Singing in Mandarin

Access audio files at:https://soundcloud.com/k-chu-j-petrus/sets/singing-in-mandarin-recorded

The success of Chinese artists internationally across many art forms has focused the world's attention on the developing cultural phenomenon in China, an emerging stage for the vocal arts. As one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, Mandarin is poised to become the next addition to lyric languages. Singing in Mandarin: A Guide to Chinese Lyric Diction and Vocal Repertoire is a comprehensive guide to unlocking the mysteries of Chinese contemporary vocal literature.

In part one, Chu and Petrus focus on diction and language, providing detailed descriptions and exercises for creating the sounds of the language. They take a uniquely systematic approach, fusing together best practices from international music conservatories for diction study, with those for Chinese language learning. Part two outlines the historical context of Chinese vocal literature, chronicling the development of the language and its repertoire over the last one hundred years. Audio files narrated by native speakers demonstrating the sounds are also included.

Singing in Mandarin provides guidance for both novices and those with previous experience singing or speaking Mandarin and is the first book of its kind to help bring the fascinating and previously inaccessible treasure of Chinese vocal music to Western audiences.

Series Editor’s Foreword

Foreword

Preface

Part One: The Sounds of Mandarin Chinese

1. Common-Ground Consonants

2. Consonants in Uncharted Territory

3. Vowels

4. Diphthongs

5. Nasal Finals

6. Glides

7. Stylistic Concerns

Part Two: Chinese Vocal Literature

8. Overview of Contemporary Chinese Vocal Literature

9. 1920s and 1930s: Three Pioneers

10. 黄自 HUANG Tzu 1904-1938

11. Mid-1930s to 1940s: Musical Patriots

12. 1950s to Mid-1960s: Ephemeral Prosperity

13. 丁善德 DING Shande 1911-1995

14. Taiwan: The Quest of Identity and Repertoire Building

15. Hong Kong: Melting Pot and Musical Pluralism

16. Doyens of Opera and Art Song: 金湘 JIN Xiang and 陆在易 LU Zaiyi

17. 1978 and Beyond: China’s Renaissance of Musical Culture

Appendix A: Chinese Pinyin Tables

Appendix B: List of Musical Examples

Appendix C: Chinese Poets

Appendix D: Sources and Resources

Bibliography