Month: June 2013

Banhu belong to Chinese folk music of stringed instruments, Qintong by a wood or coconut shells, its pronunciation crisp and loud, passionate for the performance of the song. In addition to solo, but it is also the northern drama (such as Hebei Clapper Opera, Peking Opera, Opera, etc.) The main musical accompaniment.

Banhu is accompanied by Chinese local opera Bangzi appears, in huqin generated based on a rub playing stringed instruments ming, attributable to pull strings.
Its name is because Qintong with thin wooden stick into its name. Also known as bang Hu Qin Hu, Hoo, call Hu, big chords and pans, plates Qin Dynasty had another name.
Banhu in China about 300 years of history, variety, tone and bright, high-pitched. Are many of China Bangzi opera, drama and opera in northern main musical accompaniment.
After the 1950s, but also for the solo, instrumental ensemble. Loved by the majority of the people, popular northwest, north, northeast, northeastern provinces, especially in Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi and other provinces are most prevalent. Initially, Banhu mainly popular in China’s northern region, the local opera and folk art in many places, such as Hebei Clapper Opera, Peking Opera, opera, opera, etc. are used as the main accompaniment instrument Banhu. As Banhu and Chinese opera, folk relationship has deep roots, so it played opera, folk music can best play to their strengths, the local opera and folk accompaniment, good performance in all regions banhu their different styles, rich unique local color.

History
Banhu in China about 300 years of history, its name is because Qintong with thin wooden stick into its name.
Initially, Banhu mainly popular in China’s northern region, the local opera and folk art in many places, like opera, Hebei Clapper Opera, Peking Opera, opera, etc. are used as the main accompaniment instrument Banhu. As Banhu and Chinese opera, folk relationship has deep roots, so it played opera, folk music can best play to their strengths, the local opera and folk accompaniment, good performance in all regions banhu their different styles, rich unique local color.
After the founding of New China, the musician and instrument maker’s efforts, Banhu production technology has also been great development, so many new varieties joined the “Banhu family.” There tenor banhu, treble banhu, sanxian banhu, bamboo banhu, Shaanxi banhu etc., are “Banhu family”, “new members.” With the development of Banhu shape, Banhu playing skills are constantly improving, more colorful expression to become China’s national orchestra indispensable features musical instruments and with strong local characteristics of solo instruments, and for the national opera, folk dance and vocal accompaniment.

Banhu structure
Banhu speaker with a coconut shell or wood, paulownia panel with a thin plate. Piano bar with hard ebony or mahogany, Zhang two strings, horsetail bamboo bow. Sound and bright, high-pitched, warm and lively tunes for performance.
Banhu majority and erhu same structure, the main difference in Qintong and extremely heavy on.
Qintong called scoop, is Banhu resonance box, cylindrical, with a hard shell made of coconut, is also useful for wood, copper or bamboo, and the 1970s also used low-foam (ABS) molding materials molding. Qintong one big one small shape, can make sound resonate and cause Banhu concentrate characteristics. Big pronunciation deep scoop not loud and clear, scoop small is pronunciation wailing harsh. Qintong film before the mouth without skin glue to Paulownia boards. It is the key advantages and disadvantages Banhu tone to use soft wood, texture straight, uniform density, no trace of the Indus wood sections and stains better. Tube mouth after some exposure, some open five vents, was money eye.
Piano bar with mahogany, rosewood or rosewood made to precious ebony as well, piano bar is cylindrical, the top is the headstock, was a square peg hole opened. Piano bar not too long, too long will hinder pronunciation beautiful and widened Zhiwei, inconvenient transport means and master pitch.
Multi piano bar pegs boxwood wood or wood, the surface has opened a debate lines, piano bar mounted on the same side. Currently, most Banhu copper has been used wooden handle gear shaft tunings both accurate and not return strings.
Bow with a uniform thickness, elastic river reed made of bamboo or other than the erhu bow long, thick, mounted above the tail with white tail as well, the sound smooth. Bow rod should not be too long or too short, too long and unwieldy, too short not bowed long tones.
Banhu jin, also known as lumbar horse, because strings in the piano bar, named after the central branch is made of mahogany with a flat horn or wood chips, stringed piano bar lower uranium tied to strings of horses 1/3.
Chord with bamboo or wooden horse into, placed above the central panel, panels 1/3 is appropriate, Chikuma resonate larger pronunciation are more vigorous and beautiful.
Or steel string stringed strings to pronounce than stringed clean, bright, clear overtones.

