Treasures Of Chinese Instrumental Music: Erhu (Various Artists)
Release Date : September 4, 2012
Catalog : 73193-2
Format : Digital Download (AAC, Mp3)
Erhu is a popular bowed instrument and has a long history since Tang dynasty in China. In the early times, its bow was made by bamboo and had a name called Ji-qin. Later it was renamed Xi-qin. In Northern Song dynasty, the northern minorities introduced their Huqin to us, of which, the material of the bow was changed from bamboo to horse tail. By Yuan dynasty, it was widely spread in China. Under a long period of development, it derived gradually into various species (e.g. Jinghu, Banhu, Erhu, Sihu, Zhuihu, etc.), Erhu (also known as Nanhu) was one kind of it. Later on, the Erhu was differentiated into Gaohu (tenor Erhu), Zhonghu (alto Erhu) and Dahu (bass Erhu) according to their pitch and sizes. While their performing techniques were basically the same.
In a long period of time, Erhu was used as an accompany instrument for the opera or used in the regional folk music ensemble (e.g.: Jiangnan Sizhu). Around 1919, LIU Tian-hau began to use it as a solo instrument and wrote training materials for it in the course of the Universities' training centres.
Erhu has a beautiful timbre and its range of scale reaches to three octaves in normal. Therefore, to the extent permit of its range, it can play all kinds of different rhythms, different speeds and different style of tunes. In solo performances, it is not only suitable for performing with Yangqin or small plucked string accompaniment, but also suitable for the piano accompaniment. It is one of the main melodic instruments in the ensemble. It can play harmoniously with other string and wind instruments.
It is still some room for the improvement of the Erhu. Especially, reflected in playing the strong action on the high ranged area, playing the rapid notes out of an octave. It also has the problems of too narrow range and not enough volume. To make the instrument more perfect gradually, these can be solved and improved in future through the experiences of teaching, performing and manufacturing.
| T R A C K S |
VOLUME 1
01. Sigh Of Ailment
02. Autumn Moon Over The Han Palace
03. A Golden Fly
04. Floating Of Big River
05. New Appearance Of The Village
06. Capriccio On A Qinqiang Theme
07. Going To Market
08. My Brother Is Back
09. A Henan Tune
10. Ballad Of Yubei Areas
11. New Shepherds On The Grassland
12. Trains Entering The Dong Village
13. The Battle-Horses Galloping
14. Spring Sceneries Of Jiangnan
15. New Year's Eve
VOLUME 2
01. Reflection Of The Moon On Lake Erquan
02. Scenes After Rain
03. The Little Flower Drum
04. Homesick
05. Music For Pluck String
06. Good Harvest
07. Bird-call In The Mountain
08. Zhong Hua Liu Ban
09. Sanmen Gorge Capriccio
10. River Water
11. Listening To The Pines
12. A Hometown Melody
13. Song Of Melancholy
14. Candle Shadows, Flickering Red
15. The Grapes Are Ripe
Executive Producer : Eiichi Naito
Artists + Repertoire, Remastering : Dino Malito
