A new approach to Mandarin Chinese lyric diction in choral music

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Pingyi Song (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Welborn Young

Abstract: Chinese choral repertoire is less performed in non-native Chinese-speaking countries, specifically in the United States. This repertoire is abundant. One reason for the underrepresentation of this repertoire in choral concerts is that Chinese composers are typically self-published and their information is usually in Chinese. Therefore, their reputations and achievements are mainly celebrated in China. However, the accurate and consistent pronunciation of the lyrics by non-native speakers remains the most significant barrier. The purpose of this study is to provide a new approach to Mandarin Chinese lyric diction in choral music by combining the Pin Yin linguistic system and the standard Western European International Phonetic Alphabet system most commonly used for diction studies of languages such as Italian, German, French, and English. In this document, Chapter I is a brief overview outlining the reasons for the absence of Chinese choral music in performances by non-native Chinese-speaking countries, especially in the United States. Chapter II introduces the general view of the Chinese language, including a brief history of the written characters, spoken language, and three linguistic systems for the characters, and finally, focuses on the most recent and commonly used Pin Yin linguistic system. An in-depth description of the sounds of Mandarin Chinese alphabetic letters and their IPA equivalents is the content of Chapters III, IV, and V: Consonants in Chapter III; Vowels, Diphthongs, and Nasal Finals in Chapter IV; and Glides in Chapter V. The focus of Chapter VI is a demonstration of the application, artistic, and stylistic decisions made in three choral pieces utilizing the Mandarin Chinese language. Lastly, Chapter VII summarizes the information in the preceding chapters, which is the document’s Conclusion.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2023
Keywords
Chinese Choral Lyric Diction, Chinese Choral Music, Mandarin Chinese Lyric Diction
Subjects
Choral music $z China
Singing $x Diction
Mandarin dialects x Study and teaching

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