Jianpu

Jianpu is a numbered musical notation system.  It is a widely used system among the Chinese people.  Sometime is called the numeric notation or numerical notation system.  It is also known as Ziffersystem, meaning “number system.”

Here is a web link that provides a better explanation and information about Jianpu number music notation.   This website is a very good resource to understand how Chinese musics are written.

Wikipedia – Jianpu

Here Is An Example Of Jianpu With Some Erhu Symbols:

Click on the picture to see it zoomed in for more detailed look.

Here is a Good Studying Material on Jianpu in PDF Format.

China-West Study Guide

 

Here is a Good Studying Material for Understanding the Fundamentals of Music Notation in PDF Format.

It is a 173 page college text study guide in the fundamental of music notation and terminology.   Everything you want to know about Western Music Notation is in this study guide.  MUSIC NOTATION

 

Old Traditional Music Notation Called Gongche Notation:

It uses Chinese characters to represent music notation.  This form of music notation was used before Jianpu was even invented.

Wikipedia – Gongche Notation

Here is a Web Link for the History & Evolution of Music Notation:

Wikipedia – Musical Notation

Understanding Jianpu, Number Musical Notation System:

Here is a brief explanation of Erhu music reading.  Most Erhu music is in 4/4 time (4 beats in a measure, quarter note is one beat).  In Erhu, the key you are in is crucial.  In the key of D, 1 = D 2= E etc. ex. In key of G 1=G etc. For rhythm, one number all alone is one beat.  so 1 2 3 4 is four beats.  1 – is two beats 1 – - is three beats etc.  A rest is marked as 0, and the rule for the rest length applies here.  For notes less than a quarter, the standard line above as in normal music represents an eighth note.  Two lines are sixteenth notes etc.  For dotted notes 1. means one and a half and all others apply.  The legato is normal as are all other notations.  All the keys are major and all sharps apply.  Refer to this website for better explanation in detail; Wikipedia – Jianpu

Jianpu, Chinese Numbered Musical Notation Explained in Western Note Terms:

The writing system is pretty straightforward.  It’s like “do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti” in singing.  The notes of the scale are written as numbers:  1-2-3-4-5-6-7.  The octaves are designated by dots below or above the numbers, so a typical scale could be:

Click on the picture to see it zoomed in for more detailed look.

Unlike western music, the written note does not always correspond to the same pitch.  That is, the whole piece is written out in numbers and at the beginning of the piece, it will say “1 = D” or “1 = G” or “1 = F”, etc.  So Chinese musicians are very good at transposing; you could have a whole orchestra playing a piece written in the key of D and they could decide to play it in the key of A instead.  A western orchestra could never do that!  There is no distinction between major and minor keys.  If a piece is really in a minor key, say in the key of A minor, it will be written as “1 = C” but the melody will be based on the note A.

Quarter notes, eighth notes, etc. are designated with lines that are stolen from the western system.  Here are examples:

Click on the picture to see it zoomed in for more detailed look.

Additional Notes on How to Read Jianpu:

1. Chinese music notation usually are numbered notation called Jianpu.  Usually,you’ll see a note says”1=C” or other letter on the top left corner of the music script.  The number 1 means “Do” in western notation,so the note”1=C” means its in C major.
2. The number 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, means “Do,Re,Me,Fa,So,La,Ti” respectively.  While the dot below the number means one octave lower and the dot above the number means one octave higher.  For example number 1 without any dotting in C major is middle C in western notation.
3. Key signatures, barlines, and time signatures are also employed. Many symbols from Western standard notation, such as bar lines, time signatures, accidentals, tie and slur, and the expression markings are also used.
4. The number of dashes following a numeral represents the number of crotchets (4th notes) by which the note extends.  The number of underlines is analogous to the number of flags or beams on notes or rests in standard notation.
5. In the present-day Jianpu system, the melody is notated alone or with chords.   Harmonic and rhythmic elements are left to the discretion of the performers.
6. Click on the web link for more resource on reading Jianpu.  Reading Jianpu Numeric Notation

Brief Introduction on Modern Chinese Orchestra:

Click on these Web Links for better understanding of how Modern Chinese Orchestra is compared to Western Orchestra.

