Chinese folk instruments Vertical harp

Vertical Harp : China’s ancient northern ethnic minorities playing pizzicato sound instruments. Also known as the vertical head harp , harp Hu , now referred to as the harp . Many shapes , both appearance and Western instruments similar angular harp harp , there headstock decorative phoenix and dragon head first harp harp . Angular harp and a large harp , a small harp points. Long history , wide range, mellow tone clear, strong performance.
Chinese folk instruments Vertical harp
1 Introduction
Vertical Harp (shù kōng hóu), has been used in Western Liang Sui and Tang dynasties , Kucha , Kashgar , Korea , Tianzhu in various music and spread eastward to Japan. Ming Dynasty becoming less used to convey the loss of three centuries. After the 1930s , Chinese music , the music industry trying to revive this ancient insight musical art. Late 1970s embarked on a difficult course of modern harp exploration. 1984 Hi Fruitful , China successfully developed technology to climb the peak of swapping instruments harp . Today, thousands of years ancient music becomes wonderful variety of new vertical harp has been used solo , ensemble , instrumental ensemble , dance accompaniment or a concerto with the orchestra and became National Orchestra and National Orchestra of a member , by the Welcome to the family of the people, love and praise.

2 History
Historic harp , has a long history . Initially it is called Hum Hou Hou or empty , there is lying , vertical two types. Far away in the beginning of the Warring States , the South China Chu has had with piano, harp lying likeness of Joseph . Han Dynasty Liu Xiang, ” Shi Ben for articles” are: ” Empty Hou , Hou empty country had made ” and “empty Hou , division by extension , decadent but also for the Pu , Hou take the name of the country is also empty .” Records . Liu Xi “Release name” contained also with ” World” the same . King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty empty Hou official music ” division by extension ,” ” out of the Pu .” King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty was the last monarch . On Pu , namely Pu above the water , in defending the territory of the ancient , now the Henan Puyang area. Description lying harp than three thousand years of history. Han Ying Shao , ” Su Tung Yi ,” says: “Empty Hou , I would like to press the” Han Zhi Jiao Si ‘ : ‘ Takatake emperor Senan more , so a prayer shrine , Houtu , beginning with the musicians tune Hou , according to the piano for sill .. ? ‘s music, words and sill should rhythm , surnamed Hou said Koon Cheung ear or empty air harps defeat whichever Hou , Hou Ho Hum alone Jesus ‘ ” ” Records Fengshan book ” there are: ” ( Emperor ) Senan Vietnam, a prayer shrine too , Houtu , beginning with dance , song called child benefit for twenty five strings , and empty Hou , harps since the beginning . ” Sima Qian ‘s account of this , there is a description of the ancient harp lying column the bomb stringed instruments . Han Dynasty, lying harp as ” China is sound ,” the representatives of the instrument included in the ” Qingshang music” , which there were more than five string column with bamboo groove , playing with a wooden dial , not only popular in Central and Southern China area, but also spread to the Northeast and North Korea , but also in the Sui and Tang dynasties flourishing spread eastward to Japan. When the Eastern Han Dynasty , and was introduced to China from Persia via Western Central an angular harp . To avoid the confused , were made ​​from the name on the end of the Six to lie , vertical and show the difference. Lying harp music has been used in the Sui and Tang dynasties of Korea . Du Tang Dynasty ” Tongdian ” contain: . ” Harp , piano according to the old system of a system in accordance with the shape of this Joseph and small, seven strings , using dial bomb , such as the pipa also ” Subsequently, the increasingly off track in China that is absolutely speechless , to be rich and expressive piano , zither instead. However , it can be passed harp lying friendly neighbor North Korea in China , South Korea , and improved spread through the ages to become today ‘s mysterious piano . In Japan, because by the time Baekje ( Korea , North Korea Baekje are ancient name ) passed , and called Baiji piano . Today, though we can not harp lying witnessed physical specimen , but still painting the brick from Jiayuguan Wei, Jin , Northern Wei Dynasty tombs caisson Liaoning series An Jian, murals and frescoes in series , depending on their musical images, see the harp of lying playing style.
