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

Divergent evolutionDivergent evolution

Xiqin

奚琴

Erxian

二弦

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.

Spectrum of a blossoming toneSpectrum of a blossoming tone

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

Timbre decoration of a long toneTimbre decoration of a long tone

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

no touch

touch

no touch

touch

no touch

touch

no touch

touch

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.

Future directionFuture direction

To measure and to model the collision bTo measure and to model the collision between the string and the curved walletween the string and the curved wall– JinghuJinghu– Indian & Japanese plucked stringsIndian & Japanese plucked strings