Banhu Features
Banhu and other Chinese stringed musical instruments, the biggest feature is the volume big, loud and clear crisp sound, especially good performance of the high-pitched, passionate, enthusiastic and popular sentiment, but also have a beautiful and delicate features.
Most of the erhu Banhu same shape, the main difference in Qintong and extremely heavy. Qintong called scoop, cylindrical, made of coconut shell, wood is also useful, of copper or bamboo. Qintong before the mouth Mongolia Paulownia board is Banhu pronunciation key. Banhu sound particularly loud and clear, full of local flavor, it is often in the band is a variety of musical instruments collar chord accompaniment in the strings as treble voices. Erhu bow bow rod than long, thick, bow hair much and hard. Jin, also known as lumbar horse, with horns or mahogany, with erhu extremely heavy materials used are different. Strings of stringed or steel strings. Banhu have multiple varieties. Except for the solo, ensemble banhu, there treble Banhu (also known as Hebei Clapper banhu or Peking Opera banhu), alto Banhu (also known as Henan Clapper banhu), opera Banhu (also known as Hu calls), Shanxi Banhu (also known as Jinzhong Banhu). They Qintong size, piano bar thickness, length pegs, strings use and timbre, etc., vary. Another high-profile for Shaoxing banhu and used in Cantonese music, opera, folk in Yehu.

Tune a stringed instrument range
Banhu traditional tune a stringed instrument method, there are five degrees and four degrees two kinds, is tuned height are not the same, or more, according to the accompaniment of opera singer’s voice may be.
In ethnic band, often by five degrees between Banhu tune a stringed instrument, the inner chord as d2, outboard as a2, one octave higher than the erhu, range from d2 ~ g4, there are two and a half octaves.
In the King James Hu drama and other accompaniment by four degrees tune a stringed instrument, mainly in order to better express the unique style of opera.
Sanxian Banhu high, midrange are two, are five degrees is tuned, the treble as g, d1, a1, tenor of d, a, e1, the Opera or other accompaniment Laiwu Bangzi, can also be four, five or five degrees, four degrees tune a stringed instrument.
Sanxian Banhu expand the range five degrees interval, while maintaining the original sound Banhu on the basis of the development of a new musical skills, enhanced performance, regardless of strong national style of music played or opera, or foreign folk music or It is the creation of a new song. Can receive better artistic effect.
Tune a stringed instrument: d2 – a2; range: d1 – d3 (low octave notation, the actual sound an octave higher than the spectrum.)

Banhu Category
Press Banhu pronunciation level and scope of use, can be broadly divided into the following three categories:
1, treble Banhu (commonly known as the clapper Hu, a large string or scoop), and more for Hebei Clapper Opera, Peking Opera, Henan, Shandong clapper Lvju and dance, singing, solo and ensemble, this Banhu most widely used.
2, alto Banhu (commonly known as Hu calls, Qin Hu), used for opera, Puju, King James Hu, Gansu drama, Northern affections, Lanzhou drum accompaniment, etc. as well as sub-instrumental ensemble and solo. Speaker sound banhu higher for large, semicircular hole back there to spend money, piano bar is longer, is tuned a fifth lower than the treble banhu, deep and soft tones.
3, tenor Banhu (commonly known as coconut HU), used JinJu and Shangdang clapper. Speaker is slightly larger than the tenor banhu also carved with money to spend holes. Is tuned lower than the tenor banhu minor third or pure four degrees. Deep timbre, volume ambitious, it is appropriate to play slow, deep tunes.
After the founding of the Banhu carried out continuous reform, now there is a midrange banhu, use steel strings, voices sound higher banhu generous, gentle, the higher the bit can be played. Banhu has become the accompaniment of musical instruments ensemble, solo instrument.
Banhu more varieties, except for the solo and orchestra banhu, there are various local operas banhu used, they Qintong size, piano bar thickness, length and pegs the use of strings are there is a clear difference.
1, solo banhu, Qintong and panels are larger, diameter of 8 to 10 cm, piano bar than erhu thick, length 70 to 73 cm, outboard use steel strings, where strings stringed, or all use steel strings. Generous mellow tone, the higher the bit can be played.
2, treble Banhu, also known as “Hebei Clapper Banhu” or “Peking Opera Banhu.” Banhu slightly smaller than the solo shape, pronunciation pitched, shrill, bright, suitable for the Hebei Clapper and Peking Opera style. Hebei Clapper accompaniment larger scoop, scoop small Peking Opera accompaniment.
3, alto Banhu, also known as “Henan Clapper Banhu.” Piano bar length 70 cm, diameter 8.5 to 9.5 cm panel, pegs thick, outboard with ordinary old strings, where strings with rough old strings, voices deep and soft, for Henan clapper accompaniment.
4, Shaanxi Banhu, also known as “Hu calls.” Qintong coconut shell with a larger production, strings are strings with the old, lower than the previous several banhu pronunciation, mainly for opera accompaniment.
5, Shanxi Banhu, also known as “Jinzhong Banhu.” Qintong than opera banhu large piano bar too thick, bow rod is made of bamboo 3 cm wide, outboard chord with the old, in with the string wrapped around the string or casing string. Deep timbre, volume ambitious, it is appropriate to play slow, deep tunes, Shanxi Clapper major musical accompaniment.
In addition, there is a structure with the same jinghu banhu, just slightly larger Qintong no favor snakeskin only, piano bar and Qintong are made of bamboo, pronounced than other banhu crisp, high-profile for Shaoxing, Zhejiang, in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang two Provincial extremely popular.
6, double jin banhu, inspired by the double-jin erhu made. It replaced the original waist camel horse immediately shift the strings play a supporting and balancing pressure, increasing the effective chord length, the range extends down five degrees interval. In the following configuration Tuoma activities that can be moved up and down extremely heavy, and the addition of the following activities transpose jin jin. Placed in the base of dual-jin piano bar where you can slide up and down. Banhu devices such activities pairs jin after swapping is extremely convenient, range up to three and a half octaves, sound soft and beautiful, and has a treble and midrange Banhu Banhu sound characteristics, rich Banhu playing skills and responsibilities are capabilities.
7, sanxian banhu late seventies banhu successfully developed new varieties. Piano bar bottom arched curved, oblique insertion in Qintong. Sanxian headstock same as the flat spade. Pegs (left 2 right 1) points out both sides of the extremely heavy with mahogany, beveled trapezoid, easy equally spaced strings, string horse bamboo ladder Legged Horse, three strings were mounted on the steps of different heights on the outer bow bowing the strings, you can play two-tone, polyphonic chords and simple melodies.
According to the characteristics of the local music Banhu differences in the use of Qintong sizes, such as the northern area of ​​music with banhu, Qintong are slightly larger; Hebei, Northeast area of ​​music with banhu, Qintong are small.

