In all kinds of arts, one of the most essential characteristics of literature is that the image can not be directly perceived, but essentially appeals to imagination. Language and writing have only symbolic significance in literary images. If these symbols want to be restored to images in imagination, they must go through the intermediary of vision and hearing (reading or reading). Therefore, literary appreciation is still related to vision and hearing, especially to hearing organs, so some people call it "auditory-imaginative art"
The sound factor in literature is certainly not as high as its structural level in music; However, in different literary types (genres), the specific situation is also very different. "Poetry is the closest style to music" (belinsky). Novels can be read, but poems must be read; Novels are highly translatable, while poems are poorly translatable (it is difficult to maintain the charm of the original works when translated into foreign languages). "Although literature has not completely abandoned the sound factor, it has reduced the tone to a simple external symbol used only for communication" (Hegel). For poetry, not entirely. Compared with other literary genres, the sound factor has more positive significance in poetry.
Poetry and prose have essential differences from the day they were born. That is, the earliest words were engraved on the Oracle Bone Inscriptions for reading; The earliest poems were sung orally by people. Yuefu in the past dynasties "Zhou belongs to coquettish, Han belongs to ancient poetry, Jin and Tang belong to houses, bamboo branches, midnight and tone sandhi, Song belongs to poetry, and Jin and Yuan belong to zaju." (Wu Mei's Introduction to China Opera) Therefore, poetry is full of rhythm from the beginning, which has an indissoluble bond with music and has more aesthetic value and artistic vitality than literature. Although there are some similarities and differences between poetry and music in the development process, the musical not fade away stipulated by rhythm and temperament. You can sing all the poems listed in Yuefu, and even recite the poems you can't sing. This is probably an important factor in the long-term spread of ancient poetry, and once poetry is only printed, its vitality will depreciate. Tagore, a great Indian poet, expressed deep regret in his poems. The original poem is too long, and the excerpt is as follows:
I put my poems
Wrapped tightly in this book
Send it to you like a cage full of birds.
The space where my poem flew was left outside.
In the idle years when the prince and grandson were idle,
The poet is before his kind king every day.
Recite his poems,
At that time, there were no ghosts of publishing houses.
In the dark silence.
To discredit the carefree background of * * *,
At that time, there were no neat letters in the poems.
Let people swallow it silently.
I sigh, I hate not being born in the golden age of Kalimdor,
I was hopelessly born in this hectic publishing age, and you,
My lover is very modern.
Lounging in an easy chair.
Open my poem,
You never had a chance to half close your eyes.
Listen to the whisper of that syllable.
Finally, put a rose crown on your poet.
The only reward you give
Only a few silver horns.
Pay at the University Square.
Booksellers on the bookstall.
This reminds people of Lu Xun's sentence: "Although there are two kinds of poems, they are not as good as singing." In Tagore's view, it is a pity that poetry is not circulated by singing, but printed in neat letters and swallowed silently. China's ancient poems were written in chanting and spread in chanting. Mr Yu Pingbo knows all about ignorance. He said:
Eye treatment and ear treatment should not be neglected; Extensive reading is to cure the eyes, and in-depth reading needs both mouth and ears. The so-called "sound enters people's hearts" is also called. "Preface to Poetry": "Emotion moves in China, but it is not enough in words, so I lament it; Sigh is not enough, so sing forever. " Long words, sighs and songs are all sounds. Poetry is more closely related to sound than prose. Du Fuyun said that "new poems should be revised and recited", and he also said that "selected works should be recited repeatedly". It can be seen that he also has to recite poems repeatedly when writing his own poems, and the prescription for class is just to familiarize him. On that day, the author said with emotion, but writing and its publication have become the past. Today's readers have arrived at Guyunyao, and if they want to have a glimpse, they may only follow the original trajectory and return to it. Emotion at that time was supported by sound. Today, with the help of recitation, emotions echo in unison and feelings reappear. If you recite it repeatedly, you will understand what you really mean. (On poetry appreciation, with abridgement)
Strictly speaking, chanting and chanting are two different things. They have the same purpose and effect, but different methods. Singing close to singing, also known as singing, is a traditional or old-fashioned method of poetry. Because it is accompanied by a special tone similar to music score, it can better reflect the musicality of poetry, which is its advantage. According to Du Fu's "Listening to Xu Shiyi's poems at night (reciting them immediately)", it is described: "Poetry is muddy and falling, and everything is easy. Look at the hook with your hand and listen to the cymbals with your heart. Through me imperceptibly, fly to destroy the thunderbolt. " Visible effect is good. However, the ancient method of reciting poems was not recorded by scientific means, but dictated by heart, and the specific situation is still unknown. There are still many comrades of the older generation who are good at this. The author once got a recording tape of China Poetry Society members singing old-style poems from Mr. Song Mochang, which was really a feast for the eyes. Generally speaking, there is no consistent standard for this traditional method of poetry. Some rely on local operas, some write and sing, and some improvise songs, all with strong local colors and dialects, or Beijing dialect, or Chusheng, or Yuediao. This seems to be the deficiency of traditional singing. Similar to singing opera. Although the actor sings well, it is difficult for the general audience to understand without subtitles. There is inevitably a regret that Moon Lake will never understand each other. It seems to be more suitable for lovers to enjoy as a form of chanting, but it seems not suitable for popularization as a universal method.
The author once asked Mr. Zheng Linchuan about reciting a poem. Mr. Zheng said: "Reciting is my habit of reading ancient poems and prose for many years. It takes a long time to enjoy what is good." Poetry, in particular, is wonderful unless it is recited, because poetry as a style, artistic conception and writing are indispensable, especially temperament. I have tasted that most of the soul of poetry lies in rhyme, and rhyme cannot convey its spirit unless it is spoken and heard. Therefore, every time I recite, I unconsciously enter the realm of the poet like a ghost, and almost feel that this sentence comes from the heart and enjoys it. There are two things I can refer to in my chanting experience: First, the subject and object should be interdependent. In other words, it is very important to recite from one's own experience based on reading works, in which one's personality has been maintained; Secondly, from the aspects of songs, operas and quyi. What you usually like to listen to will naturally blend into the original cavity, and the subject and object will interact to increase the beauty of the timbre. The most important thing is that it must be seamless, and you can't force it. Only when it has its own personality, there is no fixed formula for chanting, which is very different from singing. Copy mechanically can only be a laughing stock, so we must pay attention to it. Second, speak naturally, recite according to the original work and personal experience, such as water fashion, and write naturally; Or the wind blows to Panasonic, and the spring water flows on the stone, which is the charming beauty of nature. Others feel the same way when they hear it. "This sharp words can tell all the mysteries of poetry, its advantages and disadvantages.
Reciting is slightly different from reciting. Reciting is biased towards reading, or reciting. It sublates the old tune similar to singing opera, but it can still convey the unique musicality of poetry as long as it is done correctly. This method is suitable for Putonghua, so it is easy to popularize. It is said that Mr. Wen Yiduo's recitation of Chu ci and Tang poetry left a deep impression on the listeners, which shows that this is also an effective method of "seeking qi with sound" In a word, the methods of singing and reciting can be adopted according to different occasions, so as to fully enjoy the beauty of poetry.