Nanguan Music: Appreciation and Practice 

南管音樂欣賞與實習

 

Instructor: Xinxin Wang

Semesters：Spring 2008, Fall 2007, Spring 2007, Fall 2006, Spring 2006, Fall 2005, Spring 2005, Fall 2004, Spring 2004, Fall 2003, Spring 2003

Credit：2

 

Course description:

 

Nanguan is a classical musical tradition in Taiwan. Its singing style is delicate, and its history can be traced back to the Tang and Song dynasty. This course can introduce non-music majors to appreciate nanguan music and to learn its basic performing techniques.

 

This course is limited to 20 students. The students must have a certain amount of music training. The course will consist of the following four stages:

 

1. Appreciation:

The instructor will select a few nanguan pieces and will teach students how to listen to it. This will also provide a chance for an explanation on the performance format of nanguan music, including its instrumentation, repertory, meters, and notation system. The instructor will also use recordings to illustrate the differences between the different styles of singing, including Quanzhou, Amoy, and Taiwan.

 

2. Tune labels and notation:

Students will learn to read nanguan notation system. The teacher will also explain the four basic scales of nanguan music. Thus students will learn to analyze the major tunes in nanguan music.

 

3. Practice of instruments

The intructor will explain the various organological features of nanguan instruments, and the students will learn to play the instruments and will perform them using actual nanguan pieces. There will be approximately four pieces to learn in the semester.

 

4. The final exam will consist of a small-scale nanguan concert.

 

Grading:

 

Midterm will be written test, including deciphering notation, transnotation, and recognizing major nanguan tunes.

Final exam will consist of singing and instrumental playing.

 

Teaching materials
1. Handouts prepared by the instructor

2. Nanguan audio-visual materials

 

Schedule:

 

Pieces to be taught

content

hours

week

Introduction

Introduction to the course, appreciation of pieces

2

1

Wang Mingyue

Analysis of the piece, reciting the lyrics, singing the notation

2

2

Singing the notation, singing the song

2

3

Singing the song, playing instruments

2

4

Practicing ornamentation

2

5

Fuwei Gongming

Analysis of the piece, reciting the lyrics, singing the notation

2

6

Singing the notation, singing the song

2

7

Singing the song, playing instruments

2

8

Practicing ornamentation

2

9

Xintou Shangbei

Analysis of the piece, reciting the lyrics, singing the notation

2

10

Singing the notation, singing the song

2

11

Singing the song, playing instruments

2

12

Practicing ornamentation

2

13

Yuanxiao Shiwu

 

Analysis of the piece, reciting the lyrics, singing the notation

2

14

Singing the notation, singing the song

2

15

Singing the song, playing instruments

2

16

Practicing ornamentation

2

17

Final

Final concert

2

18

Final test