Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers

Zeyun Chen

doi:doi:10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17

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Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers

Zeyun Chen^*

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 14, Issue 2)

Received: 17 February 2026 Accepted: 10 March 2026 Published: 31 March 2026

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Abstract

This article discusses the similarities and differences between traditional vocal works and virtual singer works. It introduces the vocal characteristics of virtual singers, explores the differences between their performances and those of real singers, and analyzes the considerations that composers have for harmony and texture design when composing for virtual singers and real vocals, such as the way in which traditional functional harmonies and modern twelve-tone sequences are harmonic, and what the differences are, It also discusses the differences in the expression of various harmonic techniques in song composition when applied to the two types of vocal music,and composers' ideas for using different harmonies for different groups when composing. This article focuses on virtual singers Kafu and Hatsune Miku, as well as some representative musical works sounded by the two virtual singers. Several artist songs written for real vocal singers will also be analyzed comparatively, such as the Mass, Rossini's opera, and the vocal parts of Boulez's Ownerless Mallet. The impact of different vocal characteristics on the uniqueness of musical works, along with the technical differences and similarities between compositions for virtual and real singers, will be discussed. At the same time, this article provides theoretical references and compositional inspirations for the composition of virtual voices and the study of contemporary vocal music art.

Published in	Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 14, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17
Page(s)	125-130
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Virtual Singers, Vocal Performance, Harmony Theory, Serialism, Twelve-tone Technique

References

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[2]	Liu,Yu. (2023) An Exploration of the Paths for the Cultural Output of the Film and Television Industry in the Digital Media Era. Capital University of Economics and Business. Journalism communication, (2023.2) ,1672-0261,23-1147/G2.
[3]	Alicia Haddick. (2025) Virtual singer Kaf's music becomes magic in 'Kamitsubaki City Under Construction. The Japan times.
[4]	Norrasate Udakarn, Remi Namtep. (2024) An Exploratory Analysis of how Vocaloid’s Synthesized Vocals can be used as an Innovative Music Education Method in Teaching Sight–Singing. College of Music, Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences. Pak. j. life soc. Sci. (2024), 22(2): 8850-8862.
[5]	Ji, Yingying, Huang Xiang, Xiang Yao, Liu Jialin, Cai Mingyu. (2025) Study on the Emotional Interaction between Two-dimensional Virtual Idols and Fan Groups -- a Case Study of Hatsune Miku: Asia-Pacific Science Literature Bulletin Issue04 April 20251.
[6]	Esther Chen. (2024) The Vocaloid Phenomenon: Deconstruction of Music Culture Through Hatsune Miku.
[7]	Yang, Yuxuan. (2023) From Lynn Minmay and Hatsune Miku to A-SOUL: The Generational Evolution and Localization of Virtual Idols [J]. Audiovisual, (2): 124-128.
[8]	Zhang, Xiangming. (2012) On the Role of "Vibrato" in Vocal Performance. [D]. Fujian Normal University.
[9]	Song,jiaorui. (2023) Analysis of the singing style of the aria "una voce poco fa" [A]. Guangxi University of Arts and Music School.
[10]	Ma,yiyi. (2025) Analysis and Singing Study of the Opera Excerpt "Una Voce Poco Fa" Guizhou university.
[11]	Zhao, Na. (2011) A Study on the Vocal Characteristics of Coloratura Mezzo-Soprano. [D]. Shaanxi Normal University.
[12]	Xu, Yihong. (2012) Japan's New Idol—Hatsune Miku [J]. Japanese Knowledge, 2012(12): 36-37. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.2095-4948.2012.12.021
[13]	Dan Wei, (2018) A Study on the Cultural Phenomenon and Communication Characteristics of Virtual Music Characters in the Context of New Media. [D]. Shenzhen University.
[14]	Wu, Jixue. (2017) The Transformation of Sequences—An Initial Exploration of the Pitch Organization in Pierre Boulez's Chamber Work "Without Owner's Hammer." New Voices in Music: Journal of Shenyang Conservatory of Music, 35(1), 10.
[15]	Wang, Shuangfeng. (2019). Why Are Virtual Idols So Popular? [J]. Shanghai Informatization (10), 3.

