Chinese Music

The path and origination of Chinese music can be traced way back to a largely distant period of ancient times.

Tentatively about 3000 years ago, the music scene in Europe music was witnessing the first and initial few rustlings of activity.



On the other hand, at the very same time, Chinese music scene boasted of a musical theory in its entirety, and also a whole set of sophisticated instruments of music made appearance on the Chinese music scene.

This musical emergence in China also largely owed to the orthodox music ritual that was largely advocated by Confucius.

By the time the period of the Han Dynasty approached which was dated between 206 B.C. and 220 A.D. a full fledged Music Bureau was set up by the imperial court.

This Music Bureau handled the responsibilities of gathering and then further editing all the ancient tunes and folk songs.

China had strong commercial contacts with Central Asia and this was the reason for the foray of foreign music into China.

The foreign music that forayed into China was largely of the form of Pipa, popularly known as the lute, and the hu-qin, which is a vertically held violin.

The composers improved upon the Chinese music of this era with the influence of the foreign music.

By the time of the era of the Tang Dynasty, which dated between 713 and 755 A.D, the imperial court had organized the Pear Garden Academy song and dance troupe.

This troupe employed a large number of musicians. This was the essential move that laid the foundation and then later led to growth of Chinese music.