Chinese Musical Instrument

Erhu The Erhu, with its lyrical and highly expressive tone, is one of the most popular Chinese bowed string instruments widely used in both solo and orchestral performances. The instrument has two strings with the bow clasped in between, and its sound box is covered by snake-skin.

江河水 Rivers 二泉映月 The Moon Is Mirrored on The HUI Mountain Streams

Zheng The Zheng is developed from a small bamboo-made instrument originally used by ancient herdsmen in B.C. It was very popular as early as Qin Dynasty ( B.C.). The Zheng was mainly used for solos and the accompaniment of folk songs in its early days, but was also used in orchestral performances in the Tang Dynasty. Depending on the type of strings it uses, the instrument is capable of producing a variety of tones.

渔舟唱晚 The Evening Song in Fishing Boats

Pipa A pear-shaped 4-string lute-like instrument with a history of more than 2,200 years, the Pipa is one of the most popular Chinese plucked string instruments, and is widely used in both solo and orchestral performances. Serving as stops are the 26 bamboo frets glued on the belly of the Pipa and the 6 ledges at the upper end of the instrument.

十面埋伏 Falling Into An Ambush All Around 春江花月夜 Moonlit Night On Spring River

Dizi The Dizi is a transverse flute made of bamboo. Pitch is regulated by a set of holes along the tube. With a probable origin from Central Asia or Tibet where it was played on horse back as a morale-booster for the troops, the Dizi was first introduced into China around B.C. It is used in many kinds of music - solo, opera, drama, songs and dances.

帝女花 The Blooms of Dinu

The Suona is an ancient Chinese instrument with a history of more than two thousand years. The Suona is made in a number of different sizes, with ranges ranging from soprano, alto to bass. It has a wooden body in the middle and a metal bell at one end and a double reed at the other. The modified Suona is now fitted with padded keys.

Noted for its high and brilliant tone, the Suona is effective in capturing the joyful atmosphere on festive occasions and is, thus, widely used as a leading instrument in festivals, weddings, as well as funerals. It is also used occasionally to accompany Chinese operas. Noted for its high and brilliant tone, the Suona is effective in capturing the joyful atmosphere on festive occasions and is, thus, widely used as a leading instrument in festivals, weddings, as well as funerals. It is also used occasionally to accompany Chinese operas.

百鸟朝凤 Hundreds of Birds Visit a Phoenix 一枝花 A Spray of Flower

Please match the instruments with their names. 1. Erhu 2. Suona 3. Zheng 4. Pipa 5. Dizi

Listen to the music again and tell which instrument is being played. Erhu Suona Pipa Zheng Dizi