page_title: Chinese orchestra
section_title: Modern Chinese orchestra
hierarchical_section_title: Chinese orchestra / Modern Chinese orchestra
caption_attribution_description: 2009 East Asian Games Closing Ceremony - Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
context_page_description: The term Chinese orchestra is most commonly used to refer to the modern Chinese orchestra that is found in China and various overseas Chinese communities. This modern Chinese orchestra first developed out of Jiangnan sizhu ensemble in the 1920s into a form that is based on the structure and principles of a Western symphony orchestra but using Chinese instruments. The orchestra is divided into four sections - wind, plucked strings, bow strings, and percussion, and usually performs modernized traditional music called guoyue. The orchestra may be referred to as Minzu Yuetuan or Minzu Yuedui in mainland China, Chung Ngok Tuen in Hong Kong, Huayuetuan in Southeast Asia, or Guoyuetuan in Taiwan, all meaning Chinese orchestra.
  The term may also be used to describe ancient Chinese orchestras that existed since the Shang Dynasty and was used in royal courts and later during Confucian ceremonies.
context_section_description: The modern large Chinese orchestra is a 20th-century development and is based on the Western symphony orchestra, but uses Chinese instruments in place of Western instruments.  It also emulates the Western orchestra in terms of the seating position of its musicians and composition techniques. The music produced by the Chinese orchestra however is unique and very distinct from any Western counterpart. Such orchestras usually perform Chinese orchestral music called guoyue or minyue, although its repertoire may occasionally include adaptations of Western orchestral pieces or music originally composed for Western instruments.
caption: Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
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