An Underground Palace The Tomb of Marquis Yi Died, 433 BCE

Astonishing discovery in archaeology in 1977 Coffin was wood and bronze and weighed over 7000 pounds (double coffin) Coffin was wood and bronze and weighed over 7000 pounds (double coffin) 10 metric tons of bronze artifacts 10 metric tons of bronze artifacts Furnished with weapons and armor Furnished with weapons and armor Offerings of food and drink in bronze containers Offerings of food and drink in bronze containers Many other luxury items Many other luxury items Accompanied in death by 21 young women (13 were musicians/dancers, 8 were concubines) and a dog in its own coffin Accompanied in death by 21 young women (13 were musicians/dancers, 8 were concubines) and a dog in its own coffin

Unbelievable wealth and power Model of the tomb layout Aerial Photograph of the excavation

Apparently an important man… Two distinct musical instrument ensembles, with more than 30 instruments Two distinct musical instrument ensembles, with more than 30 instruments Strings, winds, drums, stone chimes, and Strings, winds, drums, stone chimes, and 65 tuned bronze bells 65 tuned bronze bells Musically very sophisticated for the ancient world Musically very sophisticated for the ancient world Bianzhong- 65 bronze bells

“orchestra” The bells needed 5 players The bells needed 5 players Were struck with wooden mallets Were struck with wooden mallets Each bell has two tones, depending on whether it is struck on the center or the side Each bell has two tones, depending on whether it is struck on the center or the side This is apparently possible because the bells have an almond shaped cross section This is apparently possible because the bells have an almond shaped cross section 5 octave range, with inscriptions detailing the notation 5 octave range, with inscriptions detailing the notation Se, qin, zhu were stringed instruments in the tomb; Se, qin, zhu were stringed instruments in the tomb; Flutes, xiao, and sheng Flutes, xiao, and sheng Sheng was made from one piece of wood Sheng was made from one piece of wood

Jiangnan Sizhu (province) Silk and bamboo music Jiangnan (Changjiang) is the Chinese name for the Yangtze River Jiangnan (Changjiang) is the Chinese name for the Yangtze River Two major categories of music Two major categories of music The instruments are winds and strings which are struck, bowed, or plucked The instruments are winds and strings which are struck, bowed, or plucked Marco Polo called this area “Venice of the East”

Quote from text, p. 377 “Jiangnan sizhu music used to be played by hired instrumentalists at weddings and in local opera but it is better known as an amateur music today, most typically … in tea shops…” “Jiangnan sizhu music used to be played by hired instrumentalists at weddings and in local opera but it is better known as an amateur music today, most typically … in tea shops…” “In China, the skills of professional performers have always been appreciated, but music professionals themselves were typically held in low esteem before the twentieth century, which meant that amateur musicians wanted to learn the music but not be taken for professionals.” “In China, the skills of professional performers have always been appreciated, but music professionals themselves were typically held in low esteem before the twentieth century, which meant that amateur musicians wanted to learn the music but not be taken for professionals.”

Zhou Zhuang (city in Jiangnan Sizhu province) Sometimes the mixing of cultures works better than others….ahem…. Sometimes the mixing of cultures works better than others….ahem…. M M M M 1o 1o 1o 1o DQ&feature=related DQ&feature=related DQ&feature=related DQ&feature=related

Ancient Chinese categories of musical instruments Silk (strings) Silk (strings) Bamboo (flutes) Bamboo (flutes) Metal (bells) Metal (bells) Stone (tuned chimes) Stone (tuned chimes) Gourds (hollowed out) Gourds (hollowed out) Earth (clay ocarinas) Earth (clay ocarinas) Leather or Skin (drums) Leather or Skin (drums) Wood (clappers) Wood (clappers) FABULOUS LECTURE FROM THE MET IN NEW YORK (37 minutes) FABULOUS LECTURE FROM THE MET IN NEW YORK (37 minutes)

Music to accompany the fabulous lecture from the Met Y4ncLy9LA&feature=channel Y4ncLy9LA&feature=channel Y4ncLy9LA&feature=channel Y4ncLy9LA&feature=channel (1 hour 15 minutes or so) (1 hour 15 minutes or so)

Examples of traditional instruments Qin: E0 Qin: E0 E0 E0 Pipa: ss6V4c&feature=related Pipa: ss6V4c&feature=relatedhttp:// ss6V4c&feature=relatedhttp:// ss6V4c&feature=related Sheng: Sheng: c&feature=related (traditional) c&feature=related (traditional) c&feature=related c&feature=related 0&feature=related (modern) 0&feature=related (modern) 0&feature=related 0&feature=related

Erhu ww.ama zon.com /Erhu- Chinese- Violin- Bow- Case/dp /B001C9 DXMA ww.ama zon.com /Erhu- Chinese- Violin- Bow- Case/dp /B001C9 DXMA ww.ama zon.com /Erhu- Chinese- Violin- Bow- Case/dp /B001C9 DXMA ww.ama zon.com /Erhu- Chinese- Violin- Bow- Case/dp /B001C9 DXMA ube.com/watch? v=L_K54nEqfSo &feature=relate d ube.com/watch? v=L_K54nEqfSo &feature=relate d ube.com/watch? v=L_K54nEqfSo &feature=relate d ube.com/watch? v=L_K54nEqfSo &feature=relate d ube.com/watch? v=6V9JinlbpHw ube.com/watch? v=6V9JinlbpHw ube.com/watch? v=6V9JinlbpHw ube.com/watch? v=6V9JinlbpHw

Sheng Pipa Qin

Google and China Nicholas Kristof of the NY Times Nicholas Kristof of the NY Times 24/china-and-google/ 24/china-and-google/ 24/china-and-google/ 24/china-and-google/