Club Chinese Orchestra

[zac's mum]

Hi I have a silly question: what type of music score do Chinese Orchestra members use? Is it the same as the Western music score (you know, those notes that look like “towgay” on the 5 lines)?


I vaguely remember my Chinese Orchestra friends in my secondary school using a different notation, something like just numbers 1-7…we found it slightly difficult to communicate when planning our combined Symphonic Band + Chinese Orchestra performance. but maybe things have changed since then?

[FantasyLandDreams]

zac's mum:

Hi I have a silly question: what type of music score do Chinese Orchestra members use? Is it the same as the Western music score (you know, those notes that look like “towgay” on the 5 lines)?


I vaguely remember my Chinese Orchestra friends in my secondary school using a different notation, something like just numbers 1-7...we found it slightly difficult to communicate when planning our combined Symphonic Band + Chinese Orchestra performance. but maybe things have changed since then?

Still 1-7 number score for mine..

[eighttonesmusic]

zac's mum:

Hi I have a silly question: what type of music score do Chinese Orchestra members use? Is it the same as the Western music score (you know, those notes that look like “towgay” on the 5 lines)?


I vaguely remember my Chinese Orchestra friends in my secondary school using a different notation, something like just numbers 1-7...we found it slightly difficult to communicate when planning our combined Symphonic Band + Chinese Orchestra performance. but maybe things have changed since then?

In recent years, there has been a gradual introduction of stave notation (towgay) into Chinese Orchestras in Singapore. Currently, orchestras such as the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra, 精英华乐团, etc, have been using stave notations in their orchestras. Chinese instrumentalists studying in music conservatories also use stave notations despite playing chinese instruments.

[love43]

DD is in CO, playing pipa. A lot of her seniors are taking exams, was wondering if I should get her to take as well, don’t know if will be too stressful? After all I just want her to enjoy herself in the cca…

[zac's mum]

Thanks for your reply. I’m also curious about the history of Chinese music. How did the musicians in ancient China write or read their music? I’m sure the music notation in China would have developed separately from (and probably even earlier than) the Italian music composers.


The Chinese have a very detailed and mature written language (the Hanzi characters). Surely they would have come up with their own sophisticated music notation too?

[Zeit]

Should be 工尺谱 or 减字谱? I asked a museum docent in China this question before.


She told me it depends on the type of instruments also. As early as the Tang period, there was the 《敦煌琵琶谱》 Dunhuang Pipa score (now in Paris National Library) and another 2 Tang scores in Kyoto and Toyko National Libraries: 《五弦谱》and《碣石调·幽兰》.
Ancient musical scores were classified info and only privy to musicians’ own family/inner circle (e.g. disciples), monasteries or imperial courts.

[eighttonesmusic]

love43:

DD is in CO, playing pipa. A lot of her seniors are taking exams, was wondering if I should get her to take as well, don't know if will be too stressful? After all I just want her to enjoy herself in the cca...

Hi!
As a matter of fact, taking exams could actually enrich her CCA experience and allow her to enjoy it even more! By taking lessons, your daughter will be able to refine her technical abilities and get a competitive edge over her peers in the orchestra! Taking exams will allow her to have a system that she can follow and have something to work towards! All in all, she will definitely feel more accomplished and confident of her skills.

[schnauzie]

Hi all, glad to see this club set up. My girl is in P1 and going to learn a chinese instrument from next month. She has been learning piano for 2 years so still waiting to see if she will be taught 减谱 or stave notation. i suspect is the latter.

[Jen_11]

eighttonesmusic:

love43:

DD is in CO, playing pipa. A lot of her seniors are taking exams, was wondering if I should get her to take as well, don't know if will be too stressful? After all I just want her to enjoy herself in the cca...

Hi!
As a matter of fact, taking exams could actually enrich her CCA experience and allow her to enjoy it even more! By taking lessons, your daughter will be able to refine her technical abilities and get a competitive edge over her peers in the orchestra! Taking exams will allow her to have a system that she can follow and have something to work towards! All in all, she will definitely feel more accomplished and confident of her skills.

Hi, may I know if your teachers are local or from china? Currently looking for an erhu teacher who can speak english because my kid's chinese is not too good and cannot understand most of what the teacher is saying!