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APA Style

Chen, Z. (2026). Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers. Humanities and Social Sciences, 14(2), 125-130. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17

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ACS Style

Chen, Z. Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2026, 14(2), 125-130. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17

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AMA Style

Chen Z. Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers. Humanit Soc Sci. 2026;14(2):125-130. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17

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@article{10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17,
  author = {Zeyun Chen},
  title = {Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {14},
  number = {2},
  pages = {125-130},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20261402.17},
  abstract = {This article discusses the similarities and differences between traditional vocal works and virtual singer works. It introduces the vocal characteristics of virtual singers, explores the differences between their performances and those of real singers, and analyzes the considerations that composers have for harmony and texture design when composing for virtual singers and real vocals, such as the way in which traditional functional harmonies and modern twelve-tone sequences are harmonic, and what the differences are, It also discusses the differences in the expression of various harmonic techniques in song composition when applied to the two types of vocal music,and composers' ideas for using different harmonies for different groups when composing. This article focuses on virtual singers Kafu and Hatsune Miku, as well as some representative musical works sounded by the two virtual singers. Several artist songs written for real vocal singers will also be analyzed comparatively, such as the Mass, Rossini's opera, and the vocal parts of Boulez's Ownerless Mallet. The impact of different vocal characteristics on the uniqueness of musical works, along with the technical differences and similarities between compositions for virtual and real singers, will be discussed. At the same time, this article provides theoretical references and compositional inspirations for the composition of virtual voices and the study of contemporary vocal music art.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers
AU  - Zeyun Chen
Y1  - 2026/03/31
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17
T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
SP  - 125
EP  - 130
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8184
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17
AB  - This article discusses the similarities and differences between traditional vocal works and virtual singer works. It introduces the vocal characteristics of virtual singers, explores the differences between their performances and those of real singers, and analyzes the considerations that composers have for harmony and texture design when composing for virtual singers and real vocals, such as the way in which traditional functional harmonies and modern twelve-tone sequences are harmonic, and what the differences are, It also discusses the differences in the expression of various harmonic techniques in song composition when applied to the two types of vocal music,and composers' ideas for using different harmonies for different groups when composing. This article focuses on virtual singers Kafu and Hatsune Miku, as well as some representative musical works sounded by the two virtual singers. Several artist songs written for real vocal singers will also be analyzed comparatively, such as the Mass, Rossini's opera, and the vocal parts of Boulez's Ownerless Mallet. The impact of different vocal characteristics on the uniqueness of musical works, along with the technical differences and similarities between compositions for virtual and real singers, will be discussed. At the same time, this article provides theoretical references and compositional inspirations for the composition of virtual voices and the study of contemporary vocal music art.
VL  - 14
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Zeyun Chen

Composition Department, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0008-1739-4006

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Chen, Z. (2026). Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers. Humanities and Social Sciences, 14(2), 125-130. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Chen, Z. Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2026, 14(2), 125-130. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Chen Z. Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers. Humanit Soc Sci. 2026;14(2):125-130. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17,
  author = {Zeyun Chen},
  title = {Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {14},
  number = {2},
  pages = {125-130},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20261402.17},
  abstract = {This article discusses the similarities and differences between traditional vocal works and virtual singer works. It introduces the vocal characteristics of virtual singers, explores the differences between their performances and those of real singers, and analyzes the considerations that composers have for harmony and texture design when composing for virtual singers and real vocals, such as the way in which traditional functional harmonies and modern twelve-tone sequences are harmonic, and what the differences are, It also discusses the differences in the expression of various harmonic techniques in song composition when applied to the two types of vocal music,and composers' ideas for using different harmonies for different groups when composing. This article focuses on virtual singers Kafu and Hatsune Miku, as well as some representative musical works sounded by the two virtual singers. Several artist songs written for real vocal singers will also be analyzed comparatively, such as the Mass, Rossini's opera, and the vocal parts of Boulez's Ownerless Mallet. The impact of different vocal characteristics on the uniqueness of musical works, along with the technical differences and similarities between compositions for virtual and real singers, will be discussed. At the same time, this article provides theoretical references and compositional inspirations for the composition of virtual voices and the study of contemporary vocal music art.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers
AU  - Zeyun Chen
Y1  - 2026/03/31
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17
T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
SP  - 125
EP  - 130
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8184
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17
AB  - This article discusses the similarities and differences between traditional vocal works and virtual singer works. It introduces the vocal characteristics of virtual singers, explores the differences between their performances and those of real singers, and analyzes the considerations that composers have for harmony and texture design when composing for virtual singers and real vocals, such as the way in which traditional functional harmonies and modern twelve-tone sequences are harmonic, and what the differences are, It also discusses the differences in the expression of various harmonic techniques in song composition when applied to the two types of vocal music,and composers' ideas for using different harmonies for different groups when composing. This article focuses on virtual singers Kafu and Hatsune Miku, as well as some representative musical works sounded by the two virtual singers. Several artist songs written for real vocal singers will also be analyzed comparatively, such as the Mass, Rossini's opera, and the vocal parts of Boulez's Ownerless Mallet. The impact of different vocal characteristics on the uniqueness of musical works, along with the technical differences and similarities between compositions for virtual and real singers, will be discussed. At the same time, this article provides theoretical references and compositional inspirations for the composition of virtual voices and the study of contemporary vocal music art.
VL  - 14
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download