Eastern and Western Music Comparison

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Eastern and Western Music Comparison By Chuyun Yu Dr. Michael J. Pendowski Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama July 17th, 2013 The emotions they express may be similar, and they may share similar musical texture, but Eastern and Western music also demonstrate many differences in style and vocal instrument. This is due to the distinct singing techniques and different languages associated with each musical style. In this paper, I will compare both Eastern and Western vocal music in technique, the relationship of the text to the music, changes in mood, and texture. The Western and Eastern musical texts that I selected are O Mio Babbino Caro by Kiri te Kanawa from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and A Ba by Soinam Wangmo, respectively. Comparing musical styles from different parts of the world can reveal useful and interesting information. I will illustrate some key differences and similarities between the texts in the following essay with support both from my own observations in listening to the music as well as research on each vocal technique. A Ba is a Tibetan-style soprano song that was released in 2008. Its singer, Soinam Wangmo, is also a native Tibetan and a popular figure with regards to Tibetan music in China. As such, although some of her songs (including A Ba) are sung in Chinese, they are different from traditional Chinese music and instead convey Tibetan feelings and expressions. The title of the song translates to “my father,” and it praises her father who has died and expresses her thoughts of love for him. O Mio Babbino Caro, sung by Kiri te Kanawa, is part of the famous opera Gianni Schicchi, which was composed by Giacomo Puccini. It is a well-know soprano aria that is perhaps even more popular than the opera of which it is a part. This song describes the scene in which Lauretta, in order to implore her father Schicchi to approve of her love for a

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