Inharmonic sounds of bowed str ings in Western music and Beij ing opera Chen-Gia Tsai 蔡蔡蔡蔡 () National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan Graduate Institute of Musicology
Dec 16, 2015
Inharmonic sounds of bowed strings in Western music and Beijing opera
Chen-Gia Tsai(蔡振家)
National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanGraduate Institute of Musicology
Talk outlineTalk outlineChinese fiddle familyChinese fiddle family– phylogenyphylogeny– bow hair tensionbow hair tension
The jinghu The jinghu (京胡)(京胡)Inharmonic soundInharmonic sound– musical usesmusical uses– experiment on finger-string interactionexperiment on finger-string interaction
DiscussionDiscussion
ConclusionsConclusions
The origin of Chinese fiddlesThe origin of Chinese fiddles
The xiqin The xiqin (奚琴)(奚琴)– mid-8th centurymid-8th century
Subsequently introduced to both Korea Subsequently introduced to both Korea and Japan and Japan
Innovation: higher bow hair tensionInnovation: higher bow hair tension
Low bow hair tensionLow bow hair tension– Early instrumentsEarly instruments– ErxianErxian(二弦)(二弦)– Very soft, long notesVery soft, long notes
High bow hair tension High bow hair tension – Modern instrumentsModern instruments– Loud, rapid, staccato notesLoud, rapid, staccato notes
Bow hair tension: Western musicBow hair tension: Western music
The Italian bowThe Italian bow– slim and lightslim and light– a high hair tensiona high hair tension
The German bowThe German bow– highly archedhighly arched– a low hair tensiona low hair tension
German bow: chord playingGerman bow: chord playing
The player could tighten or relax the The player could tighten or relax the bow hair tension at willbow hair tension at will– high tension: playing on a single stringhigh tension: playing on a single string– low tension: playing on two or more strings low tension: playing on two or more strings
simultaneously simultaneously
www.baroquemusic.org/barvlnbo.html
Talk outlineTalk outlineChinese fiddle familyChinese fiddle family– phylogenyphylogeny– bow hair tensionbow hair tension
The jinghu The jinghu (京胡)(京胡)Inharmonic soundInharmonic sound– musical usesmusical uses– experiment on finger-string interactionexperiment on finger-string interaction
DiscussionDiscussion
ConclusionsConclusions
HistoryHistory
Low bow hair tensionLow bow hair tension (軟弓)(軟弓)High bow hair tensionHigh bow hair tension (硬弓)(硬弓)– Since 19th centurySince 19th century
Timbre & playingTimbre & playing
Loud, sharp and piercingLoud, sharp and piercing
Large-amplitude vibration of snakeskinLarge-amplitude vibration of snakeskin– Mobility of snakeskinMobility of snakeskin– Heavy use of rosinHeavy use of rosin– Forceful bowingForceful bowing
Large-amplitude vibration of stringsLarge-amplitude vibration of strings– Production of noise-rich soundProduction of noise-rich sound
Talk outlineTalk outlineChinese fiddle familyChinese fiddle family– phylogenyphylogeny– bow hair tensionbow hair tension
The jinghu The jinghu (京胡)(京胡)Inharmonic soundInharmonic sound– musical usesmusical uses– experiment on finger-string interactionexperiment on finger-string interaction
DiscussionDiscussion
ConclusionsConclusions
Digitally bowed cello stringDigitally bowed cello string
Muller & Lauterborn. Muller & Lauterborn. AcusticaAcustica 82 (4): 657-664, 1996. 82 (4): 657-664, 1996.
Inharmonic sound & bow speedInharmonic sound & bow speed
D = 2.4, 2.0, 2.0, 1.2D = 2.4, 2.0, 2.0, 1.2– Torus-like attractorTorus-like attractor– The bow speed is at the upper limit of bow The bow speed is at the upper limit of bow
speeds used for most musical purposes anspeeds used for most musical purposes and beyond.d beyond.
High bow speedsHigh bow speeds– staccato or sforzandostaccato or sforzando
Jinghu’s inharmonic soundJinghu’s inharmonic sound
DescriptionsDescriptions– blossoming tone, tiger tone, overtone, ablossoming tone, tiger tone, overtone, a
rtificial noise...rtificial noise...
High-pass noiseHigh-pass noise– ffcutoff cutoff ~ ~ 1.6 kHz. 1.6 kHz.
Finger-string collisionFinger-string collision
Touch technique of the left handTouch technique of the left hand
Nonlinear boundary condition with unilNonlinear boundary condition with unilateral constraintsateral constraints
Sitar, tanpura & biwaSitar, tanpura & biwa
Experiment on finger-string interactionExperiment on finger-string interaction
AimsAims– How frequently do they How frequently do they
contact?contact?
MethodMethod– Electrical circuitElectrical circuit– Sampling rate: 100 kHzSampling rate: 100 kHz
Experiment on finger-string interactionExperiment on finger-string interaction
MaterialsMaterials– FingerFinger– WireWire
AimAim– How the finger curvature affects How the finger curvature affects
noise productionnoise production
Talk outlineTalk outlineChinese fiddle familyChinese fiddle family– phylogenyphylogeny– bow hair tensionbow hair tension
The jinghu The jinghu (京胡)(京胡)Inharmonic soundInharmonic sound– musical usesmusical uses– experiment on finger-string interactionexperiment on finger-string interaction
DiscussionDiscussion
ConclusionsConclusions
Noise control or well-controlled noise?Noise control or well-controlled noise?
Blossoming tones of the jinhuBlossoming tones of the jinhu
Electrical guitar (distortion)Electrical guitar (distortion)– Dry & Gabrielsson (1997) Emotional expresDry & Gabrielsson (1997) Emotional expres
sion in guitar band performance.sion in guitar band performance.
Growl singingGrowl singing– Rock musicRock music– Psychological effect: aggressionPsychological effect: aggression
Why is a loud, noise-rich sound aggressive? Why is a loud, noise-rich sound aggressive?
Growl voice as a by-product of spine stabilizatGrowl voice as a by-product of spine stabilization ion – A raise in intra-abdominal pressure enhances spinA raise in intra-abdominal pressure enhances spin
e stability in preparation for suddenly applied loads e stability in preparation for suddenly applied loads (weight lifting, attack...) (weight lifting, attack...)
– Because of this association of sound with action, tBecause of this association of sound with action, the aggressive meaning of growling voices and louhe aggressive meaning of growling voices and loud, noisy sounds is universally recognized (the elecd, noisy sounds is universally recognized (the electrical guitar, the jinghu...)trical guitar, the jinghu...)
– Cholewicki et al. (1999) Lumbar spine stability can Cholewicki et al. (1999) Lumbar spine stability can be augmented with an abdominal belt and/or increbe augmented with an abdominal belt and/or increased intra-abdominal pressure.ased intra-abdominal pressure.