May it Please Your Highness:
Music of the Asian Courts
Lesson Hub 1
It's Your Birthday! Introduction to Asian Court Music
Authors: Jennifer Walden, Huib Schippers, Ty-Juana Taylor, and Elizabeth Batiuk
Who listened to it? Who played it?
It's Your Birthday! Introduction to Asian Court Music
Where is Asia?
What was Asian court music?
Fresco at Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan, Iran, unknown artist, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Introduction to the Asian Courts
Sunset Glow in Yanaka, by Kawase Hasui. National Museum of Asian Art.
Path 1
It's your birthday!
We have a surprise for you...
20+ minutes
Low Angle Shot of Pink and Red Balloons, by Spemone, CC0, via Pexels.
What do you like most about birthdays?
Birthday Sketch, by Jennifer Walden.
Assorted Colored GiftBoxes, by Pixabay, CCO, via Pexels.
A Musical Journey Back in Time
We're going to celebrate your birthday by traveling back in time to visit some royal courts of Asia!
You may already have some questions….
Questions About Asian Court Music, by Ty-Juana Taylor. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Asian Girl on Deck with Phone in Hand, by cottonbro studios, CC0, via Pexels.
Choose an aircraft for your birthday trip:
Which would you choose for a long trip? Why?
Toni Frissell Standing on Wing of Small Airplane, with Thomas J. Watson Standing Next to Airplane, by Toni Frissell. Library of Congress.
Airplane in the Sky, by Gylfi Gylfason, CC0, via Pexels.
"Convair Takeoff," recorded by Emory Cook
Where is the Asian continent?
Person with Toy Airplane on World Map, by Andrea Piacquadio, CC0, via Pexels.
Which color represents Asia?
On which continent are we right now?
Found it!
In this Pathway, we will visit many countries that are part of Asia.
"Song of the Continents," by Ella Jenkins
We have many courts to explore in Asia!
Asia, by the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Library of Congress.
Korea
Japan
China
Vietnam
Thailand
Indonesia
India
Iran
Turkey
Kazakhstan
Families in Courts
India: Queen and King of Sikkim State
King and Queen of Sikkim, by Alice S. Kandell. Library of Congress.
King of the United Kingdom
Coronation of King Charles III, by SandyEm, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.
Korean Royalty
Korea Royal Wedding Ceremony, by Steve46814, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Court Titles and Places
Here are three royal titles. Let's find more!
Empress
Sultan
King
The Buddhist Temple Asakusa Kinryuzan, by Utagawa Hiroshige II. National Museum of Asian Art.
Court Titles
Sultan / Sultanah
Maharajah / Maharani
Shah / Shabanu
Design Your Own Court
Colored Markers, by Jennifer Walden.
What did some court music sound like?
France: "Vive le Roi: Long Live the King" - Josquin des Pres
Recorded by The American Brass Quintet
Ottoman Empire: "Medan Saz"
Recorded by Ali Ekber Çiçek
Indonesia: "Lagu Babar Lajar: Instrumental
(Gamelan, Saron, and Bonang)"
Recorded by a Gamelan Ensemble from Central Java
India: "The Sindhi-Bhairavi Mode"
Recorded by Ali Akbar Khan
Learning Checkpoint
- Where is Asia on a world map?
- What is a royal court?
- What are some names for royalty around the world?
End of Path 1: Where will you go next?
Path 2
Music of the Courts
20+ minutes
Court Scene, unknown artist. National Museum of Asian Art.
Music in Our Lives
What music do you like to listen to?
Boy Listening in Headphones, by Jonas Mohamadi. CC0, via Pexels.
What music does your family listen to?
Pura Batubolong Lombok Family Gathering, by Midori. CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A World Without Electronics
What if there were no electronics? How would we listen to music?
A Mother Sitting on the Couch with Her Kids and Their Dog, by cottonbro studio. CC0, via Pexels.
Describe how your own court music would sound.
Using music words you may know, choose your favorite sounds.
Melody:
high, middle, low
upward, downward
Tempo:
fast
medium
slow
Rhythm:
even
bumpy
Steady beat
No beat
Close-up of Sound Waves on a Computer Screen, by Jerson Vargas, CC0, via Pexels.
What did some court music sound like?
France: "Vive le Roi: Long Live the King" - Josquin des Pres
Recorded by The American Brass Quintet
Ottoman Empire: "Medan Saz"
Recorded by Ali Ekber Çiçek
Indonesia: "Lagu Babar Lajar: Instrumental
(Gamelan, Saron, and Bonang)"
Recorded by a Gamelan Ensemble from Central Java
India: "The Sindhi-Bhairavi Mode"
Recorded by Ali Akbar Khan
Music Composers and Royal Families
Joseph Haydn composed for the Prince of Esterhazy in Hungary.
Portrait of Joseph Haydn, by Thomas Hardy. {{PD-old}}, via Art UK.
Leyla Saz wrote music for the palace of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey.
Leyla Saz, unknown artist. {{PD-old}}, via Wikimedia Commons.
Debbie Wiseman composes music for British royals.
Debbie Wiseman, by Michael Leckie. Private Collection.
?
?
?
We have a challenge!
We are in charge of music at a royal court.
What will we need to think about?
Boy Lying on the Floor While Thinking, by Yan Krukau, CC0, via Pexels.
Earth Globe with Googly Eyes, by Anna Shvets, CC0, via Pexels.
Organizing Musicians and Composers
How do musicians and composers become good at what they do?
Members of the "Pipers' Club," published by Underwood & Underwood. Library of Congress.
