Dizi (instrument)

The ''dizi'' (, pronounced ), is a Chinese transverse flute. It is also sometimes known as the ''di'' () or ''héngdi'' (), and has varieties including Qudi (), Bangdi (), and Xindi (). It is a major Chinese musical instrument that is widely used in many genres of Chinese folk music, Chinese opera, as well as the modern Chinese orchestra. The ''dizi'' is also a popular instrument among the Chinese people as it is simple to make and easy to carry.

Most ''dizi'' are made of bamboo, which explains why ''dizi'' are sometimes known by simple names such as Chinese bamboo flute. However, "bamboo" is perhaps more of a Chinese instrument classification like "woodwind" in the West. Northern Chinese ''dizi'' are made from purple or violet bamboo, while ''dizi'' made in Suzhou and Hangzhou are made from white bamboo. ''Dizi'' produced in southern Chinese regions such as Chaozhou are often made of very slender, lightweight, light-colored bamboo and are much quieter in tone.

Although bamboo is the common material for the ''dizi'', it is also possible to find ''dizi'' made from other kinds of wood, or even from stone. Jade ''dizi'' (or ) are popular among both collectors interested in their beauty, and among professional players who seek an instrument with looks to match the quality of their renditions; however, jade may not be the best material for ''dizi'' since, as with metal, jade may not be as tonally responsive as bamboo, which is more resonant.

The ''dizi'' is not the only bamboo flute of China. Other Chinese bamboo wind instruments include the vertical end-blown xiao and the koudi.

History

Recently, archaeologists have discovered evidence suggesting that the simple transverse flutes (though without the distinctive ''mokong'' of the ''dizi'') have been present in China for over 9,000 years. Fragments of bone flutes from this period are still playable today, and are remarkably similar to modern versions in terms of hole placement, etc. The Jiahu neolithic site in central Henan province of China has yielded flutes dating back to 7,000 BC – 5,000 BC that could represent the earliest playable instruments ever found. These flutes were carved with five to eight holes, and are capable of producing sounds that roughly span an octave. The ''dizi'' as we know it today roughly dates to the 5th century BC, and there have been examples of bamboo ''dizi'' that date back to 2nd century BC.

These flutes share common features with other simple flutes from cultures all around the world. Multiple examples from different cultures consist of a drilled piece of bone, which is well-suited as a material due to its hollow nature. The earliest known examples of bone flutes date back around 42,000 years ago.

Modern modifications

Traditionally ''dizi'' is made by using a single piece of bamboo. While simple and straightforward, it is also impossible to change the fundamental tuning once the bamboo is cut, which made it a problem when it was played with other instruments in a modern Chinese orchestra. In the 1920s musician Zheng Jinwen (, 1872–1935) resolved this issue by inserting a copper joint to connect two pieces of shorter bamboo. This method allows the length of the bamboo to be modified for minute adjustment to its fundamental pitch.

On traditional ''dizi'' the finger-holes are spaced approximately equidistant, which produces a temperament of mixed whole-tone and three-quarter-tone intervals. Zheng also repositioned the figure-holes to change the notes produced. During the middle of the 20th century ''dizi'' makers further changed the finger hole placements to allow for playing in equal temperament, as demanded by new musical developments and compositions, although the traditional ''dizi'' continue to be used for purposes such as ''kunqu'' accompaniment.

In the 1930s, an 11-hole, fully chromatic version of the ''dizi'' was created called the '' xindi'' (), pitched in the same range as the western flute. However, the modified dizi's extra tone holes prevent the effective use of the membrane, so this instrument lacks the inherent timbre of the traditional ''dizi'' family.

While the ''bangdi'' (pitched in the same range as western piccolo) and ''qudi'' (pitched a fourth or fifth lower than the ''bangdi'') are the most prevalent, other ''dizi'' include the ''xiaodi''/''gaoyindi'' (pitched a fourth of fifth higher than the ''bangdi''), the ''dadi''/''diyindi'' (pitched a fourth or fifth lower than ''qudi''), and the ''deidi''/''diyindadi'' (pitched an octave lower than ''qudi''.)

Membrane

Whereas most simple flutes have only a blowing hole (known as ''chui kong'' () in Chinese) and finger-holes, the ''dizi'' has a very different additional hole, called a ''mo kong'' (), between the embouchure and finger-holes. A special membrane called '' dimo'' (, lit. "''di'' membrane"), made from an almost tissue-like shaving of reed (made from the inner skin of bamboo cells), is made taut and glued over this hole, traditionally with a substance called ''ejiao'', an animal glue. Garlic juice may also be used to adhere the ''dimo'', but it is not recommended as a permanent replacement. This application process, in which fine wrinkles are created in the centre of the ''dimo'' to create a penetrating buzzy timbre, is an art form in itself.

The ''dimo''-covered ''mo kong'' has a distinctive resonating effect on the sound produced by the ''dizi'', making it brighter and louder, and adding harmonics to give the final tone a buzzing, nasal quality. ''Dizi'' have a relatively large range, covering about two-and-a-quarter octaves.

