regional characteristics and differences of some chinese...

Li Bo: Regional characteristics and differences of some Chinese folk music 5/11/2010

USC EE 675 / ISE 575: Final Project Presentation 1

Regional characteristics and differences of some Chinese folk music

Bo Li ISE 575/EE 675

Final Project Presentation May 11, 2010

Background

  There are 56 nations living on this land. Different people grew up under different geographic conditions, had different ways of living, different culture and psychological characteristics.

  These differences also affected the characteristics of folk music.

  China has a vast territory, the regional geography and natural environments are complex and differ from each other.



Background

  Chinese folk music from different areas has strong regional characteristics.

Chinese people can commonly differentiate the style or origin of a folk song even if it is newly composed.

  So, what is the regional characteristics for Chinese folk music? What are the differences?

  Are there any quantitative methods to differentiate them?

Purpose of the project

  To discover the regional characteristics of some Chinese folk music

  Quantify and compare their differences

  Investigate the regional and psychological factors that had influenced the styles of the folk music at different places



Related Research

  Not too many literatures were found in these areas.   Some are listed below, but none of them had used a very

scientific way to quantify the differences of Chinese folk music:

  The classification of Chinese folk music Chinese music, 1994/01   The regional characteristics and geographical basis of the culture of

Chinese folk song Wu Yongsheng, Feng Jian, Zhang Xiaolin. Human Geography, Vol.20.No.2 2005/4

Approaches 1. Analyze the melody:   Annotate the melody by "sonic-

visualiser   Calculate and compare the

duration

2. nPVI: (Variability Index)   nPVI is calculated and compared

for each song over the whole sampling period

  nPVI refers to a “variability index,” it is a measure of durational contrast



Sample Media Selection

  A Chinese folk music collection is chosen, translated as "Chinese Folk Music Treasure Collection". These songs were from a same recording, but different singers.

  Several songs were selected from the collection. These songs were very famous in China, and highly recognized as regional representatives. (They highly represent the style of the folk music from that origin).

Selected Songs & Origins   The selected music represents the characteristics of the folk music

from four regions, which is indicated in the table and Figure as below:

Table 1 The Select Folk Songs & Corresponding Region Provinces /Region Songs (translated name)

(1) Xinjiang Province

1.1 Alamuhan 阿拉木罕 �1.2 The girl of Daban City 大阪城的姑娘 1.3 Xinjiang Good 新疆好�

(2) Inner Mongolia Province

2.1 Night in the prairie 草原之夜 �2.2 The song of pasture 牧歌 2.3 The sun rises on the prairie 草原上升起不落的太阳 �

(3) Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian...

3.1 Jasmine 茉莉花 �3.2 Scenery of Wuxi 无锡景�

(4) Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan

4.1 Water in the brooklet 小河淌水�4.2 Love song of Kangding 康定情歌�



Duration of each note: Region (1)(2)

X-axis: Note count Y-axis: Durations (seconds)

Duration of each note: Region (3)(4)

X-axis: Note count Y-axis: Durations (seconds)



Observation, average duration & nPVI values

  The observation based on the duration plots and table 3 and 4 is:

Table 4 nPVI Region Song 1 Song 2 Song 3 Average

(1) 25.0519 31.1059 19.0104 25.0561 (2) 23.1771 26.0844 32.1817 27.1477 (3) 14.5579 8.2890 11.4235 (4) 19.3600 22.9809 21.1705

Table 3 Average Time Interval (sec) Region Song 1 Song 2 Song 3 Total Average

(1) 0.3003 0.3181 0.3569 0.3251 (2) 0.4630 0.7240 0.5798 0.5889 (3) 0.4469 0.4288 0.43785 (4) 0.5258 0.4263 0.47605

Table 5 Observation Based on Table 3 &4 Region Duration Duration Change nPVI

(1) shortest (very fast speed) frequently, large variance high (2) long, frequently, large variance very high (3) normal (normal speed) not frequently, songs go smoothly low, (songs goes

smoothly) (4) normal (normal speed) some variation, long/short durations

appear sometimes high

Influent factors for the folk songs

  The style of the folk songs are affected by geographic, culture and psychological factors, and represent these factors on the other hand

•  Geographic condition •  Culture, way of living •  Psychology, characters

•  Music Style •  Regional Characteristics

affect represent



Influent factors for the folk music (1)

Influent Factors of the Folk Song (1) Region (1) Northwest, Xinjiang Province

Geography Desert, high mountains, basins Border area, close to Central Asia, Islamic Area

Culture, psychology

People love dancing and singing

Music Style

fast music speed, rhythm sensation is high music has foreign especially Islamic characteristic suitable for singing with dancing

Duration & Variance short duration, high variance


Influent Factors of the Folk Song (2)

Region (2) North, Inner Mongolia

Geography Prairie, vast pasture blue sky, white clouds, sunshine

Culture, psychology

People live by pasture husbandry, fishing

Music Style less words, long note, loud and clear musical rhythm goes freely

Duration & Variance

very long duration, high variance, change freely





Region (3) Southwest

Geography Vast plains; land of rivers and lakes, wet, more rains, beautiful scenery

Culture, psychology

People live by agriculture, people are amicable, subtle

Music Style song goes smoothly, softly

Duration & Variance normal duration, low variance



Region (4) Southeast

Geography Plateau, mountains, rugged topography, nature condition varies greatly

Culture, psychology

many different rations, hunting or agriculture or etc

Music Style Rhythm is lively, gracefully and smoothly

Duration & Variance

normal duration, relatively high variance



Conclusions

  Chinese folk music has many different styles   Chinese folk music has strong regional

characteristics   The differences can be observed through

quantitative analysis. The note duration and nPVI

  The characteristics relate to the geographic conditions, local culture and psychological factors

regional characteristics and differences of some chinese...

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