Category: Chinese musical instruments

Since the Qin Dynasty, 221BC, has 2000 years of history. The carillon first had made of bronze, the most prosperous and bronzes of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the carillon can be said that one of China’s earliest musical instrument! While the clock is not just as a carillon is also a national integrity as well as a status symbol.

Note the difference between clock time as a musical instrument or a separate entity there are manufacturing material difference.

The history of the bell

The origin of the clock in a variety of ways, initially as earthenware.

The origin of the “bell” when existing historical records vary. “Shan Hai Jing at home and by said:” the Yandi Sunbo Qi Health drums, is the beginning of a bell “. “Spring and Autumn Annals. Midsummer Ji said:” the past Yellow Emperor Ling-Ling Lun as law. …… The Huangdi life Ling Lun Wing will cast 12 minutes, … “” Pipe five types articles “:” Formerly, of Huangdi its priorities for the five sound, make it five minutes, said a green bell sound political bell; second is red bell center of gravity; third is yellow bell sprinkle light; ignorant of its Si Yue Jing Zhong Ming; Rider Black clock hidden it often. ” Well as the legendary Yao and Shun, a person called vertical record, of course, some scholars believe that the clock is originated in the bells.

The first bell is ceramic in Shan County Miaodigou, Henan unearthed a new era period Tao Zhong, about 9 cm, diameter 5 cm, resonance cylindrical body is cylindrical, the top short handle.

Yu period, a bronze bell. 16th century BC to the 11th century BC Shang Dynasty, China will have a different shape of the bell, from ancient bronze shape several bell unearthed instrument, has been able to see.

In the Zhou dynasty, bell classification of ancient musical instruments, living first in the octave instrument for the gold class. Bell instruments used in the ceremony and banquet held in the ancient ancestral temple or palace. Chronicles for Gagaku. Now only as a heritage retention, has an important historical value and high artistic value.

The clock since the Qin and Han dynasties.

The bells in the Shang Dynasty, the rise in the Western Zhou Dynasty, flourished in the Warring States Period.

In February 1976, in the the unearthed from the Qin Shi Huang mound about 100 meters north-west of at the a the wrong the gold and silver button bell, bronze production,-bell New Zealand one side of engraved with the the word “the Poem” The, indicating that the the Yuefu institutions is in the Qin Dynasty had already established a. In Yuefu bell of Qin Dynasty craft is exquisite and and meticulous, the sound clear and melodious, the pitch for the C. Qin and Han dynasties affected by the war, bell cast craftsmen and musicians scattered death, the bell cast technology has repeatedly lost during that time.

The ancient bell divided into special bells and chimes, special bell, also known as Bo Bell, separate hanged on the gallows, each with only one, bells by the number of pieces of different sizes bell hung on the same gallows.

Since the the the Han Dynasty (206 BC ~ AD 220), With the The advent of Buddhism, when the Northern and Southern Dynasties has been to the, due to the to subject to the the impact of of the India’s round mouth bell, and thus give rise out of shape the a round clock of such as the crock of the. Since then, the use of bells in the ancient palace Ting Ya music is mostly round. On the basis of the most original meaning “bell” reserved, round clock has also become a symbol of the sacred utensils in the minds of most people. Such minutes, Buddhist temple, bell tower up to reflect the monarch, the gods, is greatest Hallows. The emergence of this theme, laid a favorable foundation for the later Chinese-made round the clock rapid development of technology.

The bell is still used in the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Documented in the Song Dynasty the disyllabic have been bell, indicating that this period bell cast technology developed.

After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, round clocks and clock casting technology has reached the highest stage. Round clock in the field of entertainment for all sectors of society and sacred places, Beijing Great Bell Temple ancient bell Museum (former students feel Monastery) Yongle bell as the representative of a variety of Ming and Qing dynasties ancient bell is the embodiment of this historical period physical example.

But for the bells, since the Song as ended the Qing Dynasty, the little-known casting technology, chimes gradually be eliminated the Qing court Suozhu bells, not only its shape with the traditional bells, temperament is a far cry from the .