Playing position
Banhu is Bangzi, strum the main chamber of the opera musical accompaniment, also used in folk accompaniment, such as Lanzhou drum I, affections. Ming and Qing Banhu is accompanied by the emergence of Bangzi drama, produced on the basis of the stringed musical instrument. Due to thin wood glue Qintong banhu derived the name, has been 30O years of history.
Banhu sound bright, high-pitched, commonly used in solo, ensemble or local opera and rap accompaniment, is a popular favorite of our people pull strings. For centuries, Banhu popular in our country’s northeast, north and northwest parts for a variety of local opera and folk absorbed in Hebei Clapper Opera, Peking Opera, Henan, Shandong Laiwu Clapper, Lvju, Jinju, King James Hu, Shaanxi, Puju , Lanzhou Drum and Northern affections such as accompaniment, has played a major position, which in Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi provinces most common.
Now, Banhu has become indispensable nation band features musical instruments and with strong ethnic style solo instrument, and for the opera, folk dance and vocal accompaniment. In the local opera and folk accompaniment, all regions are both good performance Banhu their different style, full of unique local color.
Folk music with a solo or ensemble banhu, pronounced especially loud and clear. Suitable for playing lively and cheerful tunes. Banhu in national orchestra plays an important role, it is often a variety of musical instruments collar chord accompaniment in the strings as a treble. Because of its large volume, pronunciation crisp, loud and clear, so the longest in the performance of the high-pitched, passionate, warm and hot emotions, but also good at expressing deep, beautiful and delicate emotions. Sound enthusiastic, bold and full of local flavor. Alto Banhu also sometimes used in folk music.
Banhu solo of “Festival of Lights”, “hurry” and “big girl beauty” and so on.

Manufacture
1 Select burden (piano bar) material. Banhu hard material must be produced, usually with lobular sandalwood, ebony, ebony, old mahogany and other materials best. Note that the choice of materials is selected along wire, Shun Liu of the material.
2 straightening. First with the visual, even if the material is not straight straight with fire.
3 lever. Drawn by hand plane for the past, and now with a professional machine, the advantage is accurate, fast.
4 fight head shape. Fight head shape is to a small square of material spliced ​​to the head of the piano burden. First with a wheel on one side of the piano burden polished smooth.

Banhu maintenance
About Banhu maintenance, you should note the following:
1. Musical instruments after use, use a soft cloth to piano, strings, bow on the sting incense dust wipe, and then placed Qin He or piano kit, do not hang on the walls in the wet.
2. Multi violin ebony rod plate made in order to prevent chapped, every spring cooking oil or walnut oil remaining available once or twice, until the oil penetrate the wood and then with a cloth.

