Chinese People....?

droolymutt · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 12:05 am Post subject: Chinese People....?

How do you pronounce the word "Erhu"...?

(It's a Chinese Musical instrument...)

bbchris · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 1:13 am Post subject: Re: Chinese People....?

It's pronounced 'er-hu' as in 'er?' and 'who' :banana

droolymutt · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 1:42 am Post subject: Re: Chinese People....?

Thanks.

I thought it was "Are-hoo"....

I have to meet someone this week and not sound like a fool when I pronounce that....

errhoo.

(Lovely instrument, btw... - especially when played solo...)

bbchris · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:15 am Post subject: Re: Chinese People....?

Larree can play the erhu!

RonOnGuitar · Joined: 08 Jan 2003 Posts: 1916

Chris - have you ever worked with any traditional Chinese instruments in your musical career? Either incorporatring someone playing one in something you've done (or play one yourself)?

droolymutt · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:26 am Post subject: Re: Chinese People....?

Yeah - I remember Larree saying he got an erhu...

The only erhu music I've been able to find online is stuff with a lot of orchestration behind it....

Can't find any solo stuff.... - wish I could....

A solo erhu, well played, soothes my soul.....

bbchris · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese People....?

Good question Ron. I don't think I have!! LOL! I used to have a "kwoo jung" (I really don't know the English spelling from the Cantonese for this), it's like a zither, it looks like this:

It uses the Chinese scale which has 5 notes. It sounds like this.

The Master68 · Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 442

Buy me a koto and teach me how to play it...

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When you argue with a fool, be sure he isn't similarly occupied...

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Music - Organismo Cibernetico (Cybernetic Organism)

RonOnGuitar · Joined: 08 Jan 2003 Posts: 1916

M68, the koto is a Japanese instrument.

In an "art-rock" group that I was with years ago we sometimes used a "found-art" homemade electric koto. One hand played the strings while the other manuvered a free-moving pickup over the vibrating string(s). Here's a pic of it -

RonOnGuitar · Joined: 08 Jan 2003 Posts: 1916

Drooly - I'm trying to figure if your pic is of a member of

12 Girls Band

If you haven't heard them or heard of them, check it out. Great music by some lovely lasses!

The Master68 · Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 442

Shit, that's right...

I forgot that.

I knew it was some kind of "ese"..

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When you argue with a fool, be sure he isn't similarly occupied...

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Music - Organismo Cibernetico (Cybernetic Organism)

RonOnGuitar · Joined: 08 Jan 2003 Posts: 1916

Chris -

It looks like it would be tough to put a strap on it and jam with it!

I believe it's written as "guzheng" in English? It has a very unique and easily recognisable sound!

When I was a kid our family would tune in short wave radio at night and listen to broadcasts from around the world. I always loved the sound of traditional Chinese music - it has it's own special feeling, like an Eastern "Soul Music".

When people hear "5 notes", they probably think it's limited. But with harmonics & note bending it produces an amazing and versatile sound.

Probably the most traditional American instrument I try to play is the mountain dulcimer, which can be played several ways ( struck like piano strings, plucked, picked, strummed, bowed) and with different tunings. I prefer a tuning where one string carries the notes and the others resonate.

I have my mom's mountain dulcimer, looks something like the one below - but not quite as ornate! Just a plain ol' one.

RonOnGuitar · Joined: 08 Jan 2003 Posts: 1916

Quote:
I knew it was some kind of "ese"..

Hahaha ! - well, it could've been some kind of "ish", like the Swed-ish "nyckelharpa" :

Edited to add -

But you're part right on the koto, M68 - I think the koto is an offspring of the Chinese guzheng!

Edited by: RonOnGuitar at: 11/30/04 19:21

droolymutt · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese People....?

I just listened to that "kwoo jung" track, Chris.... - You know? - it almost sounds like someone speaking Cantonese.. - the inflection, bending of tones, abrupt endings on certain notes....

Ron - I just found that picture by Googling "erhu"... - but yes, - I've heard "12 Girls Band"... - lovely stuff..

Does anyone know where I can find some solo erhu stuff?

RonOnGuitar · Joined: 08 Jan 2003 Posts: 1916

Quote:
Does anyone know where I can find some solo erhu stuff?

One way to probably dig some up is via an Altavista sound search - here's the first page of listings that popped up when I searched for "erhu" there:

erhu - altavista audio search

I'm just thinking how "Solo Erhu" would make a really cool stage name! Have to keep that in mind.