Archaeological finds in the territory of ancient musical instruments, occupies an important place in the history of world musical instruments, music history and the history of science and technology aspects. China Yangtze River in Hubei Province Unearthed Music Heritage large amount of fine quality, prompt wide range of content is brilliant movement in the history of Chinese ancient musical instruments and music. The famous Bianzhong that unearthed here. Hubei is the birthplace of Chu culture, occupies an important position in the cultural development of the Chinese nation.
The capital — Ying Chu in Jingzhou City, was the cultural center, which is particularly important in the study of musical instruments and music of the pre-Qin Chu. Unearthed in Hubei Chu instrument bell is the most important among the ancient Chu octave bell still bell wind, Chu as strong.
From the historical point of view, the beginning of Spring and Autumn Chu on to have the “Kowloon Bell” known world. This time, Chu is not only of musical instruments, and has become a symbol of the Chu boat; and Qin Ding mentioned in the same breath. The clock which this lofty position that Wu Shi Ying into the “burning high House of millet, broken Kowloon Bell” perish Chu flag. Hubei Province bell unearthed today with the study of history can be traced back to the Song Dynasty, such as the Northern Song Dynasty unearthed in Hubei Anlu Chu , Zhang Zhong, char “Chu Gong inverse ,”. In addition, in the Qing dynasty, unearthed in Yicheng princes and left bell “bell  Heritage has long been known for.

Dances and music is one of the traditional Chinese musical instruments, China’s Inner Mongolia folk stringed instruments, by the resonance box, headstock, piano bar, pegs, the bridge, strings and bow parts. The piano is about one meter long. Resonance box made of pine, flat trapezoid, two Mongolian sheepskin or horsehide. Bow and strings are made with a pony tail. The piano bar top carved into the horse-like, so called Matouqin.

Ethnic musical instruments Matouqin is a very favorite instrument of the Mongolian people in China, According to historical records, the instrument Genghis Khan (1155-1227) period has begun circulating on the prairie. Dances and music sound simple, deep, rich, and full of the beauty of the human voice volume is very rich, expressive, long, vast melody, especially for playing soft, soulful music, great Mongolian steppe music and cultural characteristics.

By the reform Matouqin low, middle and high. Pitch Matouqin than the tenor Matouqin high purity five degrees, four degrees of midrange Matouqin than bass Matouqin high purity, have four strings, bow out of tune a stringed instrument with a cello, double bass and the same playing method is also quite similar. In the form of musical performances, it is not only common in the accompaniment of folk songs and rap music, is also used in solo and instrumental ensemble.

Solo dances and music, playing high intense, broad, melodious style melody, accompaniment of folk songs, commonly used three degrees, four degrees of vibrato to imitate the characteristics of the concert, to cross with singing, exciting. Dances and music of the range is wide, deep, thick bass; Alto area is bright, full, sweet; treble sounds beautiful, a little nervous. Also played high skills cadenza.

The songs Matouqin the “vermilion Lie”, “asl”, “cursory”, “The Four Seasons”.
To Matouqin legend

About the origin of Matouqin, in the Inner Mongolia region also circulating a touching story: Legend has it that in the vast prairie, living a very brave Mongolian young rider, he spends his time riding his beloved horse gallop in the pasture with horse forged a profound friendship. Years had passed, and he is bound by horse getting older, know that they have not often accompanied by the owner about horses before dying, grief worry about dear master, will allow the owner after the death of it, it bones system into the piano, so that they can grow with the host side. Master, although very sad, but still, according to the commandment of the horse, its bones made a musical instrument, hand on the instrument, the owner felt the horse still accompanied by side, never to leave, he simply first carved piano shape become Horsehead. When the harp sounded, as the sound of the horse neighing, tell the master of Acacia. Thus dubbed it a nice name – dances and music.

Bau is a the Hani traditional single-reed wind instrument that looks exactly like the flute.

