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Forming a Collaborative Relationship between an Applied Researcher and the Researched Subject in Contemporary Taiwan: A Case Study from Beiguan Opera (北管戲)

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 178 - 212, 31.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.33906/musicologist.1183464

Abstract

In contrast to the practice of the one-way collection and analysis of data from the field as found in existing beiguan literature, this article presents a role-changing process used in the recording of beiguan opera with the Qinghexuan ensemble (慶和軒) in Taiwan, formed in order to generate bilateral benefits through a collaborative applied project. I discuss both the practical recording skills needed in the field and the mixing down skills employed in the studio to demonstrate how the designed interactive process reflects the needs in the community and how the collaboration aspect creates an interface with each step of the recording process, from making to checking. Firstly, I examine the recording process in the field, including microphone placement and recording strategy. Secondly, I discuss how the utilisation of plug-ins (equaliser, compressor, panning, balance) in the mixing of tracks is similar to, and based on, that seen in popular music and also on the research collaborators’ opinions, as shared during the fieldwork. Also presented are details behind the dynamic range of the suona (嗩吶) and the percussion instruments in this genre, for example the natural frequency arrangement on the spectrum.
Thus, this discussion shows how an ethnomusicologist can be responsive to needs shared by the community if they apply their professional training in relation to the recording process; it also reshapes the relationship between researcher and informant in an ethnographic context, in comparison to previous beiguan research, by engaging the musicians as collaborative listeners in the curation of their own art form.

