ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at gradformat@asu.edu.
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French art song was not introduced to China until the establishment of the New Republic of China in 1949. In the decades since then, French art song seems less favored by Chinese singers, when compared to Italian songs and German Lieder. Having studied both in China and the United States, the author realized that for Chinese native speakers, singing French art song is a difficult challenge.
Two main problems immediately present themselves: the language barrier and the obstacle of a basic understanding of French poetry. The author’s purpose here is to examine these problems and try to help Chinese singers by offering them a systematic path toward correct French pronunciation, a brief discussion of poetic imagery often seen in French poetry, and a selected bibliography of sources on French poetry to advance their comprehension.
First, the paper will introduce the phonology of Pinyin (Chinese Phonetic Alphabet), the system used in China to teach Chinese (Mandarin) and compare it with the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), which is universally used by people in the West to learn the pronunciation of most languages. The document will then show the sounds that are most challenging for Chinese singers and will give some suggestions and vocal exercises to help singers better pronounce French diction.
Secondly, the author will examine a few poems used in French songs to point out some of the cultural differences between China and Western countries and identify the challenges in understanding the meaning of selected French art songs from the perspective of a Chinese singer. Since an exhaustive study of French poetry would be another broad topic to be researched, the author will offer only basic suggestions and a brief annotated bibliography of sources at the end of this research project.
It is the author's hope that this document will benefit Chinese singers and voice teachers by acquainting them with French diction and by helping them to appreciate French song literature.
best known for his choral folksong arrangements but is also a composer of many original
works. Songs of Innocence, which Patriquin calls “one of my very best choral works,”
exemplifies his approach to setting text to music and provides a rich opportunity for
understanding Patriquin’s method of selecting text, creating a kind of libretto out of the
available text, setting the text to music, and conceiving of and composing instrumental
parts equal in importance to the choral parts. Also evident in this work is his attention to
such elements as precise word painting, varied theoretical approaches, and a general
musical aesthetic that focuses on beauty. This quintessential composition provides
important insights into Patriquin’s personal artistry and his approach to composition.
Patriquin does not fit text to music; instead, all of the musical elements are generated out
of the textual nuances. Patriquin’s comments on the work and his process, gleaned from
extensive email correspondence and his attendance at the U.S. premiere of the work,
provide important insights that can inform conductors and singers of his music. The study
of this suite highlights Patriquin’s expert crafting of musical elements and the methodical
layering of elements he combines to tell the musical story. Pairing Patriquin’s email
correspondence with an in-depth look at Songs of Innocence reveals his overarching
compositional ideas and underlying musical motivations.