Posts Tagged music
Erhu
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Music Instrument on July 30, 2009
The erhu, also known as Chinese violin in the West, is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument. It belongs to the huqin family, together with the zhonghu, jinghu, gaohu, ect.
Now, it is one of the most popular instruments in China. Its history can date back to more than a thousand years ago. It is believed that the instrument was evolved from the xiqin, introduced to China in the 10th century from Central Asia.
It has a long neck and a round, hexagonal, octagonal or tubular body. There are two strings, with the bow inserted between them. Nowadays, metal strings are more common. However, traditionally the two strings are made of silk. It sounds similar to human voice and can imitate many natural sounds, such as bird, horse, etc. With three-octave range, it can play both melancholy tunes and joyful melodies.
It is used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras. In performance, the erhu is held in the player’s left hand and supported on the left thigh while the right hand moves the bow.
Click here to appreciate the beautiful tune “Er Quan Ying Yue” played by Erhu
Ancient Sound – Xun
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Music Instrument on July 10, 2009
Xun, with a history of more than 7,000 years, is one of the oldest known Chinese musical instruments. The earliest Xun was made of stones and bones with one hole on its surface and it is believed that in early times, the ancestors used them to imitate animals’ sound and ensnare then.
As time passed by, it gradually became an important instrument in ancient China and it experienced a development in design, size, decoration, etc. People began to make it with baked clay, and dig more holes on it. It usually has six to nine finger-holes on its surface with various sizes. However, the most common form is pear-shaped with five finger holes—three on the front and two (for thumbs) on the back.
Due to its special tone, it is good at creating a very distant and melancholy feeling, making the music elegant, mysterious and a bit sad, thus suitable for performing some lamenting aria.
Interested in it? Click here you may enjoy a piece of beautiful music performed by Xun.
Naxi Ancient Music
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Folk Music&Dance on June 26, 2009
Known as a living fossil, Naxi Ancient Music was listed as one of the masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.
The music is a collective of literary lyrics, poetic topics, and musical styles from the Tang (618-907) and Song dynasties (960-1279).
It is composed of three styles: Baisha Fine Music, Dongjing Music and the now-extinct Huangjing Music.
What’s more, Naxi Music bands are famous for their “three olds”:
Old Performers: Most of the performers are more than 70 years old;
Old Musical Instruments: Many instruments have a history of more than 100 years. Some are unique ones.
Old Songs: All are antiquated classical music.
Nowadays, when you walk on the ancient streets of Lijiang, Yuannan Province, you may still hear this wonderful music.
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