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

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Department of Computer Science and Engineering


PhD Thesis 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 thesis consolidates the findings of three studies that expand the scope 
of research into the emotional characteristics of the violin and erhu. The 
first study examines whether findings from the Butterfly Lovers Concerto 
extend to a broader selection of Chinese and Western classical pieces, 
revealing that the violin generally conveys more happiness, agitation, and 
calmness than the erhu, while both instruments evoke sadness similarly. 
Familiarity influenced valence and arousal ratings, while performance 
variations had minimal impact. The second 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. 
The third study investigates how pitch, dynamics, and vibrato shape the 
emotional characteristics of violin tones, identifying pitch as the most 
influential factor, followed by vibrato and dynamics, which had weaker 
effects. 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:                   Tuesday, 21 January 2025

Time:                   10:00am - 12:00noon

Venue:                  Room 4472
                        Lifts 25/26

Chairman:               Prof. Keith LAU (LIFS)

Committee Members:      Prof. Andrew HORNER (Supervisor)
                        Prof. Raymond WONG
                        Prof. Gary CHAN
                        Prof. Richard SO (IEDA)
                        Prof. Zijin LI (CCOM)