The Courtesan’s Jewel Box - A Musical Transcription

161 The Courtesan's Jewel Box - A Musical Transcription Rulan Chao Pian, Harvard University This is a transcription of a 1962 recording of the Medley Song, Duh Shyr Niang }±. -t.Jtk. ' The Courtesan's Jewel Box ' (I'r1-554, Peking). The full name of the genre is Dan Shyan Pair Tzyy cheu~~!,~.}-Ub ,or Dan Shyan or Dan Shyal, as it is commonly called. It is a kind 'ofnarrative song sung to the accompaniment of a 3-stringed banjo (san shyan), played either by the singer him- or herself, or by a separate accompanist.l The Dan Shyan flourished in North China since the 18th century and lasted until the recent couple of decades. As far as I know this is the only recording of a complete Dan Shyan piece. A more detailed discussion of the style and structure of this work, ·especially in connection with the text, will be presented in a separate study. Here I shall only make some comments on the transcription. My procedure is to listen to a section first at regular speed, then at half speed, at which point I begin to jot down the notes. This is repeated at different speeds as many times as necessary until I am satisfied that I have put down everything that I have heard. (Although slow speed playing is a great help in the transcription process, it must be noted that slow speed also tends to distort the tone quality of both the instrument and the voice, which can sometimes cause confusion in the melodic lines.) During the transcribing process it is highly possible that when I became more familiar with certain types of ornaments, especially at fairly predictable places, I became less aware of some subtle differences in their execution. On the other hand, I could also be over-sensitive to certain differences in nuances which, at times actually mean little to listeners living in the tradition. However, for the time being, I simply have tried not to reflect too much on this and have just gone ahead transcribing what I think I hear. I have not tried to make the details look more consistent if I do not actually hear them that way. The pitche,s used here are all a 4th higher than the actual sound. The dynamics which is between forte and mezzo-forte in most sections, is on the whole fairly constant, except a few individual notes or short phrases here and there, which are sung extra softly for special dramatic effect. 161 The Courtesan's Jewel Box - A Musical Transcription Rulan Chao Pian, Harvard University This is a transcription of a 1962 recording of the Medley Song, Duh Shyr Niang J-±. -f ..Jt...iz. 1 The Courtesan's Jewel Box ' (M-554, Peking). The full name of the genre is Dan Shyan Pair Tzyy Cheu ~~1,~-}--\1t7 or Dan Shyan or Dan Shyal, as it is commonly called. It is a kind of narrative song sung to the accompaniment of a 3-stringed banjo (san shyan), played either by the singer him- or herself, or by a separate accompanist. 1 The Dan Shyan flourished in North China since the 18th century and lasted until the recent couple of decades. As far as I know this is the only recording of a complete Dan Shyan piece. A more detailed discussion of the style and structure of this work, especially in connection with the text, will be presented in a separate study. Here I shall only make some comments on the transcription. My procedure is to listen to a section first at regular speed, then at half speed, at which point I begin to jot down the notes. This is repeated at different speeds as many times as necessary until I am satisfied that I have put down everything that I have heard. (Although slow speed playing is a great help in the transcription process, it must be noted that slow speed also tends to distort the tone quality of both the instrument and the voice, which can sometimes cause confusion in the melodic lines.) During the transcribing process it is highly possible that when I became more familiar with certain types of ornaments...