Why does Chinese opera sound the way it does?

[Ferno]

i'm talking about the traditional type of Chinese singing

it sounds nasal, dialated, "whiney" even

is there a reason for this?

[roddy]

It's a good question. Who would want to listen to constant, incomprehensible whining

[geraldc]

It goes with Chinese instruments. I think if you grew up with it, you just get used to it.

Quite a lot of western folk music is "whiney". Bob Dylan has a nasal whine etc. I was in Sai Kung in HK and there was a performance of Hakka hill songs, and one of them sounded a lot like a Ralph Stanley folk song...

I always find Chinese opera quite similar to singing psalms.

[HashiriKata]

Who would want to listen to constant, incomprehensible whining

Ferno ?

[hbuchtel]

Traditional European opera sounds pretty weird too . . . if you can explain how that particular singing style developed and became popular you can probably answer the Chinese opera question!

Henry

[Xiao Kui]

I don't like the singing, but you have to admit there's sth endearing abt the "rhythm" section. Even though they seem to play the same thing every time a character walks around, exits, enters, or whatever, theres sth erratic abt the rhythm that reminds me of alternative music - or alternatives to alternative music.

[johnmck]

Is the "whiney" sound caused by the singers pronouncing the tones of the words on top of the tune itself, producing a modulation effect? My Chinese is not good enough to tell.

[Long Zhiren]

Perhaps the "whiney" singing is the sound necessary to be complimentary to the instrumental accompaniment, which sounds like a random cascade of birdcages, pots and pans falling onto street pavement from the top of a three floor building. [Actually, only a few Chinese instruments sound like this. How did these few get such big roles in the operas?]

How did this art form manage to survive the cultural revolution anyway?

As for western and other operas & "music," there's no shortage of questions. (1) Why do western opera singers have a reputation for being so fat? (2) Whose idea was it that nauseating vibrato was supposed to sound nice? (3) Why is it that the "contemporary" genre of western music is characterized by "musicians" who really can't sing or read music? (4) How did the lyrics of popular western music become so crude and/or shallow? (5) What's with the popularity of pop musicians amplifying their sounds so loud as to compete with fighter jets' afterburners? (6) How come these same musicians can't "sing" or do anything without microphones or electricity? (7) Why are so many "western" musicians singing with "whiney" sounds too?

[yingguoguy]

I know they're rhetorical questions, but I'll give it a shot anyway...

1) Why do western opera singers have a reputation for being so fat?

You build will often have a direct effect on the sound of your voice. Bigger built singers will often have a deeper voice. Hence lot's of stick thin alto-soprano's and elephantine baro-tenors.

(2) Whose idea was it that nauseating vibrato was supposed to sound nice?

Beat's me.

(3) Why is it that the "contemporary" genre of western music is characterized by "musicians" who really can't sing or read music?

Because Western 'rock' music values originality over technical ability. Ever since the Beatles most bands have been expected to both write and perform their own material. Performing songs you've written yourself is more intimate and personal than singing someone elses.

Most guitarists have few problems reading tabbed music. This is a far better and clearer system than reading traditional sheet music for a guitar.

(4) How did the lyrics of popular western music become so crude and/or shallow?

Pop music is the modern folk music. The lyrics have always been shallow, and arguably are far more abstract and complex these days than they ever have been before.

(5) What's with the popularity of pop musicians amplifying their sounds so loud as to compete with fighter jets' afterburners?

Because rock music is the music of rebellion and rebellion has to be loud. Rock music was invented by taking pop music and turning the amplifiers up to the point where the amp can't cope any more and the sound waves distort and gives it the charactaristic fuzzy sound. Compare the sound of the Who's "My Generation" to anything by Hermans Hermits in the same period.

(6) How come these same musicians can't "sing" or do anything without microphones or electricity?

As traditional music was created before electricity, the genre had to develop in such a way that musicians could project their voice as far as possible. When the microphone was invented, you could sing quietly but be amplified so everyone could here. People like Frank Sinatra developed their own style of singing much more softly. They were popular because they could put more subtle emotion into their voices and people felt the singers where singing to them personally.

In the 90's there was a show on MTV called 'unplugged' where famous musicians performed using only acoustic instruments. It produced some classic sets from Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, REM, Bruce Springsteen etc. Lots of musicians can play acoustically and do it well, but electric is often more suitable.

(7) Why are so many "western" musicians singing with "whiney" sounds too?

If you're referring to "whiney" band of the moment, Coldplay, the answer is that Chris Martin is trying to emulate Jeff Buckley, who had the voice of an angel. He just doesn't do it very well.

[skylee]

a show on MTV called 'unplugged' where famous musicians performed using only acoustic instruments. It produced some classic sets from Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton's unplugged is one of my favourite CDs. Thanks for mentioning it (am listening to it now).

[wushijiao]

Lin Yutang, traveling to America in the ‘30’s, was amazed that anyone could subject themselves to the chaotic cacophony of noises that is jazz. But as one hears more of it, it starts to make sense and it grows on you. He gave a similar explanation for why Chinese people love Chinese opera, which sounds so horrible to foreigners on the first listen.

[liuzhou]

which sounds so horrible to foreigners on the first listen

and on the 101st!