Erhu
The erhu (二胡, Pinyin èrhú), sometimes known in the West as the 'Chinese violin' or Chinese two string fiddle, is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras. It belongs to the huqin family of Chinese instruments, together with the zhonghu, gaohu, banhu, jinghu, and sihu.
History
The erhu can be traced back to instruments introduced into China more than a thousand years ago. It is believed to evolve from the xiqin (奚琴), which was described as a foreign, two-stringed lute in an encyclopedic work on music by music theorist Chen Yang called Yue Shu (book of music), written during the Northern Song Dynasty. The xiqin is believed to originate from Central Asia, and have come to China in the 10th century.
The first character of the name of the instrument (二) èr is derived from the fact that it has two strings. The second character (胡) hú indicates that it is part of the huqin family. The name huqin means barbarian instruments, showing that the instrument may have originated from regions to the north or west of China.
Construction
The erhu consists of a long vertical stick-like neck, at the top there are two tuning pegs and at the bottom a small resonator body which is covered with snake skin on the front. Two strings are attached from the pegs to the base, and a small loop of string placed around the neck and strings act as a nut pulls the strings towards the skin holding down a small bridge in place. Various dense and heavy hardwoods are used in making the erhu. According to Chinese references the woods include zi tan (red sandalwood and other woods of the genus pterocarpus such as padauk), lao hong mu (aged red wood), wu mu (black wood), and hong mu (red wood).
The parts of the erhu:
- Qin tong sound box or resonator body, 6 sided southern, 8 sided northern, and less common round.
- Qin pi skin, include python and others.
- Qin gan neck
- Qin tou top 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.
- Qin zhou tuning pegs, traditional wooden, or metal machine gear pegs.
- Qian jin nut, made from string, or less commonly a metal hook.
- Nei xian inside string, tuned to D
- Wai xian outside string, tuned to A
- Qin ma bridge, made from wood
- Gong bow
- Gong gan bow stick, made from bamboo
- Gong mao bow hair
The erhu has some unusual features. First is that in that its characteristic sound is produced through the vibration of the python skin by bowing. Second there is no fingerboard, the player stops the strings by pressing their fingertips onto the strings without the strings touching the neck. Third the bow hair is never separated from the strings (which were formerly of twisted silk but are today usually made of metal); it passes between them as opposed to over them, as with western bowed stringed instruments. And lastly although there are two strings, they are very close to each other and the player's left hand in effect plays on one string. The inside string (nearest to player) is tuned to D and outside to A, a fifth higher.
Erhu music
A notable composer for the erhu was Liu Tianhua (刘天华 Pinyin Liú Tiānhuá) (1895-1932), a Chinese musician who studied Western music as well. He composed 47 exercises and 10 solo pieces (1918-1932) which were central to the development on the erhu as a solo instrument. Many of his works for the instrument are still played frequently.
Playing technique
- Tuning
The erhu is tuned to an interval of a fifth, the inside string (nearest to player) is tuned to D and outside to A. This is the same as the two middle strings of the violin.
- Position
The erhu is played sitting down placed on the top of the left thigh.
- Right hand
The bow is held with an underhand grip. La gong (pull bow) down bow, tui gong (push bow)up bow.
Notable performers
- Jiebing Chen
- Chen Zhenduo (陈振铎)
- George Gao (高韶青)
- Ding Lufeng (丁魯峰)
- Karen Hua Qi Han
- Hua Yanjun (A Bing) (华彥君;阿炳) (c. 1893-1950)
- Huang Haihuai (黄海怀)
- Jiang Fengzhi (蔣风之) (1908-1986)
- Lei Qiang
- Liu Mingyuan (刘明源)
- Liu Tianhua (1895-1932)
- Lu Xiutang (陆修堂)(1911-1966)
- Min Huifen (閔惠芬)
- Sing Su
- Song Guosheng
- Sun Wenming (孙文明) (1928-1962)
- Wang Guotong (王国潼)
- Wang Guowei
- Sunny Wong (黃晨達)
- Yu Hongmei (于红梅)
- Zhang Shao (张韶)
- Rongchun Zhao
- Zhou Shaomei (周少梅) (1885-1938)
- Zhou Yaokun (周耀锟)
Use of python skins
According to a Taipei Times article, China passed its Law on the Protection of Endangered Species in 1988 after ratifying the UN Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), making it illegal to use and trade unlicensed pythons.
To regulate the use of python skins, China's State Forestry Administration introduced a certification scheme between python skin sellers in Southeast Asia and musical instrument makers in China. From Jan 1 2005 new regulations also require erhus to have a certificate from the State Forestry Administration, which certify that the erhu python skin is not made with wild pythons, but from farm-raised pythons. Individuals are allowed to take up to two erhus out of China when travelling, commercial buyers need additional export certificates
References
- Jones, Stephen (1995). Folk Music of China. Oxford: Clarendon Press OUP.
- Liu, Terence M. (1988). "Development of the Chinese Two-stringed Bowed Lute Erhu Following the New Culture Movement (c. 1915-1985)." Ph.D. dissertation. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University.
- Stock, Jonathan P. J. (1996). Musical Creativity in Twentieth-Century China: Abing, His Music, and Its Changing Meanings. Eastman Studies in Music. Rochester, New York: Rochester University Press.
- Wang, Yongde (1995). Qing shao nian xue er hu (Young person’s erhu study). Shanghai Music Publishing House.