For this investigation, several recordings and performances of both pieces were explored to compare the personal interpretations and a significant discovery was found, but this investigation will only focus on one of the interpretations to achieve a more specific comparison. In the “Some Enchanted Evening”, vocal vibrato is widely used at the ends of phrases. For example, in bars 13-16, the longer notes of the phrase; the minim and the semibreve had both been sung with vibrato. There are 2 types of vocal vibrato used in the “Some Enchanted Evening”, the first type starts flat at the beginning of the notes and waves rapidly in the centre, and flattens again at the end. The second type starts off slowly and then increases in rapidity towards the end of the note. Vibrato in opera originated from Italy, it is then spread out from the 19^th century

       Example #1: Emile’s part in Some Enchanted Evening bars 13-16 from

“Broadway Musical Show by Show 1940-1949” p.74

(Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation)

Similarly, in “The Fragrant Death”, a personal interpretation of the melodic line is evident.  Predominantly on the longer notes and at the ends of every phrase, an additional note is sung above that which is highlighted in the red box.

Example #2: The Fragrant Death bars 3-4 from: http://resources.edb.gov.hk/~chiopera/scores/zhuangtai.pdf

For example, in bars 4-5, an F natural note is added, embellishing the note to which it is attached. This additional note does alter the anhemitonic major pentatonic scale on which the melody is based because it is the 7^th note of the scale, which is not included in the scale. (See diagram #1)

Therefore, there is a strong performing musical link between the 2 pieces; both artists add richness to the melodic line in culturally specific ways.

       Diagram #1: The anhemitonic major pentatonic scale in C:

Example #3: The Fragrant Death bar 7 from: http://resources.edb.gov.hk/~chiopera/scores/zhuangtai.pdf

Another example of an additional note in “The Fragrant Death” would be in bar 7; there is an extra F natural note in front of the E quaver, which contributes again to a modification of the standard pentatonic form. This is identical to the first example shown. Adding a additional note the pentatonic form successfully adds richness to the melody.



Let me tell you some background:)

"South Pacific" is a 1949 Broadway Musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II based on the book "Tales of the South Pacific", which is sung by a French planter Emile de Becque and Nellie Forbush, an American Navy nurse, singing the piece together confessing their love for each other, also hoping their love won't fade away as time passes. "Princess Changpeng" is a Chinese legend about the love story between Princess Changpeng and a scholar Zhou Xian during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). "The Fragrant Death" which is sung by the both male and female lead roles - Zhou Xian and Princess Changpeng, expressing their love for each other also informing the audience about their suicide at the end of the scene, which is the finale of the opera.

“Some Enchanted Evening” is a show tune in C major. The instrumentation include a piccolo/flute, oboe/English horn, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 2 horns, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, tuba, percussion, harp, 8 violin plays (2 for first violin, 2 for second violin, 2 for third violin and 2 for fourth violin), 3 violas, 2 cellos and double bass. (See appendix 1)The story is set on 2 islands in the South Pacific during WWII. “Princess Changpeng” is opera in G major, the C note in the score is raised slightly from the standard sub dominant (4^th degree) more in accordance with natural harmonics, which means whenever there is a C note in the score; it is more akin to the C #of a piano key. There are only Chinese strings, woodwind and percussion instruments in the band but no brass. String instruments include erhu (like a viola), gaohu (high pitched, like a violin), yehu (made of coconut shell, low pitched like cello, but in a petite size), yangqin (a hammered dulcimer, like the Hungarian cymbalon) and pipa (4-stringed, played by plucking, also known as the Chinese lute). Woodwinds include dizi (Chinese flute) and houguan (Chinese oboe). Also, both pieces have the same meter of common time.

When you think of broadway, will you automatically link it to Cantonese Opera? no?

    

The two seemingly opposing genres - American Broadway and Cantonese Opera, share important musical links; the most significant link is the personal interpretations that artists bring to the songs they contain, which can deviate substantially from the printed page. Representative of these genres are "Some enchanted evening" from [the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical] "South Pacific" and "The Fragrant Death" from (the 1957 Cantonese Opera genius) Tang Ti-sheng's "Princess Changpeng".