Document #2Music can be defined as a collection of sounds and silences, however, as we learned in class, the style and truth of the music can differ significantly from one region of the world to another. In this article we will summarize each region studied by listing some important characteristics and themes of each. We will first look at the regional themes and styles of China, followed by those of Japan and Bali, then move on to the Pacific Islands, and finally conclude with Pacific Latin America. Along the way we will also compare and contrast each area and list some common similarities and differences between them. Music in China is more or less centered around three main themes. The first prevalent theme in Chinese music of the past is the idea that music should be used to improve oneself in the long term. This idea was prevalent among Chinese literati, whose ideas revolved around the Confucian idea that music should be played to improve oneself. The Guqin, a large stringed instrument of the region, was often played by scholars for introspection and was believed to lead to spiritual enlightenment for those who played it. The second common theme used in Chinese music is precision. In Canton Province the two styles of music played, Yueju and Jingju, both require extremely precise high falsetto singing and often involve only one singer and one instrument. The third theme of Chinese music was the idea of ​​amateur verses from professional musicians in China. In pre-PRC China, amateurs were actually considered higher status than professionals. Once the PRC took power, the opposite began to happen. Mass music became popular, so new musical styles began to emerge, which eventually meant that pre-PRC traditional music ...... middle of paper ...... Spanish cultures with African cultures created the mestizo heritage. African culture has brought the heavy use of percussion into traditional Latin American music. The third and final theme of the Latin American Pacific region is the strong sense of nationalism that is so common. This theme can be linked to the theme of regional identity in that much of the music that migrated from rural areas to big cities and around the world instilled a great sense of nationalism in the natives. Music varies greatly from country to country. country and there are many differences. However, when you analyze and delve deeper into the central themes of each country, you begin to spot more similarities than you initially thought. In this article, we looked at popular themes from each of the regions studied and compared and contrasted them along the way.