Last week's lecture on communication of affect through music made me think of Chinese poetry. Some types of classical Chinese poetry were inspired by music, or conversely inspired music. This being so, these forms of poetry were always read accompanied by music.

Chinese intonations make the language "lyrical" to the Western ear. However, I've also been told that they make the speaker sound angry, no matter what the true emotion is intended to be. So I figured I would test this out.

This is a clip of me reading Ye Si by Li Bai a famous Tang Dynasty poet. Can you tell the affect of this piece? Better yet, any guesses as to what it's about?

*Disclaimer: Be kind to my humble reading, I'm merely a CLL (Chinese Language Learner) ;-)*



Considering most of you probably don't speak Chinese, a quick reading of the test was probably not enough to tell you anything about the poem. So, let's try a little music and a *hint* of a visual:


Not quite enough? Let's put more music in there. And how about some dance?



Feel like you've got a better idea, but still not very confident? Why don't I show you the text!

床前明月光
疑是地上霜
舉頭望明月
低头思故鄉

李白的这首《夜思》

That didn't work for you? Well, that I guess I'll give you the English.
Here's what Altavista's bablefish had to say:

“In front of the bed the bright moonlight doubts is on the frost raises the head the bright moonlight to be low thinks the hometown”

Maybe a better translation is in order:

Night Thoughts by Li Bai

I wake and moonbeams play around my bed
Glittering like hoarfroast to my wondering eyes
Upwards the glorious moon I raise my head
Then lay me down and thoughts of home arise
Translation by: H.A. Giles

What in the world is "hoarfrost?" Let's try another translation:

Before my bed
There is bright-lit moonlight
So that it seems
Like frost on the ground:

Lifting my head
I watch the bright moon
Lowering my head
I dream that I'm home.
Translated by: Arthur Cooper

How do you feel about your understanding now?