The original Bawu control into a bamboo is used, the opening at one end, the other end is left bamboo or cork closure blocked dig a rectangular groove on the wall near the closed end and mounted on a thin triangular tongue-shaped reed stick, which is made with beeswax mouthpiece Bau. Eight pronunciation holes in the lower end of the bamboo pipes at a 45 degree angle with the mouthpiece. With their lips latch onto the mouthpiece to blow reed vibration occurs, will be able to blow in the finger with the elegant and mellow, the beautiful sounds of music. Under normal circumstances, the body of the tube thick and elderly cross blowing; thin and short vertical wind. Common Bau 30-60 cm long.

The Bau sub treble, alto, bass three. Bau bass generous, slightly reed sound; alto soft, mellow, best sound quality sound; the treble slightly sharp, the sound quality is still good. The unreformed Bau volume is smaller, narrower range. After the reform, Bau tube body is a little thicker, add four key sub keep the original sound characteristics on the basis of the range has expanded, the volume increase.

Bau playing skills are basically the same with the flute. Flute commonly used techniques, Bau can use.

Bau is a beautiful sound, sleek, is a high national characteristics of the instrument, ensemble blend easily with other instruments, which can play a broad, lyrical tone, but also played a the cadenza strong skills.

Bau solo hits include the evening sound “beautiful border” Happy Bau “Dong Night” “Fisherman” “moonlight Fengweizhu”.

Bau solo Yantie Ming “Fishermen’s Song” is created in the 1970s. Music tone of the autonomous region of Yunnan Honghe Hani and Yi folk music, a warm tribute to the beautiful and fertile Red River region and the happy life of the people of all nationalities, to express the happy mood of the people. Beautiful melody fresh, vivid and lively music of the seventies a widely circulated national instrumental solo.

Lute stringed instrument, known as the “king of folk music”, “stringed instrument of the King”, “stringed instrument’s first. Pipa evolved by the history of the pipa lute of the straight and crooked. The direct items pipa had already appeared in China’s Qin Dynasty, dating back 2000 years of history. Crooked lute was first popular in Persia, Arabia. The fifth century, Northern and Southern Dynasties, cultural exchanges through the Silk Road and the Western Regions, crooked lute by the Persian by now Xinjiang into our country. Crooked lute has become a major instrument in the Sui and Tang nine, ten music, played an important role in the development of the Tang song and dance. From the Dunhuang and Yungang stone, can still see the band at the time. Tang Dynasty poet, in his famous poem “Pipa” very image of the lute and its sound has been described: “big string Cao Cao as pelting rain, the small string honestly, such as a whisper. Cao Cao honestly mixed shells, pearls falling into a jade plate. ”

Almost a thousand years, the continuous improvement, such as phase, the product gradually increased, change Hengbao for vertical hold, waste plectrum fingering. Pipa now have six-phase 24-product; under the multiplexing hand, open sound hole diameter of about one centimeter. The relative goods on equal temperament all semitones can be played any redeployment. Four strings (wrapped around the string, the old string, string, sub-string) is tuned Adea four syllables. Range of four groups, their sound is pure and honest, deep bass; Alto area soft and bright; crisp treble, solid; highest note sharp tension. Pipa clever, left and right have more than 20 kinds of basic fingering. It can play full steam ahead, imposing “Wu Qu”, but also played the elegant and lyrical, lightweight and delicate “Venturi”. Its complex, rich and expressive techniques. Pipa has a number of “House of Flying Daggers” and “Bury Me” as the representative of Wuqu in order to the monthly child “” Sichun “and” Lady Zhaojun Venturi.

The pipa has become an important solo instrument in the folk instruments. In the band, playing the main melody, sometimes playing rhythmic chords.

Yueqin a stringed instrument, evolved from Nguyen. Since the Jin Dynasty in the popular folk about the Tang Dynasty from the the name of yueqin, to whichever round shape like a month, sound like a harp.

