Comparing and contrasting India, China, and Indonesia music cultures - Essay Example

COMPARING AND CONSTRSTING INDIA, CHINA AND INDONESIA MUSIC CULTURES Introduction Culture refers to the attitudes, beliefs, practices, values and norms held by people of a particular region or affiliation. Culture is transmitted socially from one generation to another, mostly by word of mouth, observation and writing as it is in the modern world. It exists in all institutions of life such as in politics, social sphere and the economic sphere. Culture is expressed in the way of dressing, eating habits, behavioral patterns, music and the lifestyle of the people. These expressions are as discussed below based on studies carried out in China, India and Indonesia. Cultural background and musical characteristics of China China has the longest standing history of its culture among all countries in the world; with archeological evidence indicating that China is one of the foundations of mankind. Dating back to the 4th BC, the Chinese people began living together in large groups which resulted in the cultivation of land, domestication of animals, building of pit dwellings and emergence of pottery. Chinese cultural history is recorded according to the different dynasties that make up the Chinese culture as it is today. The Chinese people today show much pride in the Han culture which saw them make great scientific discoveries, most of which even the Western countries were not aware of. This culture is most renowned for the introduction of the art culture practiced in China today. The ancient Chinese music, which dates back to the 3rd millennium, was slow and solemn with large orchestras heard in the background. The Chinese people value the single tone produced in their music more than they do the melody itself. Their musical instruments used are divided into eight groups depending on the materials they are made of. The musical notations used are all an indication of rhythm. Cultural background and musical characteristics of India Indian culture is attributed to the various religious groups that exist in India. The religions include Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. The ancient architectural monuments of India are a testament of the existence of these religions, all of which held different cultural beliefs and practices. The religions also introduced the traditional food of India from their different cuisines at that time. During the Stone Age period, early man in India began drawing animal figures and painting them in the caves he lived in. This has evolved to modern day art of painting where Indians decorate their front house porches. India is braded the land of many great philosophers, scholars and thinkers due to its ancient literature. Indian language has evolved slowly, leading to the writing of many Indian plays and literature works. The characteristics of Indian music depend on the type of music being played; classical, folk, Lavani or the Rabindra Sangeet. The most frequent used instrument in all these musical types is the Sitar which resembles a guitar. They also use the table, a small drum that is played using the fingertips. The most unique characteristic is that every type of music has a spiritual or meditative connotation. Cultural background and musical characteristics of Indonesia Indonesia is known for its multiethnic and diverse religious nature. It is believed that the Indonesian culture is highly influenced by the Indian and Chinese cultures due to migration of the people during the ancient years. Indonesian culture id determined by the region that one is studying. For instance the North Sumatra and East Java are ethnically mixed while the South Sumatra and South Kalimantan have similar art, dressing, social and political cultural affiliations. There are two distinct agricultural methods practiced in Indonesia; the permanent irrigated rice farming and the rotating swidden rice farming; both of which aim at farming of rice, the staple food in many parts of Indonesia. Due to the many ethnic groups in the island, there are many local languages but the Malay language serves as the national language hence uniting the Indonesians. The Indonesian music stands out due to its diversity as it tries to embrace the different ethnic and religious groups in the Island. The most fascinating aspect of their music is the gamelan instruments that have a unique sound and are highly decorated. The gamelan music is not used only for entertainment but also to present religious hymns. Similarities of the Chinese, Indian and Indonesian cultures and musical characteristics The cultures observed in modern day India, China and Indonesia are a reflection of their ancient practices. The three countries have stood out in the world as some of the few states that have retained their culture in spite of the Western influence. Their cultures are composed of different ethnic and religious groups but the countries remain united despite their multi-cultural aspect. The music form all the counties is used for the continuation and preservation of their heritage from one generation to another. Differences of the Chinese, Indian and Indonesian cultures and musical characteristics India stands out to be the only country that has embraced the art of decorating the front porches. China on the other hand shows its uniqueness through the many dynasties that resulted in the present day China. Indonesia is easily identified as an island, which unlike the rest has risen to ethnic conflicts over the resources available. Conclusion One very important lesson learnt from these countries is the importance of preservation of culture through the years. The countries have also managed contribute to modern day cultural shows, unlike many other nations that do not have any ancient aspect to show to the current generations. Works cited http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_nettl_excursions_6_mymusiclab/204/52393/13412733.cw/index.html Read More