Erhu - The history
Erhu, the two-string bowed fiddle, is probably one of the best known and most popular representative Chinese musical instruments in the world today.
The Erhu is believe to be first appears and become popular in China about A.D. 960-1279 during the Song Dynasty. It was historically known as huqin, which indicating its northern association where Hu was a derogatory word for northern ethnic tribes. The term huqin was first mentioned in the Song dynasty.
It is not known that when and how the term erhu appeared. It most possibly originated in the early twentieth century when Liu Tianhua (1895 - 1932) made an exceptional contribution to the improvement of the erhu, and composed 10 erhu solo pieces. His effort left a significant impact on modern Chinese music history, and especially on erhu. In the twentieth century, equated to violin, erhu became a primary instrument for solo, and the leading instrument in both small regional ensembles and the modern Chinese instrumental orchestra.
This two-stringed instrument is played with the bow between the strings in a push-pull manner. The bow is which is made from reed and horsehair. The sound box which usually in hexagonal shape is covered by a python skin which gives the instrument its distinctive tone of color.
The Erhu is believe to be first appears and become popular in China about A.D. 960-1279 during the Song Dynasty. It was historically known as huqin, which indicating its northern association where Hu was a derogatory word for northern ethnic tribes. The term huqin was first mentioned in the Song dynasty.
It is not known that when and how the term erhu appeared. It most possibly originated in the early twentieth century when Liu Tianhua (1895 - 1932) made an exceptional contribution to the improvement of the erhu, and composed 10 erhu solo pieces. His effort left a significant impact on modern Chinese music history, and especially on erhu. In the twentieth century, equated to violin, erhu became a primary instrument for solo, and the leading instrument in both small regional ensembles and the modern Chinese instrumental orchestra.
This two-stringed instrument is played with the bow between the strings in a push-pull manner. The bow is which is made from reed and horsehair. The sound box which usually in hexagonal shape is covered by a python skin which gives the instrument its distinctive tone of color.
The Structure of Erhu
Erhu is somehow normally made from heavy hardwoods like red sandalwood. Red sandalwood is the most chosen woods. Other woods used to made Erhu include aged red wood, black wood and red wood.Erhu's structure is very simple, it consists of a long vertical stick, with two large tuning pegs on top, and at the bottom is a small sound box or resonator body which is covered with python skin. Two strings are attached from the pegs to the base, and a small loop of string placed around the neck and acts as a nut pulls the strings towards the skin and holding a small wooden bridge on top of the python skin.
The bow normally made of bamboo and horsehair where the horsehair is securely placed between the two string unlike violin where the bow can be separated. The sound are produced from the friction between the horsehair and the string.
The Parts of Erhu
Erhu consists of 14 parts and all have their unique name
- (Qín tou): head, 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 gan): neck.
- (Qín zhou): tuning pegs, traditional wooden, or metal machine gear pegs.
- (Qian jin): nut, made from string, or, less commonly, a metal hook.
- (Nèi xián): inside or inner string, usually tuned to D4, nearest to player.
- (Wai xián): outside or outer string, usually tuned to A4.
- (Qín tong): sound box or resonator body; it is hexagonal (liu jiao, southern), octagonal (ba jiao, northern), or, less commonly, round.
- (Qín pí / She pí): skin, made from python. The python skin gives the erhu its characteristic sound.
- (Qín ma): bridge, made from wood.
- (Qín diàn): pad, a piece of sponge, felt, or cloth placed between the strings and skin below the bridge to improve its sound.
- (Qín tuo): 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.
- (Gong): bow, has screw device to vary bow hair tension.
- (Gong gan):bow stick, made from bamboo.
- (Gong máo): bow hair, usually white horsehair.
Moon Reflection In The Er Quan
This music is also call Moon reflected on Second Spring and is composed by the famous blind talented street musician A-Bing.
Kiriko Sings "Studio Ghibli Films Music" With An Erhu. "Hare-Tane"
This album: Kiriko Sings "Studio Ghibli Films Music" With An Erhu. "Hare-Tane" is performed by the Japanese artist NAKANISHI KIRIKO
Studio Ghibli is the Japan famous animation films maker.