The yueqin Nguyen similar, then gradually change clear yueqin Nguyen completely different, although the shape like Nguyen, but handle quite short. Different shapes. Four strings of the old yueqin the improvement yueqin three strings, eighteen to twenty frets, Chromatic device. Four or five degrees tune a stringed instrument, the pitch is not fixed. Right hand holding playing plectrum playing. The tone is crisp and bright. Mainly in the band playing the melody. Yueqin common to the accompaniment of folk ditty, Peking Opera, as well as for national orchestra.

Yueqin widespread in people of all ethnic groups in China, won the favorite of China’s Han, Yi, Miao, Dong, Buyi, white and Hani peoples playing stringed instruments. Rich and colorful yueqin song, all nationalities, all regions will also be different. The famous traditional solo Yi: “scrape wind” Mustang across the river “” a pair of geese “Dali tune” and “Ga woody”. Hani Month melodies mountain tune “. Taiwan has number of famous yueqin, such as the late Wang Siming, warm red painted, Chan Tat, Mr. Liu Lu.

Dulcimer formerly known as “dulcimer”, also known as the “butterfly piano strike stringed instruments. The yangqin are the late Ming came from Persia According to historical records, before the Middle Ages, the ancient Arab countries in the Middle East and Persian, pop a Satai in the piano. Ming Dynasty, along with China and West Asia, East Africa has been getting closer friendly exchanges. Satai in the piano came from Persia to China, initially popular in the Guangdong area, after gradually extended to Fujian and Zhejiang, JAC and the Central Plains region. After the transformation of the Chinese folk artists, Qin Satai in the gradually evolved into China’s national instrument-dulcimer. Qin Satai in the spread, still in Iran, Iraq and Syria and other countries.

Previous dulcimer folk ensemble, rap music, opera music accompaniment. Such as genre, Shandong qinshu, Sichuan dulcimer, piano book, the music of Guangdong Chaozhou music, Inner Mongolia Duet. Today the Dulcimer both solo, but also the accompaniment and ensemble, the national orchestra of musical instruments and national solo instrument accompaniment of musical instruments. Dulcimer different shape, divided into traditional dulcimer reform Yangqin two categories, the latter also Lu-law-style dulcimer, Chromatic dulcimer with diacritical dulcimer (also known as “quick redeployment of dulcimer) three. Most three yards or four yards of diacritical dulcimer. Range of up to four octaves (G to G3), and including all the semitones. It has a wide range, swapping fast, easy tuning, etc., expressive extremely rich. Dulcimer can play Dayton, double, dial, round skills, electricity expansion the dulcimer can play the lute sister instrument to push, pull, Yin slip effect, and some dulcimer device has ended pedal. Dulcimer now used in Europe, and China come first.

Dulcimer tone like beads down, crystal clear, gorgeous and colorful; plump and powerful dual-tone, good at playing the most brisk, lively tunes. The traditional dulcimer song, “Pursuit Ben”, “Su Wu sheep”, “azalea”, “Lament”, “The General’s Command”.

Musical instruments flute, also known as “Xiao”, is a very ancient wind instrument, “octave” is classified as “bamboo”. According to legend, Shun had made. “Tongdian • Instrument cited” the world of the “:” xiao shun evil. Shaped mixed like a phoenix wing ten feet long. “Before the Tang Dynasty is the multi-tube” flute “, namely” pan ” . Today called “xiao” flute single tube, before the Tang Dynasty flute, flute pipe in the Song Dynasty.

Flute, bamboo, slightly longer than Qudi and rather thin, vertical blown film hole, mouthpiece in the top five sound hole first, a sound hole in the post, there is a bottom outlet. Range of two octaves plus a whole tone. To the number of “sound hole” area is divided into two categories of tin flute and eight-hole flute. Tin flute sound hole five after eight holes flute compared to the first seven after. Eight-hole flute is a product of the modern improvements.

