One of China’s most important traditional bowed instruments with an unmistakable sound, dating back at least 2,000 years, with a hardwood neck and a rounded bamboo soundbox and two strings, it looks simple, but takes years to master. The technique not only requires precise fingering, and sometimes plucking of strings, but also manipulating the bow pressure and speed accurately in order to achieve a variety of desired tones.
A key part of the orchestra in traditional Cantonese opera, here’s an example and below more about the instrument, and a playlist showing technique:
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