, advocating the Department and specialized instructors do not teach young children Liyuan Park. Strict performance of these institutions, creating the groups of talented musicians. Literary History of Tang to none at the time is the concert singing. Geishas Zeng Yi was singing and faster famous poem; poet has his own poems into music after the wide spread measure their writing skills. Bands in the Tang Dynasty, the pipa is one of the main instruments. It has almost the same shape today's pipa. Fujian now, and the Japanese lute Nanqu in shape and playing on the method still preserved some features of the Tang pipa.
By Kucha theory of music, appeared in 84 notes Tang, Yan music 28 tone music theory. Cao Tang Dynasty also created by the word soft spectrum Guqin notation, has been in use to modern times.
Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties Music
To the Yuan Dynasty, the emergence of national musical instruments sanxian noteworthy. Studies in music theory, music Yan Song appeared in the record scale. Meanwhile, the early spectral type notation is also Zhang Yan, "etymology" and Shen Kuo's "Meng Xi Bi Tan" appears. Recent passage of a musical score from the direct time. Chinese Opera Song or mature age. It is marked by the emergence of the Southern Song Shinan play. Southern Opera, also known as Wenzhou Dynasty, Yongjia Opera, the music rich and natural. Initially some non-minor, concerts can be transferred from house restrictions. Tune body was later developed into opera music, also emerged a number of organizations, different melody phrases constitute a new melody of "Song Collection" form. South opera in concert form, has been solo, duets, chorus and so on. Handed down three Southern Drama this, "Zhang Xie" and found "Paradise Daqu." Opera in the Yuan Dynasty Yuan Dynasty appeared to peak represented. The initial rise of Yuan Dynasty in the north, gradually developing to the south, and the Southern drama blending occurs. Representative writers Yuan Guan Hanqing, Ma Zhiyuan, Revival after, White Park, in addition to Wang Shih-fu, Qiao Jifu, the Bank said six people. Classic works such as Guan Hanqing's "Snow in Midsummer," "will single-handedly," Wang Shih-fu's "The West Chamber." Yuan strict structure, that each work by the Si Zhe (screen) of a wedge (off site or over) form. Within the limits of a discount house with the same tune, a rhyme in the end, often by a role (at the end or Jordan) lead singer, the rules, and sometimes there are breakthroughs, such as Wang Shih-fu's "The West Chamber" up to five 20 fold. Yuan drama of the South, resulting in the Southern theater (called the Yuan and Ming legend) for further maturation. Witnessed a series of classic plays, such as "Praying Court", "Lute" and so on. Experience on behalf of the spread of these scripts is still performed. North-South style of music at that time had been initially established, the voice of seven-order-based North Qu Chen Xiong; to Southern Drama pentatonic-based soften. With the development of the arts Yuan Dynasty, there has been a summary of the first monograph on the theory opera singing, which flourished on the Temple's "Singing", and Zhou Deqing's "Rhyme" is a song first Rhyming Dictionary of the North, he north Language is divided into 19 rhymes, and the tones of Chinese characters is divided into IA, IB and IIIA, rising tone, falling tone of four. This later phonology research and development of opera rap music have a great impact.
Ming and Qing Dynasty Music
Since the Ming and Qing society has a budding capitalist economic factors, the public sectors growing, the development of music culture is more secular characteristics of the Ming dynasty rich folk ditty, though mixed, but the breadth of its influence has reached "do not ask men and women "and" everybody learning the "level. As a result, the private collection of editing, publishing ditty has become a trend, but also from folk ditty to the libretto, opera text, melodies have come out of private Editions. If Menglong editor of "Folk Songs," Zhu Quan, the first editor of the Music of "Marvelous Mysteries" and so on.
