The ''dimo'' () is a special membrane applied to the transverse
Chinese flute
Chinese flutes come in various types. They include
Transverse Flutes:
*dizi (instrument), Dizi (and its varieties such as the dizi (instrument), qudi and dizi (instrument), bangdi; primary transverse flutes, usually made of bamboo and distinctiv ...
called ''
dizi'' (or ''di''), giving the instrument its characteristic buzzing
timbre
In music, timbre ( ), also known as tone color or tone quality (from psychoacoustics), is the perceived sound quality of a musical note, sound or musical tone, tone. Timbre distinguishes different types of sound production, such as choir voice ...
.
''Dimo'', made from the tissue-thin membrane from the interior of a specific variety of bamboo, are supplied as tubular sleeves. Only a small rectangle is needed at a time, so for application, a small section is cut off the end of the ''di mo'' sleeve, and that small tube is cut open to make a rough rectangle of flat membrane.
The Korean transverse bamboo flute called ''
daegeum
The ''daegeum'' (also spelled ''taegum'', ''daegum'' or ''taegŭm'') is a large bamboo flute, a transverse flute used in traditional Korean music. It has a buzzing membrane that gives it a special timbre. It is used in court, aristocratic, and f ...
'' has a similar buzzing membrane. The Korean ''
sogeum
The ''sogeum'' (also spelled ''sogum'' or ''sogŭm'') is a small bamboo transverse flute used in traditional Korean music. Unlike the larger ''daegeum'', it does not have a buzzing membrane (although it did have one in ancient times). It is used ...
'' and ''
junggeum
The ''junggeum'' (also spelled ''chunggum'' or ''chunggŭm'') is a medium-sized transverse bamboo flute formerly used in traditional Korean music. Unlike the larger ''daegeum'', it does not have a buzzing membrane (although it did have one in anc ...
'', Vietnamese ''
sáo
The ''sáo'' (Chữ Nôm: 筲, also called ''sáo trúc'' or "sow trook", pronounced ) is a family of flutes found in Vietnam that is traditionally thought to contain the culture and spirit of Vietnam's countryside. The most common variety is playe ...
'', and the Thai ''
khlui
The ''khlui'' ( th, ขลุ่ย, ) is a vertical duct bamboo flute from Thailand. Originated before or during the Sukhothai period (AD 1238–1583) along with many other Thai instruments. But, it was officially recorded as a Thai instrume ...
'' also once had membranes, but these are not used today.
Application
The ''di mo'' is applied to the membrane hole (or
Mo kong
Mo or MO may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Mo, a girl in the ''Horrible Histories'' TV series
* Mo, also known as Mortimer, in the novel ''Inkheart'' by Cornelia Funke
* Mo, in the webcomic ''Jesus and Mo''
* Mo, the ...
) of the dizi using a special, traditional glue called ''
Ejiao
Donkey-hide gelatin or ass-hide glue ( la, colla corii asini) is gelatin obtained from the skin of the donkey (''Equus asinus'') by soaking and stewing. It is used as an ingredient in the traditional medicine of China, where it is called ejiao ...
''. One of the advantages of ''ejiao'' is that the glue is water-soluble, so that it can be wetted again to re-adjust the ''di mo''.
After applying the glue around the ''mo kong'', the ''di mo'' is applied, and then adjusted while the glue is still wet so that many creases form in a sequence along the length of the hole. Each crease should be parallel to the one before, crossing the hole horizontally, so that together they form a sort of pleat or corrugation.
If ''Ejiao'' is not available, a substitute can be improvised by simply crushing
garlic
Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus ''Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Allium fistulosum, Welsh onion and Allium chinense, Chinese onion. It is native to South A ...
into a fine, relatively dry paste, and applying as normal. It should be used quickly.
Although the purpose of applying ''di mo'' is simply to make the ''dizi'' operational, the application technique is considered to be an art in itself.
References
Chinese musical instruments
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