- Sihu
Infobox Instrument
name= Sihu
names=
classification=
*Bowed string instrument
range=
related=
*Huqin (China)The "sihu" (;
pinyin : sìhú) is a Chinese bowedstring instrument with four strings. It is a member of the "huqin " family of instruments.Construction
The instrument's name comes from the words "sì" (四, meaning "four" in Chinese, referring to the instrument's number of strings) and "hú" (胡, short for "huqin", the family of instruments of which the "sihu" is a member). Its soundbox and neck are made from
hardwood and the playing end of the soundbox is covered with python,cow , or sheep skin.There are several sizes of "sihu"; the lowest of these is generally tuned C, C, G, G; the medium size is tuned G, G, D, D; and the smallest size is tuned D, D, A, A.
Technique
The instrument is held vertically, with its soundbox on the player's lap, and its strings are tuned in pairs. The hair of the bow passes between the two pairs of strings.
Use
The "sihu" is primarily associated with the
Mongolia n culture, and is played by Mongolians in Mongolia and also in theInner Mongolia Autonomous Region ofChina . It is also used as a traditional instrument in theLiaoning ,Jilin ,Heilongjiang provinces of China.It is also used as an accompanying instrument in various Chinese narrative genres, including Beijing "dagu", plum blossom "dagu", "xihe dagu", Tianjin new tunes, Shandong "qin shu", Northeast "dagu", Hubei song, Shaoxing "lianhua luo", Shanxi "er ren", Inner Mongolia "er ren", northeast dance duet, lucky play, Beijing opera derived drama from ballads, Hebei "pi ying" (shadow theater), and Henan "erjiaxian" traditional entertainment involving talking, singing, and drama.
Similar instruments include the Mongolian "
dörvön chikhtei khuur " and theTuvan "byzaanchy ".External links
* [http://www.nmgnews.com.cn/news/article/20030919/20030919003874_1.html Photo of a "sihu"]
* [http://www.e56.com.cn/minzu/Musical/Musical_Content.asp?Musical_Content_ID=386&Musical_Class_Content_ID=17 Sihu article] (Chinese)
* [http://www.yuemi.net/images3/MZ_gongxian/Sihu.jpg"Sihu" photo]Listening
* [http://music.cn.yahoo.com/search?pid=ysearch&p=%CB%C4%BA%FA&mimetype=all&source=ysmi_hsch_r "Sihu" MP3] (click headphones to listen to individual tracks) "page appears to have moved or been deleted"
ee also
*
Huqin
*Byzaanchy
*Traditional Chinese musical instruments
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