Rap colorful Ming and Qing Dynasties. One South Tanci, north lyrics to dagu, and brand music, piano books, affections Cantata kind of like that is more important. The beautiful south of Suzhou storytelling storytelling greatest impact. In the Qing Dynasty, Suzhou, Chen appeared to encounter dry desolation represented in bold relief, Chen notes; to Maru Fei represented frank Hearty duma; to the beauty represented by Yu Xiushan soften the tone of these three important school of Yu. And later proliferation of many new schools. The lyrics to dagu northern Shandong drums, wooden drums Jizhong, River drums, Jingyuntaigu more important. The brand of music like rap are chorded, Henan Major song, etc.; piano books piano books class rap with Shandong, Sichuan dulcimer, etc.; affections affections class rap in Zhejiang, Shaanxi affections, such as Hubei, Yu Gu, minorities have also been some rap Songs such as the Mongolian story-telling, Bai Big song. Ming and Qing period music and dance all the people in the greater development, such as the various Yangge Han, Uygur Muqam lamp, Tibetan capsule M, Zhuang copper encouraged Dai Peacock Dance, jump on the Yi, Miao Lusheng dance. To tune the flow of cloth as the characteristics of the Ming and Qing Chinese music emerged a new development heights. Fourth day with sea salt out loud cavity, Yuyao, Yiyang, Kunshan various cavity, which cavity in Kunshan, Jiangsu Taicang Weiliang Fu and others through reform, to fine tune and smooth sound stress prefix words abdomen, won the people's favorite suffix . Kunshan cavity has been the confluence of North and South music, forming a moment to the highest of the Kun Opera. The first Ming Liang Chen Kun plays the fish is "Washing Gauze", the remaining major repertoire, such as Ming Tang's "Peony Pavilion", Qing Hong Sheng's "Palace of Eternal Youth" and so on. Yiyangqiang its flexible features of the dialect of the opera took place around the major impact, making the growing parts of opera, such as a variety of pitched drama. Ming and Qing Dynasties, the North West Shaanxi Opera in Shaanxi Bangzi opera represented the development of very fast, it affects puzhou Clapper Shanxi, Shaanxi, with the state Clapper, Clapper Hebei, Henan clapper. This sonorous, easy-Bangzi opera enduring in the northern provinces. Qing Dynasty, by the Xi Pi and the two yellow skin composed of two basic tunes yellow cavity, formed in Beijing, thus, had an impact all over the country's opera.
【Music】 music theory
The development of music is no limit and scope, but music is time-sensitive, so if word of mouth alone, it is inevitable there will be some mistakes, over time, can not maintain the original flavor of music. Therefore, our predecessors have invented all kinds of music notation, use of these symbols of the music, and their descendants can use the spectrum, playing out with the same meaning of the music, while recorded music on a variety of symbols and rules, it said to music theory.
Ancient Chinese music is pentatonic system, on the pentatonic scale of five levels is called the "five sound", that palace (do), business (re), angle (mi), sign (sol), birds (la) . Comparison of the famous ancient Chinese music "Guanglingsan," "Mountain and Flowing Water", "Plum Blossom", etc..
National Instruments】 【
"Zhou Li Chun officials" in the musical instruments are divided into gold, stone, earth, leather, silk, wood, gourd, bamboo eight categories, called "octave" is also one of the oldest musical instrument classification.
Gold tone including the bells, special bell, cymbals
Rock Music including chimes, special chime
Accent, including Xun
Leather drum sounds, including
Sibilant including the qin, the ancient Joseph
Wood tone including zhu, Yu-
Sound, including Sheng Pao, yu
Including bamboo flute sound, flute, pipe, bamboo flute
Bells, chime issued by the two instruments sound crisp and bright, to be known as the "voice of stone", is officially recognized "the highest elegant sound." Now what is the silk string and wind sounds and short sounds of bamboo.
Ancient musical instruments mainly Xun, Fou, building, pan, Harp, zither, qin, Joseph, etc., generally slow melodious music, mainly to fit the needs of court life or religion.
【Music】 Modern
The late 19th century, China was forced to open the south coast, came into contact with Western music and musical instruments, musical bear the brunt of Guangdong, the first sound absorbing Western ways, creating new musical instruments dulcimer and marimba, the development of the orchestra music, music still has its unique Guangdong charm, is more successful example of combining Chinese and Western.
From 1838 to 1903 years (that is narrow "school music" movement before the rise of sixty years) church music music education in modern China had a tremendous impact. After the Opium War, missionaries went to China to increase the number of Western missionaries in China, missionary work, they often do with singing hymns as auxiliary method, the chromatic concepts have been spread.
Folk musicians playing Chinese musical instruments creating a new stage, erhu composer Liu Tianhua created a large number of Erhu solo, such as "Good Night", "bright line", "river water", etc., performer Hua Yanjun (blind Bing) created a "Traditional" and so on erhu and pipa. Although at the time when the world turmoil, the Chinese folk music both in solo and ensemble band have great development.
