Ethnic Music Of Yi Minority

Front 1

functions of Yi society music (4)

Back 1

1. Matrimonial practices

2. Entertainment

3. Transmission of knowledge

4. Spiritualism

Front 2

two tuning systems

Back 2

-6 1 2 3 5 6

-5 7 1 2 4 5

Front 3

function of entertainment

Back 3

“Wan Chang”(玩場)

• -a name used to describe the behavior that young people make friends-this behavior usually happens at a certain big room in the nights of
• slack farming season or festivals
• -young people play or sing or dance together; some can smoke there

Front 4

function for transmission of knowledge

Back 4

Music as a tool for old people to transmit knowledge to the next

generation
- tell the history of Yi people - teach the philosophy of life

- cherish life
- protect the environment - help each other

Front 5

function of spiritualism

Back 5

Yi people believe in animism
Bimo, the indigenous Yi priests

• - plays a very important role in the Yi society.

• - conduct rituals to propitiate

  
  

  gods and ancestors, exorcise ghosts, appease spirits, and cure illness

  
  

  -usually are males

Front 6

define: Bimo

Back 6

Yi priests

Front 7

what instruments are used by Bimo?

Back 7

1. Usually bimo hold instruments to conduct a funeral or a ritual

   
   

   -drum, bell

• Bimo is a group of people who can use these instruments.

• Females are not allowed to touch these instruments

• Pray god to cure illness

  
  

  -bimo dance and sing to exorcise serious illness
  -When bimo conducts this ritual, he needs to drink, burn incense and

  
  

  offer a chicken and rice as sacrifice offerings.

Front 8

what are the musical characteristics of Yi music?

Back 8

• Tuning systems-pentatonic -6 1 2 3 5 6

  
  

  -5 7 1 2 4 5

• Rhythm

  
  

  -first note is short; the second is long (前短後長)

  
  

  -relatively free

• Language

  
  

  -using Yi language

Front 9

secular functions vs spiritual functions types

Back 9

• Secular Functions =

  
  

  Function of matrimonial practice

  
  

  Function of entertainment

  
  

  Function of transmission of knowledge

  
  

  Spiritual function =
  Function of spiritualism

Front 10

differences in music b/t secular and spiritual functions

Back 10

1. Secular Functions
   A musical piece (melodies) can be used in these three functions.(一曲多用)

   
   

   Spiritual function

   
   

   The musical piece (melodies) can only be used under the spiritual or ritual situation(專曲專用)

Front 11

lyrics in secular functions

Back 11

e.g. today is a good day, let us sing and dance; we have a happy life.

1. -related to secular life

   
   

   - depend on the situations, Yi people can do improvisational lyrics to fit the melody.

Front 12

lyrics in spiritual function

Back 12

- related to spiritual ritual
e.g. Call soul (招魂)

Front 13

instruments in secular vs spiritual function

Back 13

Secular Functions
Instruments used in these functions cannot be used in spiritual function

Spiritual function
Instruments used in spiritual function cannot be used in others