Ancient Flute Provides Clue to Origins of Traditional Chinese Music

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Ancient Flute Provides Clue to Origins of Traditional Chinese Music

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An 8,700-year-old bone flute unearthed in central China's Henan Province has been proven to use a seven-tone scale, an unusual number in traditional Chinese music,said a local researcher at the regular Asian-Pacific international museum conference held recently in Shanghai, east China.

Traditional Chinese music usually uses a five-tone scale. These tones in ancient times were dubbed Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zhi and Yu, corresponding to 1,2,3,5 and 6 in numbered musical notation.

The location where the flute was discovered, Jiahu in Wuyang County of Henan Province, may have a connection to the origins of ancient Chinese music, some specialists believe.

According to Tian Kai, deputy curator of the provincial museum of Henan, the bone flute, with a music range of two octaves, has been recreated by local specialists.

These imitations of the ancient flute allow musicians to play ordinary music of five-tone and seven-tone scales as well as musicof ethic groups in China and melodies from foreign nations, which are rich in variations of tones.

Specialists at the museum have also made imitation qings, a kind of stone designed to emit a musical note, which dates back tothe Shang Dynasty (approximately 16th to 11th century B.C.) and tothe Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C.- 476 B.C.). They have also made chimes from this period.

To further study ancient Chinese music and restore its brilliance, the museum has put together a special orchestra to perform musical scores passed on from ancient times.

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