Erhu 二胡


Erhu (二胡) with a history of more than 2,000 years is one of the main bowed instruments. It consists of a head, axis, rod, qianjin, qinma, sound box, strings and bow. The timbre of Erhu takes on strong ethnic flavor. It is suitable for playing soft and meticulous lyrical music.

The Erhu, also called 'Huqin', was introduced from the western region during the Tang Dynasty. During the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), it was refined and improved and new variations appeared. It was also an important instrument for playing the melody of Beijing Opera.

When playing, the player usually stands the Erhu on his lap, and moves the bow across the vertical strings. The well-known music 'Two Springs Reflect the Moon' was created by the blind folk artist Liu Yanjun, also named A Bing by the people. Though he could not see anything of the world, he played his Erhu using his heart and imagination. This melody conjures up a poetic night scene under the moonlight and expresses the composer's desolation and hope.


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