Introduction posture
For an opera performer who Banhu, Caoqin elegant demeanor, attitude lyre luxurious atmosphere is necessary. Shaanxi Banhu playing position is generally divided into “flat-leg” and “shelf-leg” two, the difference between these two positions is that the position of the lower limbs.
Bowed stringed instrument with a thin wooden soundboard
“Flat-leg” Body sit down, legs apart, left foot slightly forward, right foot on the list, on the left thigh Banhu bends slightly outside. (Or thigh-Surface in third place) advantage of this posture the body center of gravity, leg ministry burden small, playing large range of activities. After playing passion, excitement and fast song singing, the player can get emotional and techniques maximize, consequent adopt this posture players especially prevalent; “rack-leg,” stand in the right leg, left leg frame in the left leg or right leg, and placed in the legs and lower abdomen Banhu cross between the ancestors of this opera banhu playing position is respected musician played, it has its effect is playing strengths. Stable center of gravity concentration, peace legged compare their own characteristics. Of course, the book home is not optional pen. Shaanxi Banhu playing position of choice is also determined by the players themselves. But regardless of any position to play, draw attention to the following points are logical.
(A) to do when playing face deportment generous nature, unnecessary tension and contrived.
(2) Be careful not oblique, or left shoulder higher than the right shoulder. This is what we do not inadvertently performer, but it really should prevent this from happening.
(3) when playing head wagging, teeth, or playing various unhelpful actions and behavior is taboo.

Music masterpiece
Since the founding of the party under the guidance of the correct line, with the rise and Banhu solo art increasingly sophisticated, so the emergence of a large number of outstanding works such as: “big play board” (He Bin arranger), “Days of Liberation” (Zhu Jianer song), “big girl beauty” (Peng Xiuwen arranger), “Shaanxi brand song” (Guo Fu group arranger), “carriage across the fields Benz” (Ge Yan Song, Liu Mingyuan, Xu Lian had adapted), “Crescent Dawn “(Northeast folk songs, Liu Mingyuan adaptation),” eyebrow households duet “(Liu Mingyuan arranger),” Harvest Music “(Liu Mingyuan Song),” Xiuying “(Zhang Changcheng song),” My brother is back “(Zhang Changcheng, Wilderness song), “Shandong ditty” (Wilderness song), “flower” clapper (Yan Shao an arranger), “tone” (Liu Jun arranger), “Festival of Lights” (Bai Jie, Qi Ren-fa song), “Spring Festival” (Zhou Qichang, Ding Yongsheng song), “Henan Bangzi” (Zhao Guoliang song), “Ballade” (Li Heng song), “Qin Chuan Line” (Li Heng song), “string tone” (Li Heng song), “homeland” (Shen Cheng Qu), “First Banhu Fantasia” (single Danfeng song). These works like a beautiful blossoming flowers, garden flowers in folk music odd fight Yan. We believe that in the near future, there will be more and better works to the fore, so that our folk music career more brilliant!

Famous Introduction

Liu Mingyuan
1 Liu Mingyuan (1931 – 1996) Tianjin, a famous national musicians, ethnic stringed music guru, educator, composer, musical instruments reformer. During his lifetime was Chinese Musicians Association, China National Orchestral Association, the China Conservatory of Music professor, master tutor.
After years of artistic practice, Mr. Liu Mingyuan through extensive apprenticeship assiduously, mastered the erhu, banhu, gaohu jinghu, four HU, dances, falling Hu dozen ethnic stringed instruments and playing skills have reached an consummate the realm of music by colleagues at home and abroad as the “erhu commander.”
It is particularly worth mentioning is that Mr. Liu Mingyuan will banhu, these two have been in Hu opera band as accompaniment solo instrument onto the stage for China’s national music industry has made outstanding contributions.
In 1957, Mr. Liu Mingyuan as representatives of Chinese young artists to participate in the Sixth World Youth Festival folk circles instrumental competition to Banhu song “big play board”, “big girl beauty” as well as in Hu song “prairie” won the gold medal win honor for the motherland, but also make friends all over the world a taste of the Chinese nation, brilliant instrumental arts.
Mr. Liu Mingyuan masterpiece: Banhu song “bumper music”, “hi red horse and transportation vehicles busy”, “festival”, “eyebrow households duet”, “Month bud just before dawn”, “carriage Mercedes-Benz in the field”, “flowers homeland “,” Four Seasons “; erhu” Henan ditty “; Zhonghu song” prairie “,” herdsman Returns “; folk music ensemble” radiant “,” happy years “and so on.

Li Heng
. LiHeng 1942, Hebei Dingxing people. Central Conservatory of Music professor, banhu performer, composer and educator.
Representative: Banhu song “Ballade”, “Qin Chuan OK”, “string tone”, “fenshui love”, etc.; theoretical writings “banhu played Essentials”, “On Banhu play a few technical problems,” and so on.

