Walk into Music: The Art and Practice of Singing

Author: Zhao Shuyun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-09-01
Features: Chapter 3 - Diverse Singing Styles
In the music life of countries around the world, traditional music, folk music, and popular music are objectively present, just as ancient China had "elegant music" and "popular music," while abroad there are operas and also jazz. Since the cultural knowledge structure of any nation is multi-layered and aesthetic awareness varies greatly, simple, complex, popular, and refined music of all levels will inevitably be loved by all strata of society. Various music styles complement and promote each other, and this will continue in the future. Currently, with the advancement of the times and the continuous evolution of life, singing styles of all types have emerged and will become increasingly colorful and vibrant. Singing style refers to the artistic characteristics, style, and tone of singing. Style is like a river, representing a long or short historical stream with its own origins and traditions. Below, we will discuss the respective features and charm of popular singing style, bel canto singing style, and folk singing style.
### I. Popular Singing Style: Enjoyed by All
1. Origin of Popular Singing Style
It originated from popular music in Europe and America, such as jazz, rock, country songs, and disco. It emerged among the people, hence possessing distinct features like массовость ( массовость), improvisation, life-likeness, and creativity. It is easily understood and accepted by the masses and has strong self-entertainment qualities.
2. "Emotion First" as the Main Feature of Popular Singing Style
This style of singing places great emphasis on the expression of emotions, natural and () vocals, light and lively forms, and clear pronunciation. The emotions range from lingering whispers to passionate and fervent outbursts, embodying "confiding" and "explosive" qualities. It shortens the distance between singers and listeners, fostering spiritual resonance and emotional communication. This style is particularly favored by the youth, as they are full of vitality, imagination, and contemplation. Popular singing, with its passionate and trendy characteristics, suits the tastes of young people well. This style requires singers to have good musical sense, individuality, and the ability to express the style of songs, as well as skill in connecting with the audience through singing. Some singers have received vocal training, but many more rely on their strong musical intuition and performance skills, along with exceptional imitation abilities. Thus, many popular singers learn by singing first and then studying.
3. Techniques of Popular Singing Style
This singing technique is not complex and does not demand strict vocal requirements. It does not emphasize a wide vocal range, strong volume, or beautiful timbre. This style often relies on microphone and other electronic devices, frequently using light voice, breathy voice, half-voice, and full voice techniques. Therefore, this singing is not chaotic; it has its own characteristics and methods. However, as a form of singing, the basic requirements are the same, such as even breath, relaxed starts, smooth vocal flow, proper positioning, clear pronunciation, sincere emotions—just like the compulsory routines in gymnastics. Then, what are the "optional moves" in popular singing? Here are some simple introductions:
(1) Light Voice and Breathy Voice Techniques
Light voice singing involves using a faint voice to achieve a confiding and lingering effect, as in songs like Little Town Story, Perhaps in the Winter, and Moon Hazy. Breathy voice singing is a method that uses the sound of exhalation to enhance vocal expression. Singers like Li Guyi, in the 1980s, used breathy voice techniques in film songs like "Brother, Sister's Tears Flow" and "Silk Flowers" from Little Flowers, as well as in "Love Affair" and "Rural Love," deepening the emotional tone and making the narration natural and moving.
(2) Rhythmic Processing Techniques
Singers intentionally delay or advance certain notes, creating a lyrical beauty in the singing. For example, in Wei Wei's Love Offering, the words "This is a call of love, this is an offering of love" are sung later than the original rhythm. Young friends can easily notice many such instances in their daily listening.
(3) Shouting-like Singing Techniques
This style often uses natural, passionate, and full-throated singing. Typical examples include Liu Huan's Sun in the Heart and "Brothers and Heroes" from the TV series Water Margin. Sometimes, crying tones are also used, as in popular songs like "Falling in Love with Someone Who Never Comes Home" and "Song of the Corner" from the film Song of the Corner.
(4) Ornaments like grace notes, slides, trills, and appoggiaturas are often used to enhance the lyrical and rhythmic beauty of the language, a unique technique frequently employed in popular singing. These techniques are highly artistic and flavorful, especially suitable for folk-style songs like Green Island Serenade and Picking Coconut.
4. Expressiveness of Popular Singing Style
Popular singing style places great emphasis on individuality, leading to a rich variety of styles and schools. By type and content, it can be divided into lyrical, ballad, energetic (jazz-rock), and shouting styles. By style schools, it includes folk styles with ancient charm and elegance, like Li Lingyu and Teresa Teng; pure and romantic styles, like Yang Yuqing and Ye Ning; distinctive and realistic styles, like Xie Xiaodong and Zhao Chuan; and powerful rock styles, like Cui Jian, Sun Guoqing, and Teng Er. Such diverse styles make popular songs and this singing style highly expressive, making the popular stage dazzling and vibrant.
### II. Diverse Folk Singing Styles
1. Origin of Folk Singing Style
This singing style has a long history and deep roots. It developed on the foundation of traditional singing techniques from folk singers, local operas, quyi, and storytelling. Folk singing style is rooted in China, created by people of all ethnic groups. It reflects the artistic characteristics of the Chinese nation, embodying a simplicity and closeness that aligns with the aesthetic habits of the Chinese people. It has a strong national temperament and emotion, making it easily accepted by the masses and possessing immense vitality.
2. "Emphasis on Words" as the Main Feature of Folk Singing Style
This style of singing places great emphasis on pronunciation and rhythmic expression, emphasizing "singing with words," "clear pronunciation and pitch," "emotions conveyed through words," "singing following words," and "pitch following words." Folk singing has a complete set of pronunciation techniques, such as "five tones and four types," "opening, closing, and combining," initial, medial, and final sounds, etc. These techniques originate from opera. Therefore, learning some opera is highly beneficial for singers. Many Chinese singers have studied opera, such as Guo Lanying, Li Guyi, and Li Lingyu. Another distinct feature of folk singing is its bright and sweet timbre, which we call "round," "sweet," "crisp," "soft," and "liquid," making it deeply loved by the Chinese people.
3. Expressiveness of Folk Singing Style
Due to China's vast territory and diverse ethnic groups, the customs, singing styles, and lyrical content vary across regions and ethnicities, forming a colorful array of singing styles. Some are passionate and energetic, some gentle and heartfelt, some lively and humorous, and some sweet and moving. Northern singing is high-pitched and bright, like Pastoral Song and Horse Racing Guards the Border. Southern songs are gentle and sweet, like Jasmine Flower and Beauty of Taihu Lake. With the development of the times, folk singing style has retained its national characteristics while incorporating scientific vocal techniques from Western vocal arts, such as resonance, breath, and more. This has continuously improved the artistic expressiveness and techniques of folk singing, forming the Chinese folk vocal music school. Representative figures include Professor Jin Tielin from the Central Conservatory of Music and the renowned singer Wu Yanzze.
Looking back at the history of folk singing, we see that before the founding of New China, people sang folk tunes like A Girl from the End of the Earth and Songs of the Four Seasons. After the founding, they sang new folk songs like Horse Racing on the Slope and Jasmine Flower. In the 1960s, they blended opera, creating new Western-Chinese operas like Jiang Jie and Red Guard of Honghu Lake. In the 1980s, they incorporated the power and grandeur of bel canto, like We Are the Yellow River and Taihang Mountains and Little Poplar. Familiar singers like Dong Wenhua, Peng Liuyuan, Jiang Dawei, Li Shuangjiang, and Yin Xiumei are all paragons of folk singing style. They are not only deeply loved by domestic audiences but also praised by foreign experts and listeners, achieving brilliant status in China's music scene.