Woman Sits on Ground Playing Sitar, by Lily Spandorf. Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
A Band Recording Music in a Studio, cottonbro studio, via Pexels.
Activity: Practice and Performance Space
Where will artists practice?
Metropolitan Opera House, photo by Grenoble17. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
What would you prefer if you were performing?
Little Boy in White Hat with Toy Dombra, by Ksenia Chernaya, CC0, via Pexels.
Persons at Home, by Jennifer Walden.
A Place to Call Home
Where will your court performers live?
Money for Performers
Do you think your performers will need to be paid?
Coins and a Piggy Bank, by Suzy Hazelwood, CC0, via Pexels.
Learning Checkpoint
-
How did royal families make sure they could listen to music any time they wanted to during the 17th century?
-
What does some court music sound like?
-
What are three things you would need to think about if you had musicians living at your court?
End of Path 2: Where will you go next?
Choose an Intersecting Path:
Listening for the Blues
Women in the Blues Music Pathway - Lesson 1, Path 2
COMING SOON!
Path 3
Court Music
Scavenger
HUNT!
20+ minutes
?
?
Explore the world of court music!
You have eight questions to answer in this challenge. You will be exploring places and music from four different countries. Good luck!
Gamelan
What country is gamelan from?
Name an instrument that plays in the gamelan.
More fun with gamelan can be found in Lesson 7: Court Music of Java, Indonesia.
Gamelan is from...
Gamelan is from Indonesia.
Indonesia is in Asia.
Indonesia in its Region, by TUBS. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Two Instruments of the Gamelan
This instrument is called a saron. It is like a xylophone.
Gamelan Jawa Saron Demung Anyar, by Culturehistory, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
This is called a gong.
Gong, Javanese Gamelan, by Jennifer Walden.
"Tari Topeng," recorded by the Bakti Buddha Ensemble
Jeong-ak
"Jeong-ak" pronunciation
What country is Jeong-ak from?
Name one instrument that plays Jeong-ak.
More fun with Jeong-ak can be found in Lesson 3: Jeong-Ak: Music of the Korean Court.
Jeong-ak is from...
Jeong-ak is from Korea.
Korea is in Asia.
South Korea Locator Map, by Ksiom. {{PD-self}}, via Wikimedia Commons.
Instruments that play Jeong-ak
The daegeum (or deagung), is a type of flute.
Daegeum Player, by Badagnani, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The gayageum has
many strings.
Joyce Kwon Playing Gayageum, by Gianina Ferreyra. Personal Collection.
The changgo (or janggu) is a double-headed drum.
Learning How to Play the Traditional Korean Janngu, by Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service. CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
"Su-Je Chon," by the Imperial Orchestra
Ragas
Which country are ragas from?
What is one instrument that plays ragas?
More fun with ragas can be found in Lesson 8: Courts of India
Ragas are from...
Ragas are from India.
India is in Asia.
India Map, by Planemad, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Location India, by Deepak Gupta. {{PD-user}}, via Wikimedia Commons.
One instrument that plays ragas is...
...the sitar.
Sitar, unknown maker, CC BY 3.0, via Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
Kadambari Playing Sitar, by Raja Ravi Varma. {{PD-old}}, via Wikimedia Commons.
Tabla
Sitar
Listen to sitar music.
In the example, listen for the sitar and tabla (set of two drums).
Music in the Courtyard of Odisha Crafts Museum, by Xopolino, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
"The Ahiri-Lalita Mode," played by Ravi Shankar.
Which continent is chong ak from?
What world region are maqam scales from?
What is one instrument that plays maqam scales?
More fun with maqam can be found in Lesson 11: Music at the Turkish Court.
Maqam
"Maqam" pronunciation
Maqam scales are from The Middle East or Southwestern Asia.
Maqam scales are from...
Middle East Locator Map, by Keepscases. {{PD-self}}, via Wikimedia Commons.
...the Oud (which rhymes with food!)
An instrument that plays maqam scales is...
Does the Oud have strings?
Oud, unknown maker. Photograph by Tdrivas. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
"Taqsim Maqam Ajam," by Rahim AlHaj with Souhail Kaspar
Lute
The Oud and the Lute
The Lute Player, by Caravaggio. {{PD-Art}}, via Wikimedia Commons.
Does the oud look like an instrument you know?
The word, "lute," comes from the Arabic word, "al oud."
Oud
"Hoert ihr Herrn - Hear Ye, Kind Sirs," by Wolfgang Roth
- Name one country from the scavenger hunt and the continent where it is located.
- Locate this country on a map or globe.
- Name a court music instrument associated with this country.
Learning Checkpoint
End of Path 3 and Lesson Hub 1: Where will you go next?
Choose an Intersecting Path:
Introduction to the Bandura
Sound Communities Music Pathway - Lesson 3, Path 1
COMING SOON!
Audio courtesy of
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Pronunciations by: Suh Yeon Kim ("daegeum," "janggu"), Suh Jin Kim ("gayagum"), Sooin Choi ("Jeong-ak"), Olçay Muslu ("maqam"), Teuku Umar Ilany ("saron")
Images courtesy of
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Institution
Joyce Kwon
Library of Congress
National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Universidad Nacional de la Plata
Jennifer Walden
Debbie Wiseman
© 2025 Smithsonian Institution. Personal, educational, and non-commercial uses allowed; commercial rights reserved. See Smithsonian terms of use for more information.
This project received Federal support from the Youth Access Grant.
For full bibliography and media credits, see Lesson 1 landing page.
Lesson 1 Media Credits