1910s to the 1920s, the New Culture Movement, many overseas Chinese to return home after the musicians began to play European classical music, also began to read music record new works. Formed a new orchestra in big cities, mixed European classical music and jazz, concert halls and radio are very popular. Shanghai in the 1930s reached its peak.
Although the use of Western instruments and musical instruments, but still is a popular music form in China, that the main melody, pentatonic-based, can be most people's favorite. Zhou Xuan was one of the most popular performers, was the representative of popular music, its for the movie "Street Angel" sang the theme song, "The Wandering Songstress" and "Butterfly," a time of great popularity, the people at that time anti-Japanese sentiment , known as the "golden voice."
The People's Republic of China established, pop songs than after the revolution, also added a translation into Chinese of Soviet pop. Began to build around the Symphony Group, played Western classical music, and Chinese composers of new works. Eastern European orchestra performing several times to China, Chinese Orchestra also participated in many international performances will be. Chinese musicians have tried to use the Western method of writing instruments with Chinese style of music, the more successful a violin concerto "Butterfly Lovers", adopted some of Shaoxing opera melodies.
And third world countries are increasing contacts, this Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble was established, specialized learning, concerts in Asia, Africa and Latin America the nation's folk music, popular in China, from the music to begin developing countries China's impact. Chinese National Orchestra of orchestration, ensemble approach is also in shape, produced many successful instrumental music symphony.
In recent years, China's folk music began to receive wide attention around the world, every Lunar New Year, will be invited to the Golden Hall in Vienna New Year Concert held in China, and packed.
School in Taiwan and Hong Kong Teng create songs the concert, the Chinese popular music to a peak, with a unique style of Chinese music and charm, Teresa Teng, a concert in the United States, it attracted too many Americans in the background the whole stage, stage management appreciation , although they do not understand the Chinese lyrics.
【Music】 revolution
In the Northern Expedition, with Chinese musicians revolution, made a lot of revolutionary songs, the National Revolutionary Army, is widely sung, some with foreign direct popular melody accompanied by revolutionary lyrics.
Anti-Japanese War, the musicians is united in writing a large number of anti-Japanese songs. Xian Xinghai's "Yellow River Cantata" magnificent, reflected the spirit of popular resistance. Composing music for the film with the "National Anthem" is majestic, a Japanese army of liberation to be sung everywhere, The People's Republic of China established, in order to be prepared and not forget how the Chinese people against foreign aggression, the National Anthem, as the national anthem .
Conference 1942 Yan'an, the Communist-controlled areas began to rewrite the local folk songs into the revolution, such as Shaanxi folk song "The East is Red." The purpose is to rewrite most of the population is illiterate farmers to spread communist ideology.
During the Cultural Revolution, Western music, especially the Soviet Union's not illegal. Retro revolutionary songs and the so-called "quotation songs", with dictatorial "model operas", and foreign exchanges almost stopped, even in the welcome banquet in honor of U.S. President Richard Nixon, the band playing American music, "haystack on turkey" , the then Minister of Culture should protest to the Prime Minister, the mainland Chinese music into a low period. To the development of music is not completely stagnant.
During the Cultural Revolution, the "model opera" Although too overbearing, but the opera will be accompanied by the introduction of the Western orchestra to produce a special effect, in the context of vigorous orchestral and skin tones of the drums, but also highlighted the characteristics of opera music, but also a Integrated Chinese and Western development. Especially the "Dahushangshan" interlude in the horn solo, and singing back tones of natural, very commendable.
Pop music】 【
Since China's reform and opening up, the first pop music from Hong Kong and Taiwan into China, particularly Taiwan, Teresa Teng singing school songs and songs popular in mainland China. In the CCTV Spring Festival Gala Performance of China's Ming-Min Zhang's "My Chinese Heart" became a hit in China, which is China's Hong Kong and Taiwan's first public music performance. Since then, China's pop music and the rest of the world's various styles, various genres of music combined, resulting in a number of popular songs. Now, the rapid development of China's pop music, pop music world in a new force should not be underestimated.
Taiwan and Hong Kong's popular music developed rapidly, the basic synchronization and international trends, particularly Hong Kong, because the government does not interfere with the creation of music, there have been many famous singers and songs, not only across China by the Chinese, but also by Japan, South Korea, fans of the cult.
