Affective elements in Cantonese guqu

• Main Author: Ip, Eliza Patricia
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Instrumental music - China
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/6504

Two "old melodies" (guqu) from traditional Cantonese instrumental repertoire, "The Grief of Zhaojun" (Zhaojun Yuan) and "Autumn Moon Overlooking the Han Palace" (Hangong Qiuyue) are assigned contrasting moods by Cantonese musicians: the former is associated with sorrowful sentiments; the latter, with bright and/or lively qualities. This study attempts to show that affective elements in Cantonese instrumental music intergrate ancient socio-philosophical theories with aspects of traditional performance practice. Chapter 1 presents the similarities between Confucian functionalist ideology and a number of heterophonic features. Chapter 2 introduces the manifestation of Daoist metaphysical philosophy through principles of heterophonic variation and a number of melodic characteristics. Chapter 3 contains some general aspects of traditional Cantonese instrumental music and the musical analysis. The musical analysis looks, within the context of Confucianism and Daoism, at the affective role of melodic embellishment techniques associated with heterophonic practices.