|
Erhu
The (; ) is a Chinese two-stringed bowed musical instrument, more specifically a spike fiddle, that is sometimes known in the Western world as the ''Chinese violin'' or a ''Chinese two-stringed fiddle''. It is used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras. It is the most popular of the family of traditional bowed string instruments used by various ethnic groups of China. As a very versatile instrument, the is used in both traditional and contemporary music arrangements, such as pop, rock and jazz. History The can be traced back to proto-Mongolic instruments which first appeared in China during the Tang dynasty. It is believed to have evolved from the (). The is believed to have originated from the Xi people located in current northeast China. The first Chinese character of the name of the instrument (, , 'two') is believed to come from the fact that it has two strings. An alternate explanation states that it comes from the fact that i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinese Orchestra
The term Chinese orchestra is most commonly used to refer to the modern Chinese orchestra that is found in China and various overseas Chinese communities. This modern Chinese orchestra first developed out of Jiangnan sizhu ensemble in the 1920s into a form that is based on the structure and principles of a Western symphony orchestra but using Chinese instruments. The orchestra is divided into four sections – wind, plucked strings, bowed strings, and percussion, and usually performs modernized traditional music called ''guoyue''. The orchestra may be referred to as ''Minzu Yuetuan'' () or ''Minyuetuan'' () in mainland China, ''Chung Ngok Tuen'' () in Hong Kong, ''Huayuetuan'' () in Southeast Asia, or ''Guoyuetuan'' () in Taiwan. The term modern Chinese orchestra is sometimes used to distinguish the current form from Chinese traditional music#Instrumental ensemble, ancient Chinese orchestras that existed since the Shang dynasty and was used in royal courts and later during Confuc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Huqin
''Huqin'' () is a family of bowed string instruments, more specifically, a spike fiddle popularly used in Chinese music. The instruments consist of a round, hexagonal, or octagonal sound box at the bottom with a neck attached that protrudes upwards. They also usually have two strings, and their soundboxes are typically covered with either snakeskin (most often python) or thin wood. Huqin instruments usually have two tuning pegs, one peg for each string. The pegs are attached horizontally through holes drilled in the instrument's neck. Most huqin have the bow hair pass in between the strings. Exceptions to having two strings and pegs include variations of huqin with three, four, and sometimes even more than five. These include the zhuihu, a three stringed huqin, the sihu, a huqin of Mongolian origin, and the sanhu, a lesser-known three-stringed variation. The most common huqin are the ''erhu'', which is tuned to a middle range; '' zhonghu'', which is tuned to a lower register ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gaohu
The ''gaohu'' ( 高胡; pinyin: ''gāohú'', ; Cantonese: gou1 wu4; also called ''yuehu'' 粤 胡) is a Chinese bowed string instrument developed from the ''erhu'' in the 1920s by the musician and composer Lü Wencheng (1898–1981) and used in Cantonese music and Cantonese opera. It belongs to the ''huqin'' family of instruments, together with the '' zhonghu'', ''erhu'', ''banhu'', '' jinghu'', and '' sihu''; its name means "high-pitched ''huqin''". It is the leading instrument of Cantonese music and opera ensembles. Well known pieces for the ''gaohu'' include ''Bu Bu Gao'' (步步高, Higher Step By Step) and ''Ping Hu Qiu Yue'' (平湖秋月, Autumn Moon on Calm Lake). Construction and design The ''gaohu'' is similar in construction to the ''erhu'' but has a slightly smaller soundbox, commonly circular, and is tuned a fourth higher, to G4 and D5. Whereas most ''huqin'' are placed on top of the left thigh, the traditional ''gaohu'' is played with the soundbox held in b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Liu Tianhua
Liu Tianhua (; 1895–1932) was a Chinese musician and composer best known for his innovative work for the ''erhu''. Liu's students, such as Jiang Fengzhi and Chen Zhenduo, continued to contribute to the development of the ''erhu''. He was the younger brother of the poet Liu Bannong. He died in 1932 at the age of 37. Work on Chinese music Liu was a noted erhu and pipa player, and an early pioneer in the modernisation of traditional Chinese music. He joined Cai Yuanpei's Peking University Music Society as an instrumental instructor in 1922. He promoted Chinese music while he was at Peking University, founded the Society for the Improvement of Chinese Music (國樂改進社, ''Guóyuè Gǎijìnshè'') in 1927 and its periodical, the ''Music Magazine'' (音樂雜誌, ''Yīnyuè Zázhì''). The society organised classes and formed a musical ensemble to play Chinese music, a forerunner of the modern Chinese orchestra. He made improvements to the traditional fiddle huqin, in parti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bowed String Instrument