In recent years, mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other parts of the world continue to share the Chinese pop music, began to convergence, convergence trend. Therefore, start with "Global Chinese pop music," the overall title. An outstanding performance: China as one of the world's largest consumer market, Hong Kong and Taiwan, overseas major pop music release list and start the preparation of more and more attention to the mainland market.
It is noteworthy that, in the popular music which, with a kind of folk music in nature, they are represented by the campus folk, urban folk, barracks ballads, folk music they also have a place among pop music, have all had their brilliant years, simple folk tunes, popular lyrics also touched many people.
【Music】 rap
The music is based on a fixed melody, rhythm, accompanied by synthesizer, scratch records, and so fast that the composition did not understand rap, many people feel too weird, too monotonous, so predicting its short-lived, but proved from its development to the present all the formal music awards ceremony and have a rap song charts the breakdown of the project, such as the annual Billboard Rap Album award is about the best American rap trend guide. Many people believe that all rap music sounds are the same, does not. You have to listen to rap shown by the feeling of rhythm and rhyme, go about it to say. For example, gang rap to help them against the community, with the obvious racist tendencies, politicized, and specifically choose non-government. And most of these singers have a background of local gangs, coupled with the talents of the rap album. So they are always around the topic of firearms, drugs, violence and survival of the subject, but in any case, the formation of these rap style, fully demonstrated the aspirations of African Americans and discontent. Any have anything to say, and talented young people, can rap in a different form, to find their own sky.
【Music】 National
Narrow sense of Chinese folk music refers to the Han Chinese music, referred to as "folk music." China's ethnic music has had more style and content, such as Tibetan music, Mongolian music, Zhuang music.
Tibetan Music
Tibetan nation is sing and dance, their song melody vast, mildly sweet. Tibetan Buddhist music can be divided into music and folk music. Buddhist music in the most famous monks sing praise tunes without words.
Tibetan folk songs resounding loud and clear, it sounds like there is a vast plateau blue sky weather, melodious tunes, but also to the five main sound. Song and dance form of "fruit harmony", "Guozhuo" (pot Zhuang), etc.. Tibetan music, some of the elements are absorbed by the Han Chinese and Western music. Some songs of the Han mimic the characteristics of Tibetan music created such as "visiting the Park," "Plateau," a kind of song. Recent years, Tibetans in Tibet are also songs of other musical elements into. In addition to the famous Tibetan singer Cedain Zhoima and singing Chinese songs mainly Han Hong, there Rongzhongerjia, East Asia, Jean Snow Dolma large number of high profile singer in Tibet.
Regular theater now finishing excavation performed traditional Tibetan opera "King Gesar."
Music Man
Northeast China and Beijing is the Manchu _set_tlements. Man's most famous folk music is from the Qing Dynasty Bajiao Gu. Man's Lullaby, "a lengthy bar," and other works are well-known, often used in Chinese modern cover.
Mongolian Music
Mongolian folk song points "folk Long Song" and "short-tune folk songs." "Long Tune" There are many homophonic words meaningless stretch singing, there are grasslands Kongkuo style. The most distinctive musical instrument is matouqin is a pull strings, piano column as a Tau general decorative carving, so this name.
Zhuang's
Guangxi Zhuang neighborhood is the home of folk songs, often young men and women singing in antiphonal style, some people even say that the time singing Zhuang's life longer than the talking. Basic and Han Zhuang folk music style similar to the main pentatonic scale. Lyrics obvious antithesis format, content at nominal, metaphor and other techniques statements to the exchange-based life, and sometimes the lyrics are referring to the Chinese classical stories and allusions. Zhuang music can be in the movie musical "The Nutcracker" in a glimpse of its magic.
Dai music
Dai's and South Asia, Myanmar, Thailand's musical style is similar to mildly mellow tunes, typical musical instruments, and as the feet drum a Hulusi, Hulusi unique timbre of a musical style of playing is Dai.
Naxi Ancient Music
Lijiang Naxi Naxi ancient music is in the middle of playing old music, is said to be imported from the Central Plains during the Ming Dynasty, and since the original local traffic inconvenience, and little outside contact, and always genuine, handed down, there are only a group of old band can play, is training his successor, is the living fossil of the 14th century music by the music industry attention.
Dong music
Dong "Great Song" is the only use of acoustic folk songs, basic for the female a cappella, vocal harmonies by the voices are very harmonious with, caused a sensation in international and won numerous awards.
