First
described in Song Dynasty (A.D. 420-479), the Erhu is an ancient instrument
which is extremely popular in China today as a medium for both traditional
and contemporary music. Consisting of a drum-like mahogany sound box covered
with a snake skin head, two steel strings stretched from the sound box
along a narrow bridge, sound is generated by a horse hair bamboo bow. The
Erhu’s musical range spans about four octaves, and while the sound is very
similar to a Western violin, it differs by being much more nasal in quality.
Because there is no fingerboard against which the player can press, finger
pressure is a critical part of Erhu technique. Assuming this aspect of
Erhu playing is mastered, the lack of a finger board actually allows
for a tremendous flexibility for the Erhu player in controlling the sound
and expressiveness of this instrument - a flexibility approaching that
of the human voice.
First
described in Song Dynasty (A.D. 420-479), the Erhu is an ancient instrument
which is extremely popular in China today as a medium for both traditional
and contemporary music. Consisting of a drum-like mahogany sound box covered
with a snake skin head, two steel strings stretched from the sound box
along a narrow bridge, sound is generated by a horse hair bamboo bow. The
Erhu’s musical range spans about four octaves, and while the sound is very
similar to a Western violin, it differs by being much more nasal in quality.
Because there is no fingerboard against which the player can press, finger
pressure is a critical part of Erhu technique. Assuming this aspect of
Erhu playing is mastered, the lack of a finger board actually allows
for a tremendous flexibility for the Erhu player in controlling the sound
and expressiveness of this instrument - a flexibility approaching that
of the human voice.