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How did the vocal style of kunqu match its instrumental accompaniment?

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Chinese music: 12 pitches of the lü — Chinese music Twelve pitches of Chinese music as produced by overblowing the lü, bamboo tuning pipes (starting for ease of comparison from Western C).

The vocal style of kunqu was specifically designed to complement its soft, refined instrumental accompaniment. Characterized as shuimodiao ("water-polished music"), the genre is noted for being mild, exquisite, and melodious.12

To achieve this harmony between voice and music, the singing style typically utilized a male falsetto technique. This vocal approach matched the mellifluous quality of the ensemble, which is led by the di (a side-blown bamboo flute). Because the bamboo flute serves as the primary melodic support, the overall sound remains smooth and gentle, avoiding the more bombastic qualities found in other forms of popular Chinese theatre. Singers further emphasized this aesthetic through careful control of their voice and nuanced changes in rhythm to express the specific dispositions of their characters.12