Shen Cheng
3 Shen Cheng was born in 1959, Xi’an. Banhu performer, Chinese Academy of Music professor. Was the first Chinese winner of a Master’s degree Banhu.
Representative: Banhu Concerto “homeland.”

Other artists
(4) Other Artists: In addition to these three artists outside the community as well Banhu Xiu Qi, Zhou Qichang, Zhang Changcheng, YAN Shao-an, wilderness, high accounting, Zhao Guoliang, Jiang Kemei, Liu Guanting and many other artists, due to lack of information, it does not describe .
Finally, let us “hardcore fans” who unite to cheer for our folk music.

Music Week
Banhu Music Week is organized by the China Conservatory of Music devoted Banhu activities held in December 2011, is the first time since the birth Banhu professional events.
First Banhu Music Week has more than thirty art schools, arts groups to participate. Through the first Banhu Music Week “to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the birth of Liu Mingyuan master violin concert”, “art school teaching exchange Banhu concert”, “new works Banhu concert”, “Banhu art theory seminar”, “expert teaching public class “,” Banhu famous songs Concert “series of activities showcasing the history of art and contemporary Banhu achievements and jointly explore the art of music creation Banhu, performance art, personnel training and theoretical construction of the socialist cultural development and prosperity of a and prospects, and promote the development of art and highlight Banhu banhu art in the era of national culture aspects of the role.
Banhu Art Week activities are Chinese artists Banhu long-cherished wish and hope for Banhu long-term construction and development of the art of great significance. It can be said that China undertake banhu Art Week Music Conservatory to promote our national music development and prosperity of China’s cultural and artistic undertakings and sway out of the indelible mark. I believe that through such activities will attract more people concerned about national art loving banhu, will attract more students to plunge into Banhu playing professional learning in the past.

Common bowing
Opera Opera orchestra Banhu is the main lead instrument, commonly known as the main strings. It has a unique bowing operation. Generally speaking bow began to push the bow ends. Qu downbeat tone or strong positions are to be used to push the bow to play, upbeat sound or weak position are generally required to bow to play. Of course, special emphasis is needed if the song accent forte, be sure to use the bow or shake bow. For example, a few rolling white interlude forte 3 “‘— 2″‘ — 5 “‘— 1″‘ — must bow to bow dithering play the Song of the tragic emotions. There instance twenty-eight interlude in | 2555 5555 | need to use the same two films and music playing bow to play the effect. However, according to the method of word play on a bow but violates strong position to push the bow sound general rule, which requires bow bowing immediately after the adjustment. The method can use it to add the word play into | 2_55__55 5555 | This forms that the use of the bow of the head of a powerful melodic sound played out, add the phrase after the word unchanged and the effect of the time value has reached composers in mind. Adjusted to push the bow bow general there are three ways; 1 plus the word play in the above example, 2. Shaking bow to play. 1. 276 can play to 1. 2276. 3 slurred playing as: | 3 2 3 5 | playability into | 3 2 3 5 | effect. Short or strong position once the strong beat phenomenon appears bow three methods you can use to adjust, not a violation of the law of continuous phenomenon. Bowing technique is divided into: separate bows, even the bow, shaking bow (bow quiver), Broken Bow, Dayton bow. Bowing speaking generally use the word a word a bow bow and used interchangeably, three or four characters to play a little bow. Jumping off the bow with a light tone, short bow accent Dayton, duration forte bow with shaking (tremor bow). In short, Opera Banhu in many difficult without the accompaniment of bowing techniques, as long as the bow began to develop, pushing the bow end, strong position to push the bow, plus three kinds of methods to adjust bowing use, you can say your bow France no problem. But fingering techniques are very important to every one accompanist must not be ignored.

Gehu: A larger volume, a wide range of bass stringed instrument. Fifties Shanghai Conservatory of Music Yang Yusen (1926 to 1980) on the basis of the erhu lessons created other stringed instrument made of the characteristics and therefore called gehu. And later through continuous improvement, and now has become a rich expressive bass stringed instrument.

