Music Today

Archive for May, 2011

Like every country has its own traditional music and musical instruments, China also has traditional musical instruments that have been developed over the centuries. Traditionally, Chinese musical instruments have been classified according to the materials they are made up of. These materials are namely, stone, silk, gourd, metal, bamboo, clay, skin, and wood. Among these, the stone and wood instruments have become outdated. Chinese musical instruments may also be classified into string, wind, or percussion instruments. String instruments may be classified into plucked string instruments and bowed string instruments. The older instruments consist of long zithers, panpipes, flutes, the sheng, or mouth organ, and percussion instruments, such as clappers, gongs, and drums. Various lutes and fiddles were introduced later to China from Central Asia.Erhu is ... [more..]

This the first article in a series of articles that cover the steps a lyricist should take in order to convert his lyrics into actual complete songs.So you write lyrics...but are you a real lyricist? I mean have your words been put to music? We all know that lyrics are the words of songs. So if your lyrics didn't end up as songs, it means they have just been wasted!! The question now becomes: What steps should I take to convert my lyrics into a full-functional song?Well, there are two situations. First, you might be a musician too and then you have the choice of writing music for your own lyrics. Second, you might not be able to write music for your lyrics, which is ... [more..]

The slaves of the nineteenth century faced tremendous adversity to regain their freedom, but the southern gospel music lyrics they gave birth to have left their footprints deeply embedded in the pages of history. The struggles they faced and conquered provided fodder for many of the most beautiful and inspirational works of this type of music known today, and they laid the foundation for a new era of Christianity.These lyrics differ from many of the Protestant hymns predating modern gospel in that they personify a more personal relationship with God. Much of this is based upon the way that the religion evolved. The European Protestants were encouraged to maintain a much more formal religion; however, when religious services are held in filthy huts and you ... [more..]