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二 胡. Erhu. By Yu Mien. Erhu, the chinese fiddle. Part of the Huqing 胡琴 family of instruments Also known as Nanhu 南胡 or Southern Fiddle Other instruments in the huqin family(though not limited to): zhonghu (中胡), gaohu (高胡), banhu (板胡), jinghu (京胡), sihu (四胡)
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二 胡 Erhu By Yu Mien
Erhu, the chinese fiddle • Part of the Huqing 胡琴 family of instruments • Also known as Nanhu 南胡 or Southern Fiddle • Other instruments in the huqin family(though not limited to): zhonghu (中胡), gaohu (高胡), banhu (板胡), jinghu (京胡), sihu (四胡) • There are over 30 types of Huqin documented
Zhonghu 中胡 Gaohu 高胡 Jinghu 京胡 Banhu 板胡 Huqin 胡琴 Sihu 四胡
More pictures of cool Huqin • http://www.yuemi.net/pages1/buolan(mz.gongxian2).htm • http://www.yuemi.net/pages1/buolan(mz.gongxian1).htm
Parts of the Erhu • Qín tong (琴筒) - sound box or resonator body; it is hexagonal (liu jiao, southern), octagonal (ba jiao, northern), or, less commonly, round. • Qín pí/She pí (琴皮/蛇皮) - skin, made from python. The python skin gives the erhu its characteristic sound. • Qín gan (琴杆) - neck. • Qín tou (琴头) - top or tip of neck, usually a simple curve with a piece of bone or plastic on top, but is sometimes elaborately carved with a dragon's head. • Qín zhou (琴轴) - tuning pegs, traditional wooden, or metal machine gear pegs. • Qiān jin (千斤) - nut, made from string, or, less commonly, a metal hook. • Nèi xián (内弦) - inside or inner string, usually tuned to D4, nearest to player. • Wai xián (外弦) - outside or outer string, usually tuned to A4. • Qín ma (琴码) - bridge, made from wood. • Gong (弓) - bow, has screw device to vary bow hair tension. • Gong gan (弓杆) - bow stick, made from bamboo. • Gong máo (弓毛) - bow hair, usually white horsehair. • Qín diàn (琴垫) - pad, a piece of sponge, felt, or cloth placed between the strings and skin below the bridge to improve its sound. • Qín tuō (琴托) - base, a piece of wood attached to the bottom of the qín tong to provide a smooth surface on which to rest on the leg.
How to make an Erhu • Typically made with heavy hardwood • Woods include red sandlewood, aged red wood, blackwood, and regular redwood • The sound box produces sound using python skin • Some particularly fine erhus are made from old pieces of furniture • The strings were originally made with silk, but are now made with steel to improve sound and volume • Erhu is 81cm tall • The bow is also 81cm long • Most erhu are massed produced in factories • High quality ones, of course, are made by craftsmen • A just for fun fact: erhu can be made using a Styrofoam or paper cup, string, a stick and a bow.(or something to that effect) • Here’s a link to how to make one with a cookie tin(although harder than the Styrofoam cup version): http://www.oriscus.com/dn/opera/erhu.htm
Unique features of the Erhu • Erhu produces it’s unique sound by vibrating the python skin • Unlike most stringed instruments, there is no fingerboard • The bow never leaves the string(it’s between them!) • The left hand plays both strings as if it were one string • Erhu sound is similar to a human voice, and can imitate many different types of noises such as a horse or a bird • Very meloncholy, but is also able to produce merry songs • A person may only leave China with two erhu’s at a time, because of restrictions placed on the python skin. Pythons are bred to make erhus, because it became illegal to capture and use pythons for their skin
History of the Erhu • Erhu’s origins date back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), more than a thousand years ago • Its origins stem from the xiqin 奚琴, which originated from the Mongolian tribe Xi • During the Qing and Ming dynasties, erhu became extremely popular in operas • Thanks to Hua Yanjun and Liu Tianhua, the erhu underwent significant improvent • Liu Tianhua is responsible for the erhu becoming a solo instrument • The name Erhu is split into two words, Er二 and hu胡 • Er means two, and possibly refers to the fact that it has two strings, or is the second highest huqin in the family(until new instruments like the dahu was introduced) • Hu indicates that it is a member of the Huqin family
Additional Material • Running River song by Song Fei, master erhu player(uses erhu to imitate and play a piece for wind instruments): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPJB1nSEhcw • The Last Emperor, composed Sakamoto Ryuchi. An ensemble of eastern instruments+piano, with erhu as soloist(watch it! It’s pretty): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcGY0dStHuA • Young girl performs a song by Taiwanese Pop Star Jay Chou with an erhu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59iKy1LlNpo&feature=related • And as a bonus, the same song performed on a Guzheng(because I like it, and guys who play guzheng look super classy): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zckXttKr4k8&feature=related