Gehu profile
One kind of large volume, wide range bass stringed instrument. Fifties Shanghai Conservatory of Music Yang Yusen (1926 to 1980) on the basis of the erhu lessons created other stringed instrument made of the characteristics and therefore called gehu. And later through continuous improvement, and now has become a rich expressive bass stringed instrument.
Gehu Zhonghu shape and low HU are different, it is Zhang has four strings, a fingerboard, Qintong tap, piano bar is inserted Qintong side. Qintong wooden mask with python, horsehide or sheepskin, skin and timpani same way, you can adjust the tension. Chord horse flat spade. Vibration python string does not directly bear the pressure. Cello bow bow and the same external pull-outs in the chord, easy bowing. Because of the fretboard, Anxian extremely convenient, not only bowed, plucked can play.
Gehu meaning and value
In traditional Chinese instrumental ensemble, due to popular support traditional voice polyphony of musical texture, there is no functional harmony, there is no so-called “bass voice” and therefore a variety of musical instruments to play melodies as much, nor is there a special role to play bass and accompaniment of musical instruments. It seems that Chinese traditional music on the pursuit of aesthetic concepts are loud high-pitched sound with the late nineteenth, early twentieth century Western music and musical ideas penetrate Chinese Orchestra was established, traditional Chinese music ensemble to add flowers unison melody-based supported by the European voice polyphony becoming mainstream harmonies affected. In Western harmonies bass part account for a very important position. Chinese music to be “European” and the traditional functions by Western harmonies and orchestration impact itself but the lack of support from the entire band can bass, forcing contemporary musicians adopting Western bass: cello and double bass. But in a “Chinese” in the use of this band 0 “Western” (especially in appearance) instrument, the total can not be justified, so musicians have to develop a completely, or at least the appearance looks invented by the Chinese bass.

Appear Background

Western influence
In 1919 the “May Fourth” New Culture Movement, the Western music culture on Chinese musical influences getting bigger, then refer to the West Symphony musicians, models of its orchestra orchestra moved to China and if The Chinese orchestral ensemble history dating back to the Zhou Dynasty, has been to Sui’s band did not pull strings. (Hu Teng jumped 1994:253) but in the West Symphony Orchestra Strings is indispensable, is divided into five parts : first violin, second violin, viola, cello and double bass. twentieth century Chinese musicians to apply this concept in Chinese orchestra, two, thirties Wei Chung Yue, who founded the Shanghai Datong Club early attempts Reference Western orchestra have been adopting new reforms coir Ogo and buildings in a low voice as the piano. (Qin Peng Zhang 1997:2), but the music has been lacking in conventional and functional harmony perspective this can be seen in various parts of China vocals, in addition to Tibetan Buddhist music, bass singer in fact, only the range of ordinary people to speak, rather than a Western vocal bass like “unnatural” bass. visible aesthetics of traditional Chinese music does not attach bass.
In rare bass instrument
Can be called the perfect musical instrument in the bass, so people only converted into the existing instruments in the bass. 1936 Central Broadcasting country music group made up according to the principle of Nago and low Hu Ogo post (Xue Zong 1983:832), people put the band’s musical instruments stringed consort with Western concepts systematically into high HU, erhu, the Hu Hu five Ogo and low voices. (Yu Shaohua, 2001: 90), but Hu Ogo and low range and volume limited, difficult to prop up the entire band’s harmonies, so many bands used directly cello and double bass symphonic band to meet the trend of the time. But since it is China’s national orchestra, should have Chinese characteristics. Use do not belong to their own ethnic musical instruments, how to show China’s national character uphold such a national self-esteem, Shanghai Conservatory of Music Yang Yusen in 1949 decided to invent their own ethnic bass. Starting from his erhu, cello reference structure, in 1951 developed the first to gehu, named after the “reform of the erhu.” But early research into gehu not have a lot of technical problems to overcome, Yang Yusen continuous reform, to 1979 developed into a “seventy-nine-type” gehu for gehu stereotypes.
Back in 1957 when the National Music Week, gehu folk music concert at the audition, followed by some large and medium-sized national orchestra adoption. 1969 Zhou Enlai want to put national bands cello, double bass for into gehu, bass gehu, and stressed the need to “come up with their own bass, the styling to the United States, sounds to be nice, to have distinctive ethnic characteristics.” (baby 1983:18-19) he insisted on national orchestra Using ethnic bass, so at the time of Chinese and other ethnic dance troupe visits abroad group performances, the use of the bass strings are pulled gehu. (Chenyou Fu 1995:19) gehu value of recent decades, someone who has developed many different bass stringed instrument, numerous species, such as the village in 1958 the legislature created a “senior drum piano.” 1963 Rongfa Ming Cheng of the “four chord Ogo.”
Use a small range
1978 4 “Bass Tailpiece gourd piano”, etc. (Xuezong Ming 1983:879-884) These instruments often have different drawbacks, such as poor sound quality and loud enough so there is still a big gap compared with the cello , so soon after the invention are unmanned and then as eighties and nineties were praised by domestic musicians of the new nation’s gehu bass stringed instrument, both in structure and sound principles, is tuned, playing methods, are imitating cello, but happens to sound quality, volume, resonance effects, sound stability, convenience of playing norms, and no one on the cello (cello also people from beginning to end as the standard). As for talent, the National Orchestra of gehu Most hand cello origin, their playing habits, pitch hearing more or less influenced by Western music, so the sound is difficult integration with other stringed instruments. coupled gehu of Qintong to Mongolia python skin, python needed Paper size and large, it is not easy to find such a large python. Moreover, in recent years, the protection of wild animals was banned, this needs to be made to kill python skin whichever instrument naturally become conservationists ban targets in China, has long been mentioned of using film to replace synthetic snakeskin, but it seems not much results. (Shang Zhiyong 2001:87) plus production costs are high, for various reasons do not become so gehu National Orchestra uniform use.