References

  • Bendrups, Dan. (2015). “Transcending Researcher Vulnerability Through Applied Ethnomusicology”. The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology, Ed. Svanibor Pettan and Jeff Todd Titon. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 71-92.
  • Chen, Xiao-Tzu. (2000). “A Study on Beiguan Conservatory-Li Chung Yuan” (梨春園). Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Chen, Yue-Ling. (2008). “The Study of Beiguan Impartation: A Case of Changhua County Museum of Traditional Music and Theatre of Nanguan (南管) and Beiguan”. Master Dissertation. National Tainan University of the Arts, Tainan: Taiwan.
  • Chou, Yi-Chien. (2009). “A Study on the Life of Beiguan Musician Chuang Chin-Tsai (莊進財)”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Crowdy, Denis. (2007). “Studios at Home in the Solomon Islands: A Case Study of Homesound Studios, Honiara”. The World of Music. 49(1): 143-154.
  • Dockwray, Ruth and Moore, Allan F. (2010). “Configuring the Sound-Box 1965-1972”. Popular Music. 29(2): 191-197.
  • Fu, Ming-Wei. (2014). “Cultural Content of Pei-Kuan (北管) in Taiwan's Folk Religion-Taipei Ling-An Association (靈安社) as an Example”. Master Dissertation. National Cheng Chi University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Hofman, Ana. (2010). “Maintaining the Distance, Othering the Subaltern: Rethinking Ethnomusicologists’ Engagement in Advocacy and Social Justice”. Applied Ethnomusicology: Historical and Contemporary Approaches. Ed. Klisala Harrison; Elisabeth Mackinlay and Svanibor Pettan. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars, pp. 22-35.
  • Hood, Mantle. (1971). The Ethnomusicologist. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • Huang, Jui-Cheng. (2010). “A Study on the Performance and Educational Activities of Hsinchu Beiguan Art Troupe”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University, New Taipei City: Taiwan.
  • Huang, Kang-Ning. (2017). Listen to the Culture. Taipei: Sound Museum.
  • Huang, Yi-Chun. (2005). “Research of Pak-Koán Baing (北管八音) Blending into the Native Music Instruction-Nan-Ho Elementary School Pak-Koán Baing Band as an Example”. Master Dissertation. National Hsinchu University of Education, Hsinchu: Taiwan.
  • Izhaki, Zoey. (2018). Mixing Audio- Concepts, Practices, and Tools. New York: Routledge.
  • Jian, Miao-Ling. (2019). “A Study of Li-Fang Yuan (梨芳園) Pei-Kuan (北管) Conservatory”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Li, Wen-Zheng. (1988). “A Study on Taiwan Beiguan and Fu Lu (福路) Singing Style”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Liao, Chen-Hung. (2017). “A Research of Beiguan Musician of Li Liang-Cheng (李兩成)”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Liao, Sho-Yu. (2000). “A Study of Beiguan Musician of Su Deng-Wang (蘇登旺) in Beiguan Theatre”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Lin, Chien-Hui. (1999). “A Study of Theatre and Music in Beiguan Ban Xian (扮仙) Theatre-Taking Da Ba Xian (大八仙) and San Xian Bai (三仙白) as Examples”. Master Dissertation. Taipei: National Institute of the Art.
  • Lin, Su-Zhu. (1999). “A Study of Beiguan Ban Xian (扮仙) Theatre”. Master Dissertation. Chinese Culture University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Lin, Yi-Hsuan. (2017). “Analysis of Characters about the Chong-Kang (總綱) in Transcript of Beiguan in the Wu-Feng Xuan (舞鳳軒) of Chiayi Shingang”. Master Dissertation. National Pingtung University, Pingtung: Taiwan.
  • Lu, Chui-Kuan. (2005). Taiwanese Traditional Music: Vocal Music. Taipei: Wu-Nan Book Inc.
  • Lu, Chui-Kuan. (2007). Taiwanese Traditional Music: Instrumental Music. Taipei: Wu-Nan Book Inc.
  • Lu, Chui-Kuan. (2011). Beiguan Music. Taipei: Morning Star Publishing Inc.
  • Lu, Dai-Pei. (2014). “Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau -A Study of Beiguan Music and Theatre of Chip Lok Ian (集樂軒)”. Master Dissertation. Providence University, Taichung City: Taiwan.
  • Meintjes, Louise. (2003). Sound of Africa! Making Music Zulu in a South African Studio. Durham and London: Duke University Press.
  • Myers, Helen. (1993). Ethnomusicology: Historical and Regional Studies. U.S.: W W Norton & Co Inc.
  • Neuenfeldt, Karl. (2007a). “"Bring the Past to Present": Recording and Reviving Rotuman Music via a Collaborative Rotuman/Fijian/Australian CD Project”. The World of Music. 49(1): 83-103.