Uighur Music
Uyghur music is basically the Arab style of music, great emphasis on rhythm, hand drum can play dozens of different rhythms, musical instruments are mainly suitable for immediate playing of both Seoul and thermal tile just it, the biggest is Tamboura. The traditional Uygur music "12 Maqam" all-inclusive, is the source of many folk music.
Tajik music
Tajik music, and a greater difference between Han Chinese music, good use of chromatic, melody tactfully changing, as Eagle Gao Ming, the most typical of the composer Lei Zhenbang for the movie "tip of the visitors," with songs full use of Tajik folk songs.
Korean Music
Korean music and North Korea, South Korea's music is basically the same, the main instrument with a long drum and gayageum. Gayageum similar to the ancient Chinese zither, smaller than the modern zither, playing the law are not the same, sit cross-legged knee is placed on the bomb. Music melody has its unique style.
【Music】 Opera
19th Century Opera Opera Peking opera of China is very popular in China, also one of the more popular art, large areas have their own local opera. At present, the most representative of the development of Beijing Opera in Beijing. Music Music is usually the main high-profile singing and to flute, percussion section, clapper, gongs, and tones of other stringed accompaniment. Other representatives of opera music: A Night with Hebei, Henan, Pingju opera, Shaoxing opera, Cantonese opera, Kun Opera, Shaanxi Opera, Opera, high such a play and Nuo opera. The whole of China a total of more than 600 varieties of local theater. Kun orally by the United Nations as a World Cultural Heritage List.
】 【Rock music
China's reform and opening up, and Western music was introduced to China through various channels. Music youth more or less exposed to rock music, and began to build a band, imitation and creation.
China's rock music for the first time on stage should be said that in May 9, 1986. At that time in the Beijing Workers Stadium Memorial "'86 International Year of Peace" concert in China 100 singers, Cui Jian dressed in little-known long gown and carrying a guitar, one high and one low trousers jumped on the stage, the audience stunned occasion Hou Chu, "I once asked a drag / when you come with me ... ...", that is, the first Chinese rock pioneer work as "nothing." Subsequently, the Chinese rock, Cui Jian will be the first person called.
The late 80s and early 90s, rock altar has been found in China, such as the Tang Dynasty, Panther, reincarnation, overloading, compass, Beijing 1989 and other bands. By 1994, the Hong Kong Coliseum, Hung Hom, "China's rock influence" concert in the history of China's most passionate rock scene, when the three heroes of rock known as the Magic Dou Wei, Zhang Chu and He Yong, the Chinese rock band Tang Dynasty and push to a peak. China followed a very big rock show differentiation trends, followed by appearance of various musical styles. As to the popular Zheng Jun, Xu Wei, and 0:00, etc.; lower fidelity of the punk band Pangu; pattern times out of flies, left a small ancestral curse and Wang Lei; electronic music and rap music is gaining popularity and a variety of musical styles of interaction between each other fusion. The old band dissolved, the main members of the solo, such as Dou Wei left the band after the Black Panther, had formed a dream band, but also cooperate with many bands impromptu recording; and new bands appear, such as flowers, new pants and take the British line of Catcher in the Rye and sober, etc.; this among a number of schools is of concern to Beijing's Confucius said (now renamed "The Master said Yao release") and second-hand roses to represent the Northeast folk rock more and more attention is being . Many record companies, such as the Modern Sky, Jingwenchangpian and entertainment companies in introducing new musicians and bands to hold concert also made a lot of try and contributions.
【Music】 Western
Western music history is the development of western music history, a detailed time can be divided into: Ancient Greece and Rome during the musical, the music during the Middle Ages, Renaissance music, Baroque music, Classical music, romantic music, contemporary music and New Age music and so on.
