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According to recent archaeological
findings, ancient Chinese music was
much more developed and sophisticated
than is generally believed. Music
had already been an important element
in various ceremonies during the
Yin (Shang) Dynasty (c. 1550 - 1111
B.C.), and it reached one of its
greatest peaks during the Zhou Dynasty
(c. 1111 - 222 B.C.).
It featured a great abundance of
percussion instruments. There were
also several wind instrumnets, but
only a couple of zither type string
instruments were used. All the bowed
string instruments and most of the
plucked string instruments first
came to China from Central Asia after
the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. - 219 A.D.).
The Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 A.D.)
saw the first influx from Central
Asia, a very important epoch in the
evolution of Chinese music. However,
it was during the Sung Dynasty (960
- 1279 A.D.) that Chinese music reached
its maturity.
Traditional Chinese musical instruments
were formerly divided into eight
groups according to their materials:
gourd, earthenware, hide, wood, stone,
bronze, silk and bamboo. It was said
that there were more than 70 different
musical instruments, but many of
them have been lost or unused today.
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A set of these instruments are often used
including bangdi, qudi and xindi. They vary
in size and key. The dizi or flute is made
of bamboo. It is believed to have been brought
in from Tibet during the Han Dynasty. It has
a full, bright and smooth timbre. |
Guanzi is the oldest bamboo wind instrument
of China. Today, it is sometimes made of wood.
It can be used to depict humourous songs and
imitate human voices. |
The instrument existed as far back as 3,000
years ago. By virtue of its construction, this
is the only Chinese musical instrument capable
of playing various notes simultaneously. Music
is produced by blowing and sucking the air
through a whistle at the base. |
This double reed instrument was brought to
China by Muslim travellers 500 years ago. It
is able to produce both sad and lively sounds.
It can imitate the sound of bird singing. |
Guzheng is popular during the Warring States.
The instrument comprises 13 to 21 strings.
In the orchestra, the zheng is employed when
special effects such as the descending strains
of cascading water is required. |
Yangqin originates from Western Asia and
was introduced into China during the Ming Dynasty.
Two bamboo sticks are used to hit strings strung
in pairs thus producing a high and tinkling
timbre in its top registers, a soft and beautiful
tone in the middle and a strong rich sound
in the lower registers. |
Pipa is one of the oldest and well-known
instruments in the Chinese orchestra with 2,000
years of history. It is rich in expression
and has diverse performing techniques. Pipa
is one of the most symbolic Chinese musical
instruments. |
Liuqin is also known as liuyueqin. It is
a two or three-string willow-shaped plucking
instrument which was popular during the Tang
Dynasty. It is now improved to a four-string
plucking instrument. This instrument provides
the high notes in a Chinese orchestra. |
The ruan is a short-neck lute with a history
of 1,600 years. It is known as qin pipa or
ruanxian during ancient times. There are different
types of ruan : daruan, zhongruan, xiaoruan
and diruan. |
Konghou is also known as lyri . It has been
in existence since the Spring and Autumn period.
There were the wo konghou , su konghou and
phoenix head konghou . The reproduction of
the konghou started in mid 50's. Today's konghou
is a combination of the structure of the su
konghou and wo konghou and the outlook of the
harp. The performing skill is diversified.
Besides right-hand techniques, the left hand
can play vibratos, glissandos, etc. The tone
quality is sweet and graceful, it is full of
ethnic flavour. |
Also known as yuehu , is developed from the
erhu by the renowned Cantonese musician, Lu
Wen Cheng. The Construction is similar to that
of an erhu, however it is smaller in size.The
tuning of the gaohu is a perfect fourth or
fifth higher than the erhu. The gaohu has sonorous
and glamorous tone. It is suitable for performing
Cantonese music and is a leading instrument
in accompanying the Cantonese opera. It is
also a common instrument in the Chinese orchestra
today. |
The erhu is also known as the nanhu , nan
being south, because the instrument first became
popular in southern China. It is capable of
producing a gentle but firm tone. |
The zhonghu produces music of a lower pitch.
The shade of the resonator varies from circular
to octagonal. |
The drum has been in existence since 2079BC.
In the past, its function was to launch an
attack during battle. There are various kinds
of drum - the twirling drum, the hanging drum,
the type suspended on a foot frame to be beaten
with two wooden hammers and the drum on a pedestal.
Drums can be made of metal, bamboo or animal
skin. |
The gong is a popular folk musical instrument.
It is also known as luo . The sound from the
luo or gong is produced by the mallet hitting
the metal plate. |
Like the luo , the cymbals or bo is mainly
used in theatres and on ceremonial occasions. |
Other percussion instruments include maracus,
bells, wooden block, tambourine, jingles, clares,
flamed drum, bamboo clippers, ban and bangu.
Special effects could be created by commonly
used items. For example, the sound of rain
can be produced by rolling beans in a bamboo
sieve and the sound of thunder can be produced
by shaking a large, flat and thin zinc plate. |
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