  • Neuenfeldt, Karl. (2007b). “Notes on the Engagement of Indigenous Peoples with Recording Technology and Techniques, the Recording Industry and Researchers”. The World of Music. 49(1): 7-21.
  • Ostashewski, Marcia. (2014). “Engaging Communities and Cultures in Ethnomusicology: An Introduction”. MUSICultures. 41(2). Retrieved from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/MC/article/view/22908
  • Ottosson, Åse. (2007). “"We're Just Bush Mob": Producing Aboriginal Music and Maleness in a Central Australian Recording Studio”. The World of Music. 49(1): 49-63.
  • Pan, Ju-Tuan. (1998). “A Study on Suona Music and Skills in Beiguan”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Savage, Steve. (2011). The Art of Digital Recording: A Practical Guide for Home and Studio. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Savage, Steve. (2014). Mixing and Mastering in the Box- The Guide to Making Great Mixes and Final Masters on Yours Computer. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Shih, Ying-Pin. (2016). “Tradition in Motion-The Status and Identity of Amateur Beiguan Opera and Music Communities [Zidi] in Modern Taiwanese Society”. Ph.D Dissertation. University of Sheffield: UK.
  • Stock, Jonathan. (2004). “Interface at the Peripheries: Western Impact on Other Musics”. Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century Music, Ed. Anthony Pople and Nicholas Cook. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 18-39.
  • Stock, Jonathan. (2010). “Recordings as Research Tools in Ethnomusicology” Recorded Music: Performance, Culture and Technology, Ed. Amanda Bayley. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 187-205.
  • Su, Yu-Ching. (2003). “A Study of Man Zhong Jin (慢中緊), a Melodic Pattern Used in the Old Style of Beiguan Theater Music”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Summit, Jeffrey A. (2015). “Advocacy and Ethnomusicologist: Assessing Capacity, Developing Initiatives, Setting Limits, and Making Sustainable Contributions”. The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology. Ed. Svanibor Pettan and & Jeff Todd Titon. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 199-228.
  • Tan, Sooi Beng. (2015). “Cultural Engagement and Ownership Through Participatory Approaches in Applied Ethnomusicology”. The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology. Ed. Svanibor Pettan and Jeff Todd Titon. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 109-133.
  • Titon, Jeff Todd. (1992). “Music, the Public Interest, and the Practice of Ethnomusicology” Ethnomusicology. 36(2): 315-322.
  • Titon, Jeff Todd. (1995). “Bi-Musicality as Metaphor”. The Journal of American Folklore. 108(429): 287-297.
  • Titon, Jeff Todd. (2009). “Music and Sustainability: An Introduction”. The World of Music. 51(1): 119-138.
  • Titon, Jeff Todd. (2015). “Applied Ethnomusicology: A Descriptive and Historical Account”. The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology. Ed. Svanibor Pettan and Jeff Todd Titon. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 4-28.
  • Topp Fargion, Janet. (2009). ““For My Own Research Purposes?”: Examining Ethnomusicology Field Methods for a Sustainable Music”. World of Music. 51(1): 75-93.
  • Tsai, Chi-Fang. (2010). “A Study on Beiguan Group–Take Ching Her Shiuen (慶和軒) in Chiayi County”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Tsai, Ya-Ling. (2005). “A Study in Structure of Beiguan Music - In the Case of Bann-Sehn-Xi (扮仙戲) ‘Tien-Guan-Sih-Fu’ (天官賜福)”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Tu, I-Yun. (2020). “Innovative Teaching by the Integration of Beiguan and Orff-Schulwerk – Taking Music Club of Ping Elementary School in New Taipei City as an Example”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Weng, Wei-Hong. (2010). “A Study of Beiguan Ensemble in Tamsui”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University, New Taipei City: Taiwan.
  • Wu, Huei-Chen. (1999). “The Collection and Study of Fu-Lu Gong (福路派) and Drum Music of Taiwan Pei-Kuan (北管)”. Master Dissertation. National Institute of the Art, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Wu, Pei-Hsuan. (2015). “The Research on Pei-Kuan (北管) Opera Aria of Yu-Chiao Pan (潘玉嬌)”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 178 - 212, 31.12.2023
https://doi.org/10.33906/musicologist.1183464