The flute is one from the nature of the instrument, the study on three to a seems distant in the mountains, into the valley of the air out, due to the nature of spirituality moisture. Flute tone is soft and quiet, distant and elegant. The volume is small, the strength marginally. Should be played quiet, slow, soft, delicate melody. CLS should not be playing, lively, fast, image or skills and strong melodies. Commonly used to solo, the band less.
Flute song

Dresser Autumn Thoughts: This is the first flute song, based on the story of Lady Zhaojun, tactful and beautiful tunes, but also with a touch of sadness.
“Red Beans Love”: melodious sounds poetic. The song depicts the beautiful natural scenery.
“Plum Blossom”: This flute song the performance of noble plum serene static, but also showed dynamic Plum afraid of cold waving in the breeze. Often and the Musical ensemble.
“Geese”: The song was first seen in the Ming Dynasty, the melodious tunes and smooth, Yanming sound when time is now hidden. Description of the sky stare wild geese before landing scenario.
“Blue Stream Flowing Down”: music to the sound of crisp, showing deep gorges and gurgling water flowing merrily scene reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei Mountain Autumn Evening “depicted in the mood.
Fisherman and the Woodcutter: piano flute ensemble, the quite winter morning Snow Creek mood, guqin study on three equal shares, with melody is heard the more meaningful. Pitch high and sometimes low, long and quiet, you can make people feel calm.

Four Hu also called “four-stringed erhu, a stringed instrument popular in China’s Inner Mongolia and North China, its long history, originated in ancient China Northern Xi pull strings Xi Qin Song Chen Yang recorded in the” Book of Music “: Xi Qin the Hu Yue. “Mongolian will also call it Hou Le or four strings.
Hu structure

Four Hu by the resonance tube, headstock, piano bar, pegs, extremely heavy, the bridge, the strings and the bow section. The four Hu Qintong generally is made of wood, before Qintong mouth Mongolia Mangpi. Headstock, piano bar made ​​of a single piece of wood, piano pole of a square columnar body, equidistant transverse four pegs, conical. Piano bar in the lower part of the round columnar, Central has extremely heavy hook, the lower end of the load Qintong. Leather central set bamboo bridge the bridge. Zhang four thick strings, bow, double-stranded horsetail folder between twelve and thirty-four chord. Four Hu treble clef sheet notation. It’s one, two or three strings outboard, homonyms as the d1; two, four-string within a string, homonyms as the g. Between the two sets of strings away from the pitch perfect fifth. Four-Hu obvious tone District difference, playing a three-stringed lute or two, four-string sound at the same time. First, the three-stringed lute is more bright, soft;, four-string pronunciation is more rugged, full.

Four Hu characteristics

Four Hu can freely play scales and intervals beating, can also play a variety of decorative Glides, roughly the same playing method and erhu. Number of shares due to the the four Hu strings and bow hair more than the erhu, flexibility in playing less in the erhu.

Four Hu sounds rough, full sound, volume, folk drum accompaniment of musical instruments. Also commonly used in Shulaibao two sets, shadow accompaniment. Mongolian rap music accompaniment four Hu played with nail top chord instead of according to the string, and sometimes with his left hand playing the chord, even with a bow rod percussion Qintong to enhance the rendering of rhythm and music atmosphere. Four Hu solo, may also participate in the ensemble.

The the four Hu long-term spread in the Mongolian Folk, there were many highly skilled performers. “Octave” is a four-Hu solo widely circulated in Inner Mongolia.

Nguyen, “Ruanxian” referred to. A plucked string instrument, a lute. The handle is long and straight, a little like yueqin, four people string now, there were three strings. The legend bombs this instrument due to Chinese Jin Dynasty Ruanxian good name. Referred to as “Nguyen.

The existing ancient Central Asia to Hao Zi Mu Kingdom palace frescoes Ruanxian, it is generally believed Nguyen originated in Central Asia, was introduced into China by Kucha. In the Han Dynasty, called “Qin pipa. To the Tang Dynasty, Nguyen development have been more perfect, with four strings, column 13. In the Tang Dynasty qing music “and” Western Liang Yue “, Ruan Xian is one of the main instruments. Yuan Dynasty, Nguyen widespread civil become a favorite stringed instrument.

