As a person with Taiwanese ancestry, one of the genres that I researched that is associated with Taiwan is the style of nanguan music. While the genre did originate in China, immigrants brought the genre to Taiwan where it is now very popular. The instruments generally used are three different types of lutes called pipa, sanxian, and erxian, a type of flute called a dongxiao, and a wooden clapper percussion instrument called paiban. The 5 instruments play at the same time in a heterophonic way. There may also be singing involved. The light tambre of these instruments give nanguan an “elegant and serene quality,” and pieces are usually played in a slow tempo, further strengthening this elegant quality. Today, the style may be played in small groups or clubs.

This genre reminds of the slower types of music found in western art music. While the instrumentation is obviously different, the use of an ensemble and the elegant nature of the pieces reminds me somewhat of chamber music. While the genre has spread to some Southeastern Asian countries, it is mostly self-contained in those areas, and has not had influence outside those areas. The genre still represents Taiwanese ethnicity, as many Western countries have likely never heard of the instruments used in this genre and may simply label the style as East Asian oriental music.

Source used: https://music.rice.edu/CCCCAM/intro-nanguan-music