Voice Features

Gehu bass stringed instrument with four strings, a fingerboard, Qintong tapped, the same bow and cello bow, pull-outs can also pizzicato, playing a variety of forms.
Gehu bass stringed instrument with four strings, a fingerboard, Qintong tapped, the same bow and cello bow, pull-outs can also pizzicato, playing a variety of forms.
Gehu muffled sound bright, mellow rich, wide range, since the bow string, but also rich musical skills. It absorbed the erhu, the HU, HU fall, dances and playing skills and to develop. In ethnic band, it can substitute in low Hu Hu and can be used solo, trio, ensemble playing, or various forms of accompaniment. Today in our country and some Southeast Asian country’s national orchestra, has become an essential bass stringed instrument.

Production process

Mahogany, rosewood system, the length of 170 centimeters. Headstock carved leader, piano bar inserted Qintong side of the curved surface is provided piano bar fretboard. Qintong oblong, 37, the former mouth diameter 38 cm. Mongolia python, horsehide or sheepskin. After the opening set acoustic window. Leather adjustable tension. Set axis, Zhang four strings. Played with a cello bow. Film does not directly bear the tension of the string, leather inside center with six foot-shaped frets acoustic, piano yards Chengbian spade, code convergence capitals feet and sound to expand the scope of the film vibration. Mellow strong. Tuned in C, G, d, a, range four octaves. Seventies has developed into a round square tube and full co-Vibration plate gehu. The former co-vibration of the diaphragm with the drum type, paulownia board affixed behind python, pronounce sound loud; latter Qintong Chengbian urn, no skin film, front, rear and right side panels on three sides located Paulownia through frets and Code to make three straight lever Association vibration plate, pure and honest sound muffled.

Playing method

Bow outboard pull-outs can be plucked play. Absorbed the erhu, the HU, HU fall, dances and playing skills and to develop. In the national orchestra can replace the HU and low HU.

Different types of

Yang Yusen 1970s successfully developed a round square tube co trembler gehu. Association for the diaphragm vibration drum combines style, in oblong wooden drum circle in front of Mongolia to python, Paulownia plate affixed to the back. Left direction strings vibrations transmitted to the horse through the lever Skin to straight, thus, the low-frequency reflected; strings longitudinal vibrations. Role in the co-vibrating drum python with Paulownia board.
Which will be reflected in high-frequency and times. Chord horse by the flat spade to two volumes ear lever straight horse, complex structure, so that the strings vibrating to better conduction. Round square tube co trembler gehu expanded strings vibration amplitude, low Hu retained the basic tone. Pronunciation solid loud. Gehu bass is tuned in C, G, d, a, range of four octaves, double bass gehu tuned in E1, A1, D, G. Range is quite wide.

Innovation

Deficiencies
Until the twenty-first century still some luthiers who does not give up improving gehu. Beijing luthiers who Jiang Yun armor to gehu develop into “old bottles Hu.” He declared: “This ‘old bottles Hu’ design all over the world stringed instruments, it is more advanced than the cello, more scientific, richer sound than the violin, stringed instruments cutting-edge technology. three sides also issued a stereo, from the first generation of the cello and the effect of the phonograph to today by the cello and violin and dances The perfect synthesis of sound, completely changed the Chinese and oriental stringed bass in history without history. ‘old bottles Hu’ birth, but in the past may be a Chinese Orchestra concert in Vienna in order to give up the usual national dignity with Western cello instead of bass and switch frequency is not in place instead of pulling Nguyen bass regret. “Jiang Yun armor had four to find someone, even promise free to let people try pulling his old bottles, HU, but nobody cares about the grounds that it is The new instrument, the cello is still used to the practical. (Hua Ran, Feng Qian 2001) old bottles Hu in 1998 has been developed into, but so far I have not heard of any orchestra use each application gehu Orchestra and bass gehu circumstances founding of the PRC, the economy is more stable. 1952 Ministry of Culture decided to create a variety of professional arts organizations, national orchestra began to develop rapidly, the professional orchestra dedicated to reform the band formed and folk instruments while seeking ways to strengthen national orchestra traditionally weak in the bass area. (Zhao Yan Chen 1994:288) since the 1950s began, there have been many reforms bass stringed instrument, such as gehu, bass Yang Hu, sheepskin low Hu pull Pa, corbels piano, Ogo, low HU, etc., all ethnic band or try one to use, but most is not promoted or endorsed by, many national bands still use cello and double bass as the bass part. (Zhao Yan Chen 1994 : 292) bass is not developed, so there is no one kind of bass for the band are commonly used by various ethnic groups in the statistics of nine different places professional orchestras will use five different bass stringed instrument, in which four orchestras use gehu and bass gehu, others were using cello and bass cello, big bass dances and dances, bass and double bass pull pull Nguyen Nguyen, Ogo and low HU.