Playing styles and techniques

Contemporary 'dizi' styles or schools based on the professional conservatory repertory are divided into two: Northern and Southern, each style having different preferences in ''dizi'' and playing techniques, with different methods for embellishment and ornamentation of the melody.
* Northern school (Beipai) – The ''dizi'' used for the Northern school, the ''bangdi'', is shorter and higher in pitch, and its sound quality is brighter and more shrill. In Northern China, it is used in ''kunqu'' and '' bangzi'' opera, and as well as regional musical genres such as ''errentai''. ''Dizi'' music of the Northern school is characterized by a fast, rhythmic and virtuosic playing, employing techniques such as glissando, tremolo, flutter tonguing, and fast tonguing.
* Southern school (Nanpai) – In Southern China, the qudi is the lead melodic instrument of ''kunqu'' opera and is also used in music such as ''Jiangnan sizhu''. It is longer, and has a more mellow, lyrical tone. The music of the Southern school is usually slower, and the ornamentations are predominantly short melodic turns, trills, and appoggiatura or grace note.
''Dizi'' are often played using various "advanced" techniques, such as circular breathing, slides, popped notes, harmonics, "flying finger" trills, multiphonics, fluttertonguing, and double-tonguing, which are also common in similar instruments, such as the western concert flute and recorder. Most professional players have a set of seven ''dizi'', each in a different key (and size). Additionally, master players and those seeking distinctive sounds such as birdsong may use extremely small or very large ''dizi''.

Performers

There have been several major performers of the 20th century who have contributed to ''dizi'' playing in the new conservatory professional concert repertory, often based on or adapted from regional folk styles.

Feng Zicun (, 1904–1987) was born in Yangyuan, Hebei province. Of humble origins, Feng had established himself as a folk musician by the time of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, playing the ''dizi'' as well as the four-string fiddle '' sihu'' in local song and dance groups, folksongs and stilt dances. He also introduced ''Errentai'', the local opera of Inner Mongolia, to Hebei after spending four years there as a musician in the 1920s.

In 1953, Feng was appointed to the state-supported Central Song and Dance Ensemble in Beijing as ''dizi'' soloist, and accepted a teaching post at the China Conservatory of Music (Beijing) in 1964.

Feng adapted traditional folk ensemble pieces into dizi solos, such as ''Xi xiang feng'' (Happy Reunion), ''Wu bangzi'' (Five Clappers), contributing to the new Chinese conservatory curricula in traditional instrument performance. Feng’s style, virtuosic and lively, has been known as representative of the folk musical traditions of northern China.

Liu Guanyue (, 1918–1990) was born in An'guo county, Hebei. Born to a poor peasant family, Liu was a professional folk musician who had earned a meagre living playing the '' guanzi'', ''suona'', and ''dizi'' in rural ritual ensembles before becoming a soloist in the Tianjin Song-and-Dance Ensemble ''(Tianjin gewutuan)'' in 1952.

Liu together with Feng Zicun are said to be representatives of the Northern ''dizi'' style. His pieces, including ''Yin zhong niao'' (Birds in the Shade), ''He ping ge'' (Doves of Peace) and ''Gu xiang'' (Old Home village) have become part of the new conservatory professional concert repertory.

Lu Chunling (, 1921–2018) was born in Shanghai. In pre-1949 Shanghai, Lu worked a trishaw driver, but was also an amateur musician, performing the Jiangnan sizhu folk ensemble repertory. In 1952, Lu became ''dizi'' soloist with the Shanghai Folk Ensemble ''(Shanghai minzu yuetuan)'', and also at the Shanghai Opera Company ''(Shanghai geju yuan)'' from 1971 to 1976. In 1957 he taught at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and became Associate Professor in 1978.

Lu has performed in many countries as well as throughout China and has made many recordings. His ''dizi'' playing style has become representative of the Jiangnan ''dizi'' tradition in general. He is well known as a longtime member of the famous ''Jiangnan sizhu'' music performance quartet consisting of Lu Chunling, Zhou Hao, Zhou Hui, and Ma Shenglong. His compositions include ''Jinxi'' (Today and Yesterday).

Zhao Songting (, 1924–2001) was born in Dongyang county, Zhejiang. Zhao trained as a teacher in Zhejiang, and studied law and Chinese and Western music in Shanghai. In the 1940s he worked as a music teacher in Zhejiang, and became the ''dizi'' soloist in the Zhejiang Song and Dance Ensemble (''Zhejiang Sheng Gewutuan'') in 1956. He also taught at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Zhejiang College of Arts (''Zhejiang Sheng Yishu Xuexiao'').

Because of his middle-class background, Zhao suffered in the political campaigns of the 1950s and 1960s and was not allowed to perform, instead he taught many students who went on to become leading professional ''dizi'' players, and to refine ''dizi'' design. He was reinstated in his former positions in 1976.

Zhao's compositions include ''San Wu Qi'' (Three-Five-Seven), which is based on a melody from ''Wuju'' (Zhejiang traditional opera).

Yu Xunfa (, 1946–2006) was a prominent ''dizi'' soloist and composer from Shanghai. He performed with the Shanghai National Orchestra and served as Head of the Chinese Dizi Culture Research Centre of Shanghai. The State Council of the People's Republic of China gave him a Life Achievement Award as well as a Lifelong Special Allowance from the State. He is also known for having invented the ''koudi'' in 1971.

Ma Di (馬迪) is a current composer and soloist known for his technique on the instrument.

Use in other music genres

Ron Korb ( or phonetically translated to ""), born in Toronto, Canada, is the first renowned western musician playing ''dizi'' along with numerous other world woodwinds. He graduated from the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto with an honors degree in performance. On many of his recordings, he uses the ''dizi'' as the lead instrument. He has also used ''dizi'' in the film soundtracks of ''The White Countess'', ''Relic Hunter'', ''China Rises'', and ''Long Life, Happiness, & Prosperity''.

See also

*Chinese flutes
*Traditional Chinese musical instruments
*Koudi
*Music of China

Notes

References

*''New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (London, 2001).

External links

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Chinese musical instruments
Side-blown flutes
Bamboo flutes