A Comparative Analysis of Violin and Erhu Emotional Characteristics for Multiple Musical Excerpts

PhD Thesis Proposal Defence


Title: "A Comparative Analysis of Violin and Erhu Emotional Characteristics for 
Multiple Musical Excerpts"

by

Miss Wenyi SONG


Abstract:

Musical emotion is a complex and deeply studied phenomenon, exploring how 
different instruments evoke specific emotional responses in listeners. Research 
has often focused on distinguishing perceived versus felt emotions and the 
impact of musical elements such as timbre, tempo, and dynamics on emotional 
perception. Bowed string instruments, particularly the violin and the Chinese 
erhu, have been the subject of comparative studies aimed at understanding their 
emotional characteristics. However, these studies often face limitations such 
as focusing on single pieces, performances, or styles, limiting the 
generalizability of their findings across different repertoires.

This proposal report consolidates the findings of three studies that expand the 
scope of research into the emotional characteristics of the violin and erhu. 
The first study investigates whether previous results from comparisons of the 
Butterfly Lovers Concerto hold across a broader selection of classical Chinese 
and Western pieces. It uses the Bradley-Terry-Luce (BTL) model for ranking 
emotional characteristics like happiness, sadness, agitation, and calmness. The 
second study tests emotional perceptions in a wider array of pieces, employing 
linear regression analysis to reveal that instrument choice has a greater 
impact on low-arousal excerpts than on high-arousal ones. The third study 
delves into the influence of specific playing techniques like vibrato, 
portamento, and trill, showing that these techniques enhance the emotional 
intensity of both instruments. Across all three studies, the erhu consistently 
evokes sadness, while the violin tends to convey more positive and energetic 
emotions, with technique and cultural origin further influencing emotional 
perception.

This holistic understanding of musical emotion points to the importance of 
expanding future research beyond isolated pieces and single performances, 
advocating for more comprehensive, cross-cultural, and multi-performance 
approaches. It also highlights the intricate ways in which music, instrument, 
and culture intertwine to create distinct emotional landscapes, emphasizing the 
need for deeper exploration into how musical traditions across different 
cultures express and evoke emotion. Ultimately, these findings contribute to a 
more nuanced understanding of musical emotion, offering valuable insights for 
musicians, composers, and scholars aiming to harness the power of music to 
communicate emotion across cultural boundaries.


Date:                   Monday, 16 September 2024

Time:                   2:00pm - 4:00pm

Venue:                  Room 5501
                        Lifts 25/26

Committee Members:      Prof. Andrew Horner (Supervisor)
                        Prof. Raymond Wong (Chairperson)
                        Dr. Tristan Braud
                        Dr. Desmond Tsoi