As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty of AD hundred years ago , when the vertical harp on dealings with merchants ” Silk Road” by Persia ( now Iran ) was introduced into China by the Western Central Plains area . Tang Dynasty Sun loudly Dengzhuan ” Sui music Zhi” contains: . ” Pipa , vertical head harp music items believers today , and from the Western , non- Huaxia old device” on its shape, the Tang Du ” Tongdian “There goes: ” vertical harp , Hu Yue also , Emperor Ling of Han ( Liu ) is good for the body and long song , two ten two ( one for three ) strings, vertical hold in his arms, with his hands in unison , vulgar that . the arms harp ” in Southern宋人范Ye” Five Elements Chi Han “, the once contained : ” good Emperor Ling Hu Hu Fu …… harp , flute Hu , Hu dance , Kyoto Guiqi are competing to succeed ” Emperor Ling of Han . Liu ‘s reign as AD 168 -188 years , whereby vertical harp at least have nearly two thousand years of history. This resonance has curved slot , and a leg and ribs , with more than 20 sheets of harp strings in the Chinese music popular in the Tang and Song dynasties to the Eastern Jin Dynasty . The Song Wuzi Mu “Dream Beam recorded” ( Volume III ) had this description : “The Middle Chixu , shaped like a half comb, black lacquer painted stenciling Gold pedestal , Zhang twenty five strings , one arm of the cross kneeling .” This large vertical harp , in addition to a relatively small vertical harp , harp is left holding the right hand playing , and more for ceremonial music. Today , the ancient harp -kind vertical Although no deposit , but in the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Tang and Song China Datong Yungang Grottoes music for relief, Dunhuang ” Sui band” mural and Chengdu Five Dynasties Former Shu emperor Wang tomb reliefs could be seen vertical harp playing images on Assyrian reliefs are completely lifelike seen harp , harp Persia is the origin of the Assyrian land . Vertical harp at nine, ten Lok Sui and Tang dynasties in court for the Western Liang ( Wuwei, Gansu ) , Kucha ( Kuqa ) , Kashgar ( Xinjiang Kashgar ) , Gaochang ( Turpan ) all music and Korea ( Korea ) music , and folk music in the Tang also use it . In ancient royal music , the harp is indispensable , but is still playing in one of the main instruments. Because it has an array of strings , not only can play the melody , but also to play the chords in solo or accompaniment respects superior than other instruments. Vertical harp also spread eastward to Japan, in Shosoin Todaiji Temple in Nara , still treasure the Tang made ​​an lacquer inlaid with mother and two slots harp harp defective , this is a historical witness of Sino-Japanese cultural exchange.
Harp Song and Yuan dynasties continued to spread in the late Ming and diminished use , then even more rare , and even lost convey 300 years old. 1930s , Shanghai Datong Club has produced a large harp , harp and phoenix small first harp , but because of the years of war or other reasons, have failed to come down .
In recent years, domestic instrument researchers documented reference to the ancient and modern harp theory, design and prototype new harp . Qin height 175 cm , width 85 cm , there are two rows of strings , each row of forty-four chord . Two rows of strings corresponding homonym of 44 tones. Range of D-e3, press C major pentatonic scale arrangement and for seven performances in practice .
In recent years . Chinese composers adapted and created a lot of harp music, the most famous solo of ” Mountain and Flowing Water “, ” Hess “, ” Xiangfei Zhu “, ” Plum Blossom” , ” Yang Guan Song ,” ” Boats” and ” two Quan Serenade ” and so on. Harp Ensemble , Concerto has a ” fantasy Miluo River ,” ” Motherhood” and “painting” and so on.