The now modified Nguyen divided into four categories: low Nguyen, Nguyen, Nguyen Nguyen. The sanxian or four strings, products, devices are on equal temperament. The tuned in: Nguyen E1A1DG low; Grand Ruan Dae; Nguyen DAE1; small Nguyen gd1a1. Range of up to two groups and a half. Nguyen’s playing skills are relatively simple, ways of playing and the same symbols and lute. Right hand fingering bombs, pick, double play, double pick points, roll, program; left hand only sound. Nguyen is high music pronunciation crisp, bright, mainly used for playing the melody; Nguyen in the music, the tone quiet, gentle, poetic; Tai Nguyen Nguyen, than low-five degrees, is times music device, pronunciation solid, strong and powerful ; low Nguyen bass, the pronunciation deep low thick, mainly as harmonic accompaniment. The four Nguyen mellow and rich, distinctive and self-contained family. Can play a strong role in the band. National Orchestra large Nguyen and Zhongruan of.

Xun’s history

According to archaeologists, research, historic musical instruments in China, unearthed in Xi’an Banpo site Xun, China has so far found one of the earliest wind instruments, which saw about 7000 years ago and prosperity matriarchal society civilization.

Xun early prototype is called “Stone Meteor hunting tools. This tool was originally used to project hit birds and animals, but because there will be naturally formed stone natural cavity or hole, which wind through the pores on the issue of a nice voice, gradually people began to use it to play music, So this stone meteor slowly evolved into a musical instrument – Xun.

Qin and Han dynasties, the ancient palace of gagaku Xun.

The type and characteristics of the Xun

Initially, Xun made of stone or clay, the most primitive Xun only blow hole, there is no sound hole, the subsequent emergence of the tone holes. With the progress of the times and the needs of the playing Xun constant innovation, the development of earthen shape has become as diverse as the flat round, oval, spherical, fish-shaped and pear-shaped, the process is also increasingly the more delicate, such as the Tang Dynasty pottery Xun terracotta carved Xun, monster Xun, the faces of the people Xun, painted dragon of Xun …… Xun sound hole is gradually increased, by a single hole to the second hole, three-hole, five-hole, until BC the end of the third century, there was even a six-sound hole Xun. Word of the National Palace Museum collection of red paint cloud Xun, high 8.5cm abdominal diameter 7cm, as a special pottery Xun.

Xun tone deep, plaintive, pathos, endless, known as the sound of the beginning of autumn reputation. Its unique charm often makes people think of the golden autumn, or will accompanied by a faint sadness, it is adding a bit of food for thought, a bit of melancholy. As a result of this natural and harmonious sounds of nature, specially designed to meet the aesthetic of the ancient scholars, and thus Xun not only widespread in the ordinary people, but also popular with the ruling class and respected men of letters. Xun is a very important instrument in the ancient Chinese palace. According to the relevant records in the early Warring States Period Xun is widely used in court festival, commonly used in ensemble or solo. At that time, according to the size of the different and use different Xun divided into Song Xun and Ya Xun.

“Book of Songs”: “Borrelia blowing Xun, Chung’s blown bamboo flute, the the Xun Chi ensemble sound, the soft yet high-pitched, deep among them are bright, they echoed each other, complement each other, playing a sacred and elegant, mysterious noble and unique quality of the music. The Xun Chi combination of long-term active in the ancient court music which is intended to act as brothers harmony.

Today, the progress of history turn Xun pushed into a new era, the modern prevalent eight holes Xun and abalone Xun. New technology Xun playing effort, attractive appearance, and the sound quality is pure, beautiful tone, with a wide range and large volume play the complete and accurate 12 the law of averages, giving the joy of beauty.

Abalone Yixing pottery Xun has been widely used in today’s national band, the often played Xun song Ai Ying, “Chuge”, “wind”.