Chinese Jiangnan Erhu Music Style

Abstract

This thesis examines the genesis and evolution of the Jiangnan Erhu style, an artistic tradition deeply rooted in the region's geographical, cultural, and linguistic milieu, which underscores the refined and aesthetically pleasing characteristics, distinguished by its employment of various techniques, including embellishments and vibrato, resulting in a distinctive tonal quality. The development of the Jiangnan Erhu style is intricately linked to the region's traditional stringed and woodwind instruments music and indigenous opera, with notable figures such as Liu Tianhua exerting a profound influence on its maturation. Jiangnan style is also celebrated for its extensive compositions, which exhibit numerous melodic development strategies and a consistent rhythmic tempo, encapsulating the "light, fine and elegant" essence of Jiangnan music.