3 Ancient

In ancient poetry , harp uncommon. Chinese Han Dynasty, there is a small house jasper female, Making the wife of Liu Lan , extremely intelligent , was poetry and said: “Motherhood , five miles a wandering , thirteen were able to weave elements , fourteen learn tailoring , fifteen bombs harp , sixteen recite poetry . ” explained harp has been a very favorite was the woman often learning musical instruments , like the keyboard , like today, the popularity and prevalence . Cao Han and Wei Dynasties , has been the subject have Cource poetry ” Harp cited .” Liang Chien Wen ‘s “Fu Yue name was harp ” in: ” Transition late early pick blow , when to get urgent reminder dance bracelet ring by string -ming , shirt back half barrier pillar For heart injustice, Jun see Dai Mei together .. .” That is to say a woman in a dance accompaniment. Tang Dynasty, harp into the history of the golden age , playing skills to achieve high levels are more widely spread , become Chinese traditional music culture treasure of treasures. In the famous Tang Dynasty poet Li masterpiece “Lee with harp cited ” wrote: “Wu Shu Tong张高秋wire , empty mountain river does not flow condensate cloud decadent E sings bamboo Motome worry , Li Kunshan Stick with China playing the harp is called Phoenix . Hibiscus weeping dew Pandan laugh. twelve melting cold front twenty three wire moving purple emperor . Goddess Lianshi Sky Office , ground-breaking tease autumn . dream into a mountain to teach God woman, old fish jumping wave thin Kau dance. Wu quality and not sleep leaning laurel , Xie Fei Lu feet wet cold rabbit . ” this is both Li He ‘s masterpiece, is one of the masterpieces of musical themes Tang description . It was an autumn germinal Fade clues out to write the weather changes , the dark state is playing , and by the mythological figure to write the audience , full of intense romanticism . Poets with strange fantasies , extreme hyperbole , describing the clouds cracked rock musical force, so that thousands of years ago, Lee palace instrumentalists playing with the sound of the harp , can still be shocking the reader’s mind . Tang Dynasty poet Cen , Gu , Yangju Yuan , Lu Tong , Yuan Zhen , Zhang Hu , Li Shang-yin and Wang Renyu , also has a poem describing the harp . ” A thousand golden bell hooks lock shake , ten thousand pearls diarrhea Yuping . Wishes coincided with the full house drunk , A light touch just a moment awake .” This is Zhang Hu, ” Chuzhou Weizhong Cheng harp ” in the description harp sound and moving poem . In Gu ‘s “Lee playing the harp worship song ,” Cloud: ” …… anxious to play great , late also good ; far should listen , should almost hear ; left hand low , right hand held , easy to tune shift with big strings sound like a godsend autumn . geese , United linking Gansu off . small strings like Chunyan , muttered to human language . disease hand , wrist head soft , come and go as Kazamaki acoustic Ming Qing coldly neatly , hanging beads Suiyu air drop . …… big chord , a small string of short , fast- string tight little slow at the beginning big chord tone Qiang Qiang , get a new sound like a duck water ; . swim into the deep secret seems too pure crane Museum …… “perfect expression of the harp playing skills and wonderful . sound . The famous Tang Dynasty harp virtuoso Zhang Hui and Li with , such as Gao Qi Zhang Xiaozi and season .