Western musical instruments】 【
Keyboard
Piano
Organ
Organ
Clavichord
Harpsichord
Accordion
Electronic keyboard
Electric piano
Electronic Piano
Stringed instrument
Guitar
Electric Guitar
Harp
Bass guitar
Woodwind
Clarinet
Oboe
British
Flute
Piccolo
Harmonica
Bassoon
Saxophone
Reed organ
Accordion
Organ
Jazz Organ
Tango Accordion
Pan
Bassoon
Reed Straight
Brass
Small
Cornet
Chong Fenghao
French Horn
Trombone
Euphonium
Baritone
Baritone
Bowed stringed instrument
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Percussion
Timpani
Xylophone
Chung Chin
Marimba
Gong
Cymbals
Snare drum
Drum
Drums
Japanese drums
Crisp bell
】 【Jazz
In the jazz tunes, in addition to traditional music from Europe, the white folk and popular songs in the lessons aside, the best character is the "blues scale" (the structure on this scale, we will be part of the specialist Bruce description), but it can be said of jazz harmony is completely built on the basis of traditional harmony, but more freedom to use a variety of chord changes, the main difference between them is caused by the blues chords.
Jazz in the use of musical instruments and playing on a very distinctive way, completely different from the traditional band. Since the "Jazz Age" since the saxophone became one of the best selling musical instruments; trombone can play the other brass instruments can not be done, funny or bizarre glide, so the team steal the show in the jazz; Trumpet is also a favorite jazz instrument, the instrument with a different mute the sound produced by the novel and the highest pitch is almost a jazz a few sound characteristics unique sound; piano, banjo, guitar, and subsequently The electric guitar is its sound and effective combat style ability to play chords occupy an important position. On the contrary, the most important band in the traditional string instruments (violin, viola, cello) in a number of relatively minor status; horn's rich sound in the orchestra is very fascinating, but for jazz, it's temperament was so docile almost no use. In the orchestra, each instrument in tone and volume control integrated into the overall sound as much as possible among the opposite team in jazz, musicians are striving to make each instrument are "stand up."
The establishment of the band is flexible, the most basic of two parts - the rhythm group and melody group. In the early jazz, the rhythm group number by the bass, banjo and drums as an afterthought, tuba and banjo bass and guitar gradually being replaced by a piano join. In the 30's, the emergence of a dance band, then called "big band", which consists of three components: the rhythm group, brass and woodwind group group. Rhythm group used instruments is still double bass, guitar, piano and drums; brass group is the establishment of common three trumpet and two trombone, but the number is not fixed; woodwind group is usually composed of 45 saxophone Everyone and clarinet or other woodwind instrument, if the establishment of five saxophone is generally two alto, two tenor, one on bass. There is also a commercial (and sometimes also referred to as "sweet-type", "hotel-type", etc.) of the band, compiled with the "big band" almost, but often all used saxophone tenor, and woodwind group will be more use of other instruments (such as the flute, oboe), sometimes with three or four violin, often in the commodity tape you can hear the sound of these bands.
Jazz in the tremolo is a change of direction of change is generally ranging from narrow to wide, the speed from slow to fast, often in a tone near the end of the range and speed increased jitter, but also enhanced the expression of such techniques . Meanwhile, in a sound beginning, jazz musicians are scheduled from the next slide up the pitch, in the end, and from the original pitch slide down. All these changes are not recorded in detail with the music, experienced jazz musicians have mastered this type of approach, especially in this concept, they can depending on the melody or accompaniment Yinxing these effects, "Manufacturing "out. So you can say this: As the improvisation skills of the individual traditions and play, jazz composers and musicians from the co-creation. Received traditional education is difficult to show the reason why jazz musicians, because they do not nurture this special musical ideas. If we carefully compare the true folk singer and formal training, the first folk singers sang the same difference in the meaning of this will have a more intuitive concept.
Jazz was born from the beginning, it attracted a lot of jobs composers. 1920, conductor Paul Luohuaiteman organized a well-known band to jazz works adapted into a concert hall. This new trend has been much "serious" jazz lovers of fierce opposition, however, this is after the well-known jazz in the United States and Europe, was widely welcomed. Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" was born at this time for this work who is the Whiteman band orchestration the composer Ge Luofei. In accordance with the manuscript on the record, write this work took only three weeks, almost immediately after the performance caused a sensation. There are also many European composers to jazz-based or affected by the works of jazz, such as: Debussy's piano piece "ugly black strange gait Dance" (1908), "il trovatore" (1910), "Frankenstein Ravi Namibia General "(1910); Ravel's Violin Sonata in the slow movement (Bruce); Stravinsky's" 11 solo instruments Leigetaimu "(1919)," The Soldier's Tale "(1918 ), "black wood Concerto"; Hindemith's "Chamber Music No." (Op. 24, atonal) and the Piano Suite (1922).
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