Abstract

References

  • Bendrups, Dan. (2015). “Transcending Researcher Vulnerability Through Applied Ethnomusicology”. The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology, Ed. Svanibor Pettan and Jeff Todd Titon. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 71-92.
  • Chen, Xiao-Tzu. (2000). “A Study on Beiguan Conservatory-Li Chung Yuan” (梨春園). Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Chen, Yue-Ling. (2008). “The Study of Beiguan Impartation: A Case of Changhua County Museum of Traditional Music and Theatre of Nanguan (南管) and Beiguan”. Master Dissertation. National Tainan University of the Arts, Tainan: Taiwan.
  • Chou, Yi-Chien. (2009). “A Study on the Life of Beiguan Musician Chuang Chin-Tsai (莊進財)”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Crowdy, Denis. (2007). “Studios at Home in the Solomon Islands: A Case Study of Homesound Studios, Honiara”. The World of Music. 49(1): 143-154.
  • Dockwray, Ruth and Moore, Allan F. (2010). “Configuring the Sound-Box 1965-1972”. Popular Music. 29(2): 191-197.
  • Fu, Ming-Wei. (2014). “Cultural Content of Pei-Kuan (北管) in Taiwan's Folk Religion-Taipei Ling-An Association (靈安社) as an Example”. Master Dissertation. National Cheng Chi University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Hofman, Ana. (2010). “Maintaining the Distance, Othering the Subaltern: Rethinking Ethnomusicologists’ Engagement in Advocacy and Social Justice”. Applied Ethnomusicology: Historical and Contemporary Approaches. Ed. Klisala Harrison; Elisabeth Mackinlay and Svanibor Pettan. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars, pp. 22-35.
  • Hood, Mantle. (1971). The Ethnomusicologist. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • Huang, Jui-Cheng. (2010). “A Study on the Performance and Educational Activities of Hsinchu Beiguan Art Troupe”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University, New Taipei City: Taiwan.
  • Huang, Kang-Ning. (2017). Listen to the Culture. Taipei: Sound Museum.
  • Huang, Yi-Chun. (2005). “Research of Pak-Koán Baing (北管八音) Blending into the Native Music Instruction-Nan-Ho Elementary School Pak-Koán Baing Band as an Example”. Master Dissertation. National Hsinchu University of Education, Hsinchu: Taiwan.
  • Izhaki, Zoey. (2018). Mixing Audio- Concepts, Practices, and Tools. New York: Routledge.
  • Jian, Miao-Ling. (2019). “A Study of Li-Fang Yuan (梨芳園) Pei-Kuan (北管) Conservatory”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Li, Wen-Zheng. (1988). “A Study on Taiwan Beiguan and Fu Lu (福路) Singing Style”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Liao, Chen-Hung. (2017). “A Research of Beiguan Musician of Li Liang-Cheng (李兩成)”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Liao, Sho-Yu. (2000). “A Study of Beiguan Musician of Su Deng-Wang (蘇登旺) in Beiguan Theatre”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Lin, Chien-Hui. (1999). “A Study of Theatre and Music in Beiguan Ban Xian (扮仙) Theatre-Taking Da Ba Xian (大八仙) and San Xian Bai (三仙白) as Examples”. Master Dissertation. Taipei: National Institute of the Art.
  • Lin, Su-Zhu. (1999). “A Study of Beiguan Ban Xian (扮仙) Theatre”. Master Dissertation. Chinese Culture University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Lin, Yi-Hsuan. (2017). “Analysis of Characters about the Chong-Kang (總綱) in Transcript of Beiguan in the Wu-Feng Xuan (舞鳳軒) of Chiayi Shingang”. Master Dissertation. National Pingtung University, Pingtung: Taiwan.
  • Lu, Chui-Kuan. (2005). Taiwanese Traditional Music: Vocal Music. Taipei: Wu-Nan Book Inc.
  • Lu, Chui-Kuan. (2007). Taiwanese Traditional Music: Instrumental Music. Taipei: Wu-Nan Book Inc.
  • Lu, Chui-Kuan. (2011). Beiguan Music. Taipei: Morning Star Publishing Inc.
  • Lu, Dai-Pei. (2014). “Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau -A Study of Beiguan Music and Theatre of Chip Lok Ian (集樂軒)”. Master Dissertation. Providence University, Taichung City: Taiwan.
  • Meintjes, Louise. (2003). Sound of Africa! Making Music Zulu in a South African Studio. Durham and London: Duke University Press.
  • Myers, Helen. (1993). Ethnomusicology: Historical and Regional Studies. U.S.: W W Norton & Co Inc.
  • Neuenfeldt, Karl. (2007a). “"Bring the Past to Present": Recording and Reviving Rotuman Music via a Collaborative Rotuman/Fijian/Australian CD Project”. The World of Music. 49(1): 83-103.
  • Neuenfeldt, Karl. (2007b). “Notes on the Engagement of Indigenous Peoples with Recording Technology and Techniques, the Recording Industry and Researchers”. The World of Music. 49(1): 7-21.