Wikipedia – Chinese Orchestra

Wikipedia – Orchestra (Western)

List of Chinese Musical Instruments Link:

Wikipedia – Traditional Chinese Musical Instruments


Video Samples of Modern Chinese Orchestra, Youtube Video Links:

(01)  People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra – 《大长今》 Dae Jang Geum

(02)  Li Minxiong – Flying Dragons And Jumping Tigers

(03)  Erhu: Song Fei and Orchestra – Moon Reflected on Erquan Pond

(04)  Shuiyuan Primary School – Unforgettable Water-Splashing Festival

(05)  People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra – Super Mario Brothers Theme Medley

(06)  China Broadcasting Traditional Orchestra – Moon Reflected on Erquan Pond

Western Instruments with Chinese Instruments in an Orchestra, Youtube Video Links:

(01)  Chinese Modern Orchestra – General’s Command 将军令

(02)  People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra – Theme to ‘Shenmue’ 《莎木》Part 1/2

(03)  Nanyang Polytechnic Chinese Orchestra – 我怀念的

(04)  People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra – Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film “Kiki’s Delivery Service”


Contemporary Chinese Instruments from the 12 Girls Band, Youtube Video Links: Background on the 12 Girls Band — 12 Girls Band Home Page

(01)  12 Girls Band – Shangrila

(02)  12 Girls Band – El Condor Pasa

(03)  12 Girls Band – Concerto 08

(04)  12 Girls Band – Concerto 11

(05)  12 Girls Band – Concerto 17

(06)  12 Girls Band – Ruten

(07)  12 Girls Band – River Dance

(08)  12 Girls Band – New Classicism

(09) 12 Girls Band – 淚光閃閃 – (涙そうそう) 錄音版

Additional 12 Girls Band Music Video Links:

12 Girls Band Music Video Links

SimpErhu 4.81 Software Application:

I found a really cool application for creating Jianpu number music notation through your Microsoft Word.  One can easily transpose note music into number notation music.  It also provides word document files; Common Jianpu Symbols, Erhu Specific Symbols, Keyboard Character Code, and SimpErhu User Guide. This is a good application to study and learn Jianpu and Erhu music symbols.  It is also a great application to write your own Erhu music.  Give it a Try and Have Fun with it!

SimpErhu Software Demo Videos:

(01)  SimpErhu Demo: Numbered Musical Notation with MS Word

(02)  SimpErhu Demo: Adding a Customized Menu in Word

SimpErhu Main Website: SimpErhu English — SimpErhu Chinese

SimpErhu – Erhu Music Scores Files

SimpErhu 4.81 provides you with a handy package with which a user of Microsoft Word can easily create professional quality, editable Jianpu or Numbered Musical Notation document, with Erhu’s specific use in mind. The SimpErhu true type font was designed for Erhu scores so it contains many Erhu specific symbols.

The accompanying Word template file contains powerful character manipulation codes written with MS Office Visual Basic for intuitive and fast input.  Here is the direct link to the website for the English Language Version-4.81:  English Language Simperhu 4.81

Directions: How to download and set up package, some part is a little tricky.

1. First thing is to create a new folder in your computer to download the file into.
2. Click on the my website link for Simperhu-4.81., from above
3. Then a pop up will appear and save the file on your computer were you created the folder.
4. Open up the folder, and location the Simperhu-4.81 file that has been downloaded.
5. Then Unzip the file with winzip or winrar.
6. The unzip file will open up and then Highlight All the Files (grab all the files) and Drag the highlighted files  it to newly created folder.
7. Next click on “Read Me First” file, it gives you direction but it is not that easy to understand and I had trouble locating the folders.  If it works for you that is great.
8. What I have done is this and it has work for me; through your Windows Explore, locate your WINDOWS application folder, the locate the Fonts folder.
9. Copy the file the “SimpErhuFont” that has the TT icon.
10. Then Paste the “SimpErhuFont” in the WINDOWS/Fonts folder
11. Next is to test if the fonts and texts are readable, click on one of the SimpErhu word document files from your folder.  Microsoft Word should automatically open the file.  If it works, Thats great!
12. Next is putting the “SimpErhu Template” file into the Microsoft Word template folder.  Through your Windows Explore; Program Files/Microsoft Office/Templates/1033 (This last folder will vary, is where the letter & memo templates are located).
13. Copy the “SimpErhu”, the yellow strip top as an icon, from where your SimpErhu document files are located.
14. Then Paste the “SimpErhu” file into the folder, from step #12.
15. Next is to test it, open your Microsoft Word program, then locate the template command/menu bar, a pop up menu will appear, locate the tab that has the template for the letters and memos.  If you don’t see the template file in the pop up menu, than you might have to recopy and paste it in the pop up menu directly.
16. Then click on “SimpErhu” template file.  A single page document should appear with a “Song Title” header and music notation symbols on the left side.  If it works, Thats great!

Hopefully my directions are good enough to help you out.  If you have trouble or if my directions are not good enough, please let me know.  Thanks and enjoy learning and writing erhu music.

Here is the direct link to the website for the SimpErhu Chinese Language Version-4.81:  Chinese Language Simperhu 4.81

Follow the same direction as the English Version from above (Steps 1-16).