Challenges and Solutions for Native Mandarin-Chinese Speakers in Singing German Lieder

Abstract

ABSTRACT Challenges and Solutions for Native Mandarin-Chinese Speakers in Singing German Lieder Fei Xia The purpose of this research is to focus on the challenges faced by Mandarin-Chinese speaking singers singing German Lieder, as well as providing these singers with solutions for overcoming these difficulties. Singing art songs such as French Mélodies and German Lieder can greatly improve singers’ artistic and aesthetic values because of the beauty of the poetry and the language. However, it is very difficult for native Mandarin- Chinese speakers to sing German Lieder. Some of the primary difficulties faced by Mandarin-Chinese-speaking singers are German diction and interpretation of German poetry and texts. Solutions to these challenges of singing German Lieder will be presented. These solutions are based on the analysis of reference material as well as this writer’s singing and performing experience. This study is expected to provide native Mandarin-Chinese speakers with a helpful guide to singing German Lieder with confidence. This paper starts with the introduction of Chinese Pinyin and IPA, as well as the differences between Pinyin and German IPA, followed by the phonetic problems and solutions for native Mandarin-Chinese speakers in singing Lieder. The paper will then discuss challenges in interpreting German poetry and solutions for Mandarin-Chinese singers in interpreting German texts.