Studio Ghibli is the Japan famous animation films maker.
Erhu Solo
By Wei Xiao Dong
This is the Erhu solo performed by the Erhu player Wei Xiao Dong.
China Chen Jun: Erhu Classics
Chen Jun is an excellent erhu player from China.
This album consist of some outstanding pieces include "Shaking Red Candle Flame," and "Horse-Racing" which is, as I'm sure you can imagine, completely frantic in pace and energy.
This album consist of some outstanding pieces include "Shaking Red Candle Flame," and "Horse-Racing" which is, as I'm sure you can imagine, completely frantic in pace and energy.
Like this lens? Just do me a little favor by giving this lens a thumbs-up..
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Amazon iTunes Gift Card
The Best Gift for Christmas
Could not locate item B002H9PTEE. Please try again.Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.
The Erhu music on iTunes
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Beauty Within | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | |
| Erhu | Guitar Garden | China Rose | |
| Erhu | Neil & Cecgwen | Highlands of Liberty | |
| Here We Go (SoulAvenue Erhu Blues Mix) | Shaheen Sheik | Buddha-Bar XII (by Ravin) | |
| Voices Of Africa | Erhu | La Música De Los Dioses Vol. 3 | |
| Erhu's Dream (From "Ancient City") | Masaji Watanabe | Healing Collection II | |
| Erhu | Brilliant Pebbles | Brilliant Pebbles | |
| Chinese Wuhan Erhu | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | |
| Traditional Chinese Erhu Melody | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | |
| Naked - Erhu Solo | Shackelton & Brent Arnold | Uproot | |
| A Moon With Two Springs | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Moonlight Reflected On the Er-Quan Spring | Lei Qiang | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | |
| River Waves | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Tea Harvest | Lei Qiang | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | |
| Jasmine Flower | Lei Qiang | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | |
| Night Song | Lei Qiang | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music | |
| Drag a Camel | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Yu North Peom | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| A Good Night | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Birds Sing In Moutain | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Samen Gorges Dream | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Bright Walk | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Listen from Pine | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Great Changes In Village. | Zhau Yuelin | Er Hu | |
| Liu Yang River | Lei Qiang | Chinese Traditional Erhu Music |
It Is Poll TIme!
Please spare some time to take a vote, it won't take you too much of time.
Do you know to play any kind of musical instruments?
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Do you playing any kind of music instrument?
-
-
iWrite4
May 20, 2012 @ 7:48 pm | delete
- i play guitar everyday :)
-
-
-
aesta1
May 13, 2012 @ 10:55 pm | delete
- I used to but not anymore. This is really interesting.
-
-
-
Einar_A
May 4, 2012 @ 7:53 pm | delete
- I do not play an instrument, but found this article fascinating! Thanks for the introduction to the ErHu.
-
-
-
Michey Apr 18, 2012 @ 5:57 pm | delete
- Yes, classic music on organ and occasional on piano. I like you lens, thanks for detailed history facts. Blessings on the way
-
-
-
fotolady49 Apr 12, 2012 @ 8:04 am | delete
- Very informative lens. I love the Erhu, thank you for sharing!
-
- Load More
by intermarks
I learn about Erhu when I was still a teenager. I fell in love with Erhu when the first time I listen to music played by Erhu, from there on I told my... more »
- 11 featured lenses
- Winner of 23 trophies!
- Top lens » Revell – The Best Plastic Models for Hobbyists
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- BOND Band - The Original Electric String Quartet BOND Band - The Original Electric String Quartet
- Mandolin Buyer's Guide Mandolin Buyer's Guide
- Fiddlesticks--A Home For Violins, Fiddles, Violinists and Fiddlers Fiddlesticks--A Home For Violins, Fiddles, Violinists and Fiddlers
- Classical Music Photos Classical Music Photos
- Find The Best Mandolin Tuner Find The Best Mandolin Tuner
- Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
