Tradition and Transformation. Visual & Performing Arts Essay

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Irish Dance Tunes
Continuity Dances are a part of the history and culture of the Irish, and for centuries the dance tunes used became an integral part of the identity of every performance. The traditional Irish dance music has various types, but the most commonly used are jigs and reels. Each type has its own signature beats and measure which are suitable to the intricate and artistic footwork of Irish dances. The continuity of the Irish tradition involving jigs and reels are evident in the step dances that are still celebrated and performed in modern days, as well the group dances performed at social events (Pendlebury, 2015). These traditional tunes still carry the lively, energetic, grounded, and earthy percussions that are definitive of the jigs and reels from the earlier years.
The Chinese Zheng Zithers
The Chinese are well-known for their rich and diverse culture especially when it comes to music. One piece of instrument that reflects this is the Chinese zithers or the guzheng. This instrument has survived various historical events and challenges in China but still continues on up to this modern-day and age. This is a plucked string musical instrument ranging from 21 to 26 strings in the modern times with its length at 64 inches. The music made in the initial years of the Chinese Zheng zither was mostly passed on by mouth with only a few records of the technical aspects but still, many years later it is still part of the continuously evolving musical culture of the Chinese. This is regarded as an “oriental piano” and is still performed solo similar to the way it was presented centuries ago (Zhuo, 2015).
Transformations of Music
Changes are most often inevitable when it comes to music and art form, and the Irish jigs and reels are no exemption to that. From the initial influences of Celts, Normans, and Vikings it was refined and embellished creating a standardized version of Irish music and dances. These Irish dance tunes evolved and were described as modern, and elevated with a traveling style. Jigs and reels were also played and incorporated in rock songs, and not solely for nostalgic celebrations of history. But despite seeing these tunes in a more contemporary perspective, the level of difficulty is still retained (Sweers, 2005). The fusion of tradition and modernity was present in the tunes that are played in congruence with the changes in trends responding to the people of the society.
Contemporary transformatio...