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INTRODUCTION TO CHINESE INSTRUMENTS
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Er-hu, also called the huqin or nanhu, is a two-stringed instrument played with a bow. It is very popular in China, as it has a soft tone color which is extremely expressive. The Er-hu may be used to play lyric passages or highly complicated cadenzas. It is used in solos as well as in accompaniments for other instruments. The Er-hu can imitate the sounds produced by human beings, birds, or percussion instruments. In the past 40 years, the art of Erhu has advanced by leaps and bounds. Today, there are many skillful players and composers for the instrument.
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Yangqin, or the Chinese dulcimer, has metal strings which are struck with two small bamboo hammers. It is a versatile instrument with a bright, clear, and melodious tone color, which is capable of producing a wide range of of expressions. The Yangqin can play two or more groups of tones at a time. It is used for solos as well as for accompaniments. The word Yangqin is written in Chinese by two characters denoting "foreign" (yang ) and "stringed instrument" (qin). While conclusions are still tentative as to the yangqin 's exact place or origin, it is clear that the instrument in its early form came from outside of China. Recent research indicates that the instrument found its way to China from the Middle East, probably Persia, where it has always been known as the santur. The yangqin was traditionally used to accompany singers, other instrumentalists, or a larger ensemble.
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Zheng, also called the Qin Zheng., is a plucked instrument very popular in the state of Qin (today's Shanxi Province) during the Warring State period in 403-221 B.C. Still popular among the Chinese people, it has a rectangular sound box made of wood over which 13, 14, or 16 strings are stretched. The steel strings produce heavy and reserved tones. The right hand fingering for this instrument is similar to that of the Guqin, a seven-stringed plucked instrument, while the left hand often presses down or glides on the strings to produce a wide variety of sound effects. The Zheng is often used for solos or in small ensembles. In an orchestra, it frequently serves as a color instrument as part of a group of plucked instruments.  View Demo
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Pipa, a 4-stringed guitar-like plucked instrument, has a long history in China. The Pipa we refer to today used to be called the bent-neck Pipa and has a pear-shaped sound box. It was introduced to the inland from China's northwestern Xinjiang and Gansu Provinces in around the 4th century. After the 7th century, it became popular and was regarded as a major musical instrument. During the Tang dynasty (618-907 A.D.), it often served as the lead instrument in sophisticated court music. The Pipa can be used for solos as well as accompaniments for other instruments. Its expressive capacity allows for one to play impassioned, powerful, solemn, and emotionally stirring passages as well as gentle and lyrical melodies.
View Demo (an excerpt from "An Overall Ambush," performed by Chunzhe Yu at the EPAC on April 15th, 2007). |
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Matouqin, also known as the "horse-head fiddle," is a chordophone of Mongolian origin.
To learn more about Matouqin, visit the Wikipedia Website.
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Chinese Flutes (Wikipedia): Dizi, Xiao, Gudi, Paixiao, Loudi, & Xun. |
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