Bowed string instruments are a subcategory of string instruments that are played by a bow (music), bow rubbing the string (music), strings. The bow rubbing the string causes vibration which the instrument emits as sound. Despite the numerous specialist studies devoted to the origin of bowing, the Bow (music)#Origin, origin of bowing remains unknown.Friedrich Behn, Musikleben im Altertum und frühen page 159 List of bowed string instruments Violin family * Cello (violoncello) * Pochette (musical instrument), Pochette * Viola (altviol, bratsche) * Violin (violino) * Double bass (contrabasso) ;Variants on the standard members of the violin family include: * Baroque violin * Cello da spalla * Five string violin * Hardanger fiddle * Kit violin * Kontra * Låtfiol * Lira da braccio * Octobass * Sardino * Stroh violin * Tenor violin Viol family (Viola da Gamba family) * Viol, Alto viol * Viol, Bass viol * Viol, Tenor viol * Viol, Treble viol ;Variants on the standard ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xiqin (instrument)
The ' ( zh, t=wikt:奚琴, 奚琴, p=Xī qín) was a bowed 2-string string List of traditional Chinese musical instruments, musical instrument. The instrument was called ''xiqin'' in China, referencing the ''Kumo Xi, Xi'' (the creators, a Mongol tribe) and ''qin'' (Chinese for stringed instrument). It is perhaps the original member of the family of List of Mongolian musical instruments#Bowed, Mongolian and List of Chinese musical instruments#Bowed, Chinese bowed string instruments; thus, the ' and ' and all similar fiddle instruments may be said to be derived from the . The had two silk strings and was held vertically. Origin and development The ' is believed to have been developed by the Kumo Xi, a Mongols, Mongol- or Khitan people, Khitan-related ethnic group living in the Xar Moron River valley in northeast China. The ' first appeared in China during the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), during which time it was used in the palace orchestra and bowed with a bamboo stick. It was f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sihu (instrument)
The ''sihu'' () (known as a / / ''khuuchir'' in Mongolia, where this term defines the whole ''huqin'' family) is a Chinese bowed string instrument with four strings. It is a member of the ''huqin'' family of instruments. Construction The instrument's name comes from the words ''sì'' (四, meaning "four" in Chinese, referring to the instrument's number of strings) and ''hú'' (胡, short for ''huqin'', the family of instruments of which the ''sihu'' is a member). Its soundbox and neck are made from hardwood and the playing end of the soundbox is covered with python, cow, or sheep skin. There are several sizes of ''sihu''; the lowest of these is generally tuned C, C, G, G; the medium size is tuned G, G, D, D; and the smallest size is tuned D, D, A, A. Technique The instrument is held vertically, with its soundbox on the player's lap, and its strings are tuned in pairs. The bow, usually made of horsetail hair, is grouped into two strands to enable both pairs of strings to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sound Box
A sound box or sounding box (sometimes written soundbox) is an open chamber in the body of a musical instrument which modifies the sound of the instrument, and helps transfer that sound to the surrounding air. Objects respond more strongly to vibrations at certain frequencies, known as resonances. The frequency and strength of the resonances of the body of a musical instrument have a significant impact on the tone quality it produces. The air inside the chamber has its own resonances, and these interact with the resonances of the body, altering the resonances of the instrument as a whole. The sound box typically adds resonances at lower frequencies, enhancing the lower-frequency response of the instrument. The distinctive sound of an instrument with a sound box owes a lot to the alteration made to the tone. A sound box is found in most string instruments. The most notable exceptions are some electrically amplified instruments like the solid body electric guitar or the electric vio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Horsehair
Horsehair is the long hair growing on the Mane (horse), manes and Tail (horse), tails of horses. It is used for various purposes, including upholstery, brushes, the Bow (music), bows of musical instruments, a hard-wearing Textile, fabric called haircloth, and for Lath and plaster, horsehair plaster, a wallcovering material formerly used in the construction industry and now found only in older buildings. Horsehair can be rough and knotted and dirty messes or very fine and flexible; mane hair is generally softer and shorter than tail hair. The texture of horsehair can be influenced by the breed and management of the horse, including natural conditions such as diet or climate. Processing may also affect quality and feel. Horsehair is a protein fiber that absorbs water slowly, but can be dyed or colored effectively using traditional dyes suitable for protein fibers. It can be felted, but not easily. Uses Horsehair fabrics are woven with wefts of tail hair from live horses and c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
