New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) will host the first Global Chinese Vocal Music Competition in New York City in October 2007. According to the coordinators of the event, the purpose of this competition is to promote cultural awareness and support beautiful vocal music that is pure, true, and compassionate.
Bai Xue, a soprano, said in an interview with The Epoch Times that orthodox vocal music is not popular at present. The upcoming competition will not only bring professionals and amateurs a platform where they can learn from each other, but also a resurgence and promotion of orthodox vocal music, which will bring real beauty to humanity and hope for the future.
She said, "Vocal music is similar to other arts in that it is limitless. Singers must strictly practice and refine themselves in the fundamentals of singing and the development of advanced technical skills. They also have to improve their cultivation of artisanship and morality to seek a higher level of performance in order to touch people's hearts and create a resonance."
Orthodox Vocal Music Conveys Beauty, Compassion and Divinity
The Global Chinese Vocal Music Competition includes Bel Canto and folk style singing (no popular style singing). The contestants will compete in Chinese traditional style, folk style, classical, cinema score, aria and art songs.
Bai Xue said these are the types of performances among eastern and western orthodox arts that mostly express beauty, compassion and a divine nature. They convey humanity's longing for a bright future. They also promote spirituality and a respect and appreciation of the divine harmony composed by God (Gods). Many modern styles of music are full of immoral material, heavy emotions and desires. These mutations are evidence that human morality is degenerating.
She said in Chinese ancient society, the cultivation of personal attributes was emphasized. Music was based on the "Unity of Heaven and Earth" which was deemed good and popular. Music was regarded as an approach to show respect to God (Gods), promote kindness, contain one's desires and shape human's minds. Harmonious and tranquil music was highly recommended. In ancient Western society, those famous masterpieces were produced for praising God (Gods) in religions, conveying the aspiration to explore life and reverence to God (Gods). The European vocal style has the characteristics of expressing true feelings, but in a controlled way. This type of singing purifies the mind and makes people feel majestic and awesome while standing beyond the secular world.
Orthodox Vocal Music Combines Art and Technique
Bai Xue said singing is not only a skill but also the combination of technique and art. A "perfect song" should combine tone, a singer's musicality, the theme and style of the song, as well as a singer's voice, gestures, appearance, temperament, cultural background, artisanship, esthetic features, etc.
She said, "A singer's ability is a combination of many qualities. To present a beautiful sound with natural motion and optimum rhythm, the singer has to improve his/her skills and the level of cultivation of both art and morality. Only through this way, can the singer reveal the essence of the songs. This is a very important aspect to make the song full of artistic expression."
Folk Singing Has Unique Characteristic of the Chinese People
Bai Xue expressed, "Folk singing refers to the traditional Chinese vocal methods, which are based on the Chinese language, and characteristic of a sweet, even, clear and crispy voice, with accentuation and charm. Combining with physical performances, it forms an integrated performing art in which voice, emotion, lyrics and timbre all complement each other."
She said folk singing is rich in temperament, style, spirit and is unique to the Chinese people. These features are reflected in the sound production, lyrics, tone, melody and rhythm. As a vocal method, it stresses lyrics, breathing, voice and emotion, advocates using emotion to bring out the voice, allowing emotion and voice to complement each other, letting voice follow the melody. It also advocates articulation and continuity, combining spirit and physical form, singing and performing. The voice is clear and pure. The timbre is beautiful and moving. The lyrics are sung clearly and accurately. It demands deep breathing. The performance is natural, relaxing and charismatic.
Bel Canto Demonstrates Essence of Western Arts
Bai Xue said, Bel Canto is a traditional European vocal technique, a vocal style that is especially based on Italian vocal techniques. In fact, it was developed from classical western European professional vocal techniques. After the Renaissance, it gradually developed into Bel Canto, which is a concentrated embodiment of Western classical arts.
She said, "Bel Canto specifically stresses vocal luster, strength, continuity, fluidity, softness, and beauty. It demands natural sound production; the voice is loud and clear; the timbre is beautiful and pure. It has appropriate resonance, continual sound, strong initial sound production, and stable sustenance. It has orderly dynamics. The purpose is to more accurately sing melodies in a magnificent, flexible, and flowing way with rich luster. The voice is more penetrating."
Bai Xue also expressed, the other characteristic of Bel Canto is that the voice originates from a lower position in the throat than other vocal techniques. Therefore, this technique can produce a bright and rich vocal quality with metallic character and resonance. Besides, Bel Canto is also focused on continuity between phrases. The voice is flexible and the style can be strong or soft, but mainly soft.
Perfect Combination of Bel Canto and Folk Singing
In Bai Xue's career of vocal performance, through consistent exploration and perfection, she has created a path that is different from others in terms of combining Bel Canto and folk vocal techniques. Clear pronunciation of lyrics, sweet and flowing voice, and flexible breathing are features of her singing. These are all characters of folk singing. Her singing also has many Bel Canto features such as a broad vocal range, flexible dynamics, and being strongly expressive.
Bai Xue said, "In fact a human's vocal skills are highly trainable. Nowadays, accents in folk singing are closer to Bel Canto. It is only more distinguished in the aspects of sound production and lyric pronunciation. The voice is relatively open, not as flowing. Bel Canto and folk singing only have differences in breathing, vocal position, and resonance. Bel Canto specifically stresses resonance and vocal quality, while folk singing specifically pays attention to articulation, clear and accurate lyrics, and using lyrics to bring out the voice."
Bai Xue stated, "After so many years of singing, I am still constantly traveling down my own road and exploring a vocal style that can best pass the inner meaning of a song to audiences. Besides improving vocal techniques, constantly improving one's morality is the key. Only when the singer has a beautiful heart with inner harmony and peace, can he or she share the beauty and compassion with audiences, and will benefit people."
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