To fill the gap
Gehu itself has many congenital deficiencies, but there are still professional orchestras in the use of one hand, if we are not adopting Western cello, then China worth using bass stringed instrument is very small on the other hand, there are more than cello gehu winning places. Some conductors, such as Kuan Nai-chung prefer to use gehu than that of Hu’s range is not low enough, so the orchestra’s string tenor and bass in a great gap between the cello has a very strong tone higher overtone, gehu is biased in the bass overtones, so when using the cello, the bass will be out of the entire orchestra sui generis, but the gap is still large tenor. gehu timbre features on just to make up this gap, and high-order harmonics less likely to go outside to orchestra, so will it be possible to do using gehu String overall fullness. (Sun Pei Yuan 1994) he served as Music Director of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the symphonic works dedicated to large ethnic training, he knew the use gehu, bass gehu make the whole greater integration of audio playing folk music and orchestra established in gehu, bass gehu a solid position. (Bian Zushan 2002) The author also considers Cello and Bass cello sound difficult with other Chinese stringed tone fusion with the piano chord wood material, different sound principles, they are very different tone and erhu, and medium and large Nguyen tone can not be properly fused, likely to cause the entire String orchestra sound is not synergistic. Others dances such as large bass, piano and pull big Pa Nguyen structure are made using similar instruments cello, cello sound quality than the poor, so there is not too many bands use. According to my research currently only the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra and bass with big dances dances. Their sound is more bleak, it seems that the only advantage is to reduce the sense of conflict arising cello As low Ogo and Hu made the original stringed instrument principle is proportionate amplification, the strings bold and growth, together with enlarged Qintong This method is quite feasible in HU, but using it on the Ogo ideal sound could not be sent because the violin is a single rod and resonance body connection, acoustic limited capacity, used in Ogo and can not be issued on the good vibes, and in this regard gehu gehu indeed more excellent bass.

Affect

China is not fully developed bass stringed instrument is an indisputable fact, if you agree Orchestra continues moving in the “symphonic” road marching appropriate introduction of exotic musical instruments, nor as not. Reality is: If the Chinese Orchestra Western instruments such as timpani, various Western cello and double bass percussion instruments are abandoned off, the tone will be very different and difficult in recent years, China embarked on the pursuit of Chinese national orchestra musicians “symphonic” road (note: but this sounds exactly Western tone). Another expedient is subject to different situations using different instruments. For example, when playing stringed instrument sounds highly desirable unified harmony, it will use gehu and bass gehu, when the song that rich bass, they use the cello and double bass. But in the long run, to design a national bands used exclusively for perfect bass is a must. Because Chinese Instrumental Ensemble of the “symphonic” has become a big trend, musical instruments, symphonic reform had to follow the pace on bass in the orchestra of the problem, many people have always been the focus of debate in various Chinese developed into a bass Bowed Instruments imperfect circumstances, cello and double bass is undoubtedly a better choice. Chinese musicians has always stressed the need for their own national musical instruments, so do not want to use Western bass stringed instrument, but the irony is that the reason why the need bass stringed instrument orchestra, because under the influence of Western values ​​of traditional music. Problem lies in The emergence of the Western orchestra symphony is simply a replica and if opposed to the use cello, whether that should be against the imitation of Western orchestra model to study the issue further: Chinese ensemble music should be developed in accordance with the West in recent years, Chinese orchestra music in terms of musical instruments , Orchestra, intonation and aesthetic concept of development, are affected by western music culture, is an indisputable fact. example, in 1979 in the United Kingdom Dowling (Durham) Oriental Music Festival, performing musicians from China was Foreign scholars believe too modern, too westernized, not their mind, “Chinese music.” (Yu Shaohua 2001:94) Chinese national orchestra which for decades have followed the development of Western music values, it seems now is the time to reflect, to the extent possible Looking for the improvement of Chinese musical culture, rather than blind called.