4 Modern Research
Beijing, China Art Research Institute Chinese Academy of Music in Musical Instrument Museum , displays two vertical frame harp , were all modeled on the ” Book of General Qing continued ,” painted “vertical harp ” image in the system . The historical records set: ” vertical harp , eighteen strings, a string handle by ten items of 28th , prepare four groups in the low tone when playing with a bipartite then re- used to hold bombs , the treble is left . flick the right product chord playing , round finger grip shells can join . chord of three kinds of medium and small , rely on one chord , especially small shank . tied to the shank of the live tank Zhen upper and lower tie plates in a small sound this sound board elevated string sounds once , and the role of the monkey chant . lute volume larger than doubled bomb placed on the table . ” this harp has been more Song Wuzi Mu ” Dream beam recorded ” in the ” comb shaped like a half ” the harp has improved, the bass strings on the side of a wooden harp column increases , although this column is also the root of the piano is fine, but it has begun to have a framework for harp , laid the foundation for future development. Where a harp , red sandalwood system through high 138.5 cm , 49.5 cm long bottom , 10 cm wide , is framed vertical harp . Resonance box located at the bottom , was a narrow box -shaped, length 41 cm , height 19 cm, width 6.5 cm , both sides of the mask to Paulownia sheet , the top two money eyes open sound hole , right side of the home has a long bamboo of the bridge . The first piano concave spiral . Violin -style home with red wooden pegs 21 ( 10 left and right 11 ) angular bentwood on . There are two sheets thickness of stringed 21 , the upper end of the string through the middle from Bentwood , wrapped in string axis , the lower strings tied to the string tied on the right side of 21 mahogany piano box below . Bentwood treble strings against the lower side of the home there is a black wooden Anxian fretboard inlay on nine copper products . Base painted black , painted dragon , piano column for the hood ornaments of gold depiction dragon . Placed on the table while playing , hold hands bomb . This product for the modern piano , was treasured by the famous Chinese qin ZHENG Ying Sun . Another frame harp , rosewood system through high 137 cm , length 47.5 cm bottom width 12 cm , for the frame vertical harp . At the bottom of a narrow box -shaped resonator length 42 cm , height 19 cm, width 6.5 cm , both sides Mongolia to Paulownia board, there are two open top five money by the composition of the sound eye window on the right side there is a mahogany set system of the horse. The first piano concave spiral , angular bentwood style SRE red wooden violin pegs 23 ( 11 left and right 12 ) . Zhang thickness of three stringed 23 , tied on 23 rosewood piano chord chord line the lower right side of the bottom of the box . Bentwood rely on the lower side of the treble strings with a fingerboard, the nine bone inlay fret . Quintana painted red paint , painted gold Dragons , dragons, moire , etc. Figure ornaments . Placed on the table while playing , hold hands bomb and may treble strings on the fretboard , this piano for the modern products, was a famous Chinese opera performances by the artists Mr. Cheng Yanqiu collection , donated in 1958 to the National Cheng . This two ancient vertical harp imitations , production of fine, decorative and beautiful appearance , although they did not board the music scene , but the Department of Chinese national musical instrument production quality, on which future generations learn from priceless. Has been loaded large album ” Chinese musical illustrations ” in the .
Since the 1930s , insight Chinese music , musical community, began a revival of the work of the harp . China ‘s famous folk music societies Shanghai Datong Club , was quite concentrated prestigious instrumentalists and musical production division, they made ​​a set of 143 ancient folk instruments , the instruments had been 20 attempts at reform , where there is a vertical harp . This vertical harp , “vertical harp ” the upper half of the ” Book of General Qing continued ,” contained in the same column with a piano , strings ” tied on the handle slot on the live Zhen ” , the narrow lower half of the box -shaped resonance lute -shaped box will be replaced resonance box , which is unprecedented , groundbreaking input on the move . Strings from ” under tied to small sound board ” piano box in the lower right border change in the panel (right side ) column with a product , as a string sound of the conductor . This reform attempts, significantly expanding the volume , enrich and beautify the sound, so this ancient musical instrument harp new development . Unfortunately, this aircraft over the years due to the war harp or other reasons are not handed down , now only left handed instruments photos , stored in Shanghai National Musical Instruments Factory Museum of Chinese folk instruments .
59 years , Beijing Institute senior musical instrument engineer , famous violin making family and director姚文林Mr. Wang Mei , who had made reference to the ancient and the modern musical pictures imitation , and according to the shape and structure of the principles of modern harp , designed and made ​​test a vertical frame harp , but failed for music practice .