Erhu

The erhu (Chinese: 二胡; pinyin: èrhú; ) is a Chinese two-stringed bowed musical instrument. People also call it a spike fiddle or sometimes the Chinese violin. It is part of the huqin family, a group of traditional bowed string instruments from China.

The erhu is very popular. People play it alone or with small groups of musicians. It can also be used in large orchestras. The erhu is flexible and can be used in many kinds of music, like traditional Chinese songs, modern pop, rock, and jazz. Because of this, many people around the world enjoy the erhu.

History

The erhu has ancient roots and first appeared in China during the Tang dynasty. It came from the xiqin, which belonged to the Xi people in what is now northeast China.

The erhu’s name shows its special features. The word “two” in its name refers to its two strings. The other part of its name links it to the huqin family of instruments, which were often used by people from northern and western regions.

For much of its history, the erhu was mainly a folk instrument in southern China. In the 1920s, a musician named Liu Tianhua brought it to Beijing, and after that, it became the most popular instrument in the huqin family.

Construction

The erhu is a special Chinese musical instrument with two strings and a bow. It has a long neck with two tuning pegs at the top and a small body at the bottom covered with python skin. The player uses fingertips to press the strings and a bow made of horsehair to make sounds.

The erhu is made from different types of hardwoods and is about 81 cm long. Its parts include the sound box, neck, tuning pegs, strings, bridge, bow, and more. Most erhu are made in factories, with Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou being famous for their quality instruments. Over time, steel strings replaced silk ones to make the erhu louder. Today, rules protect python skins used in erhu, and some versions use recycled materials instead.

Erhu music

A famous musician for the erhu was Liú Tiānhuá (刘天华/劉天華, 1895–1932). He learned Western music and wrote many pieces for the erhu. This helped make the erhu popular as a solo instrument. Some of his famous works include Yue Ye (Moon Night) and Zhu ying Yao hong (Shadows of Candles Flickering Red).

The erhu is used in many types of music, from traditional Chinese opera to modern orchestras. It has appeared in shows like Cirque du Soleil's O and in music by artists such as Regina Spektor. Recently, it has been used in video games like World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria and Genshin Impact.

Comparisons to French instruments

Violin

The erhu is sometimes called a Chinese fiddle, but it is different from a Western fiddle or violin. The erhu uses a flat base for its bridge and has a stretched, flattened python skin for its sound. A violin uses a curved wooden plate. The erhu’s bow has hair between its two strings, while a violin’s bow rests on top of its strings. The erhu has only two strings, but a violin has four.

Playing technique

The erhu is a special musical instrument from China with two strings. It is tuned like a violin, with one string set to the note D and the other to A.

When playing the erhu, you sit down and hold the instrument upright, similar to how someone might hold a cello. Some players also stand up using a special clip on their belt.

The bow used for the erhu is held differently from a regular violin bow. The player uses the fingers of the right hand to adjust the bow’s hair, allowing both strings to make sound. The erhu can also sometimes be plucked with the right hand for a softer sound.

With the left hand, the player presses the strings to change their pitch. Since the erhu has no frets, the player can slide the fingers and use various techniques to create different sounds.

Notable performers

See also: List of erhu players

Before the 1900s, the erhu was mostly used for Chinese opera and storytelling. In the early 1900s, the erhu began to be played alone in concerts. Early players were Zhou Shaomei and Liú Tiānhuá, who made many pieces for the erhu in the 1920s and 1930s.

After China's government grew and music schools expanded, many great erhu players appeared. Famous names include Lu Xiutang, Zhang Rui, and Tang Liangde. Liu Mingyuan played many huqin instruments and taught music in Beijing. Tang Liangde grew up in Shanghai and played erhu in films and orchestras around the world.

Min Huifen, from Jiangsu, was a master erhu player for over 50 years. Song Fei, from Tianjin, is a professor who has played and taught erhu for many years and has performed new works for the instrument.