The erhu (Chinese: 二胡; Hanyu 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 bowed string Chinese instruments, together with the zhonghu (中胡), gaohu (高胡), banhu (板胡), jinghu (京胡), sihu (四胡), and numerous others. It is said that there are over 40 different variations of the generic huqin instrument.
History
The erhu can be traced back to instruments introduced into China more than a thousand years ago. It is believed to have evolved 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 have originated from the Xi people of Central Asia, and have come to China in the 10th century.
Erhu with
liu jiao qin tong (6 sided body)
The first character of the name of the instrument, "二" (èr, meaning "two"), 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 literally means "barbarian instrument," 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 of which are two large tuning pegs, and at the bottom is a small resonator body (sound box) which is covered with snake skin on the front (playing) end. Two strings are attached from the pegs to the base, and a small loop of string placed around the neck and strings acting as a nut pulls the strings towards the skin, holding a small wooden 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 (老红木 aged red wood), wu mu (乌木 black wood), and hong mu (红木 red wood). Particularly fine erhus are often made from pieces of old furniture. A typical erhu measures 81cm from top to bottom, the length of the bow is also 81cm.
Erhu with
ba jiao qin tong (8 sided body)
The parts of the erhu:
- Qin tong - sound box or resonator body, 6 sided (southern), 8 sided (northern), or, less commonly, round.
- Qin pi - skin, made from python or other species of snake.
- Qin gan - neck.
- Qin tou - 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.
- 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 or inner string, usually tuned to D4, nearest to player.
- Wai xian - outside or outter string, usually tuned to A4.
- Qin ma - bridge, made from wood.
- Gong - bow, has screw device to vary bow hair tension.
- Gong gan - bow stick, made from bamboo.
- Gong mao - bow hair, usually white horsehair.
- A piece of sponge, felt, or cloth placed between the strings and skin below the bridge to improve its sound.
- Base
Picture showing bow hair in between the two strings.
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. 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 generally tuned to D4 and the outside string to A4, a fifth higher.
Use of python skin
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
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 of the erhu as a solo instrument. His works for the instrument include Yue Ye (Moon Night, 月夜 Pinyin Yuèyè) and Zhuying Yaohong (Shadows of Candles Flickering Red , 烛影摇红 Pinyin Zhǔyǐng Yáohóng).
Other solo pieces include Er quan ying yue (Moon reflected on er stream) by Abing, Sai ma (Horse race) by Huang Haihuai, Henan xiaoqu (Henan folk tune) by Liu Mingyuan, and Sanmenxia changxiangqu (Sanmen gorge melody) by Liu Wenjin. Most solo works are commonly performed with yangqin accompaniment, although pieces such as the 10 solos by Liu Tianhua, and Er quan ying yue originally did not have acompaniment.
In addition to the solo repertoire, the erhu is also one of the main instruments in regional music ensembles such as Jiangnan Sizhu, Chinese opera ensembles, and the modern large Chinese orchestra.
Playing technique
The erhu is almost always tuned to the interval of a fifth. The inside string (nearest to player) is generally tuned to D4 and the outside string to A4. This is the same as the two middle strings of the violin.
The erhu is played sitting down placed on the top of the left thigh.
The bow is held with an underhand grip. Bowing techniques include la gong (pull bow, equivalent to the "down bow" technique used on western bowed string instruments), tui gong (push bow, equivalent to the "up bow" technique). Aside from the usual bowing technique used for most pieces, the erhu can also be plucked, usually using the index finger of the right hand. This produces a dry, muted tone (if either of the open strings are plucked, the sound is somewhat more resonant) which is sometimes desired in contemporary pieces.
Techniques include hua yin (slides), rou xian (vibrato), huan ba (changing positions), etc.
Notable performers
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.
External links
Video
See also