  • Ostashewski, Marcia. (2014). “Engaging Communities and Cultures in Ethnomusicology: An Introduction”. MUSICultures. 41(2). Retrieved from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/MC/article/view/22908
  • Ottosson, Åse. (2007). “"We're Just Bush Mob": Producing Aboriginal Music and Maleness in a Central Australian Recording Studio”. The World of Music. 49(1): 49-63.
  • Pan, Ju-Tuan. (1998). “A Study on Suona Music and Skills in Beiguan”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Savage, Steve. (2011). The Art of Digital Recording: A Practical Guide for Home and Studio. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Savage, Steve. (2014). Mixing and Mastering in the Box- The Guide to Making Great Mixes and Final Masters on Yours Computer. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Shih, Ying-Pin. (2016). “Tradition in Motion-The Status and Identity of Amateur Beiguan Opera and Music Communities [Zidi] in Modern Taiwanese Society”. Ph.D Dissertation. University of Sheffield: UK.
  • Stock, Jonathan. (2004). “Interface at the Peripheries: Western Impact on Other Musics”. Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century Music, Ed. Anthony Pople and Nicholas Cook. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 18-39.
  • Stock, Jonathan. (2010). “Recordings as Research Tools in Ethnomusicology” Recorded Music: Performance, Culture and Technology, Ed. Amanda Bayley. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 187-205.
  • Su, Yu-Ching. (2003). “A Study of Man Zhong Jin (慢中緊), a Melodic Pattern Used in the Old Style of Beiguan Theater Music”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Summit, Jeffrey A. (2015). “Advocacy and Ethnomusicologist: Assessing Capacity, Developing Initiatives, Setting Limits, and Making Sustainable Contributions”. The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology. Ed. Svanibor Pettan and & Jeff Todd Titon. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 199-228.
  • Tan, Sooi Beng. (2015). “Cultural Engagement and Ownership Through Participatory Approaches in Applied Ethnomusicology”. The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology. Ed. Svanibor Pettan and Jeff Todd Titon. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 109-133.
  • Titon, Jeff Todd. (1992). “Music, the Public Interest, and the Practice of Ethnomusicology” Ethnomusicology. 36(2): 315-322.
  • Titon, Jeff Todd. (1995). “Bi-Musicality as Metaphor”. The Journal of American Folklore. 108(429): 287-297.
  • Titon, Jeff Todd. (2009). “Music and Sustainability: An Introduction”. The World of Music. 51(1): 119-138.
  • Titon, Jeff Todd. (2015). “Applied Ethnomusicology: A Descriptive and Historical Account”. The Oxford Handbook of Applied Ethnomusicology. Ed. Svanibor Pettan and Jeff Todd Titon. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 4-28.
  • Topp Fargion, Janet. (2009). ““For My Own Research Purposes?”: Examining Ethnomusicology Field Methods for a Sustainable Music”. World of Music. 51(1): 75-93.
  • Tsai, Chi-Fang. (2010). “A Study on Beiguan Group–Take Ching Her Shiuen (慶和軒) in Chiayi County”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Tsai, Ya-Ling. (2005). “A Study in Structure of Beiguan Music - In the Case of Bann-Sehn-Xi (扮仙戲) ‘Tien-Guan-Sih-Fu’ (天官賜福)”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Tu, I-Yun. (2020). “Innovative Teaching by the Integration of Beiguan and Orff-Schulwerk – Taking Music Club of Ping Elementary School in New Taipei City as an Example”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University of the Arts, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Weng, Wei-Hong. (2010). “A Study of Beiguan Ensemble in Tamsui”. Master Dissertation. National Taipei University, New Taipei City: Taiwan.
  • Wu, Huei-Chen. (1999). “The Collection and Study of Fu-Lu Gong (福路派) and Drum Music of Taiwan Pei-Kuan (北管)”. Master Dissertation. National Institute of the Art, Taipei: Taiwan.
  • Wu, Pei-Hsuan. (2015). “The Research on Pei-Kuan (北管) Opera Aria of Yu-Chiao Pan (潘玉嬌)”. Master Dissertation. National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei: Taiwan.
There are 50 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Music
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Ming-hui Ma 0000-0002-5951-4992

Publication Date December 31, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 7 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Ma, M.-h. (2023). Forming a Collaborative Relationship between an Applied Researcher and the Researched Subject in Contemporary Taiwan: A Case Study from Beiguan Opera (北管戲). Musicologist, 7(2), 178-212. https://doi.org/10.33906/musicologist.1183464