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36 CHINESE MUSIC. POPULAR MUSIC. Under this designation must be understood all theatrical, ballad, processional, and ordinary street-song music. To perform this music none but common instruments are used: the moon-shaped guitar, three-strinaed o·tutar two-strin 0 °·ed violin, clarionet, drums, castanets, etc. · In the principal cities O C ' there are concer t-hal_ls, to which Chinese are admitted for a few cash to hear a song or a ballad. The orchestra ordinarily consists of two balloon-shaped guitars (played by girls who sing at the same time), one three-stringed guitar, one or two violins, one small drum to beat time, one flute, and one yang-ch'in. All these instruments play, or at least try to play, in unison ; still it seems to a foreigner not acquainted with their musi~ that each peiformer has a part of his own, and that each aims to distinguish himself above his colleagues by making as much noise as he can. The impression produced on foreign ears is anything but favourable. Still, if patient attention be paid,_it is soon discovered that the performers play in time and well together. A CANTONESE ORCHESTRA. Professional musicians, like actors, generally belong to the poorest classes of society. In Peking they are for the most par t blind men ; in Canton nearly all the musician-girls are blind, except courtesans living in "flower boats." It need scarcely be said, therefore, that the majority of the Chinese professional musicians a1:e totally ignorant of the principles and theory of music. The only notation they make use of 1s the one known as _the I R (lcung-ch'ih), 01• "common n@tation." Music is li ttle practised as a recreative amusement among the Chinese