Gaohu

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Gaohu, traditional Guangdong type, with dragon head, round body, no base, and played with the body held between the knees
Gaohu, traditional Guangdong type, with dragon head, round body, no base, and played with the body held between the knees

The gaohu (高胡; pinyin: gāohú; Cantonese: gou1 wu4; also called yuehu 粤胡) is a Chinese bowed string instrument used in playing traditional Cantonese music and Cantonese opera. It belongs to the huqin family of instruments, together with the zhonghu, erhu, banhu, jinghu, and sihu, its name means "high pitched huqin". It has two strings and its soundbox is covered on the front (playing) end with snakeskin.

The gaohu was developed in the 1920s by the musician and composer Lü Wencheng (1898-1981) and is now the leading instrument of Cantonese music and opera ensembles; prior to this the lead bowed instrument was a similar instrument called erxian. The gaohu is similar in construction to the erhu but has a slightly smaller soundbox, commonly circular, and is tuned a fourth higher, to G4 and D5. Whereas most huqin is placed on top of the left thigh, the traditional gaohu is played with the soundbox held in between the knees. It has a brighter and lighter tone as compared to the erhu. Well known pieces for the gaohu include Bu Bu Gao (步步高, Higher Step By Step) and Ping Hu Qiu Yue (平湖秋月, Autumn Moon On Calm Lake).

Although originally a regional instrument used only in Cantonese music, the gaohu (in different forms and played placed on the leg, as the erhu) is used in the modern large Chinese orchestra, as part of the string family, along with the erhu, zhonghu, banhu, cello, and double bass.

Notable gaohu players include:

  • Lü Wencheng (吕文成, pinyin: Lǚ Wénchéng) (1898-1981) [1] in Chinese
  • Liu Tianyi (刘天一) (1910-1990) [2] in Chinese
  • Gan Shangshi (甘尚时) (1931- )
  • Yu Qiwei (余其伟) (1953- )[3] in English [4]in Chinese

Contents

[edit] References

Huang, Rijin (1997) Guangdong Yinyue; Gaohu Qu Xuan (Guangdong Music; Selected Pieces for Gaohu). Beijing: Renmin Yinyue Chubanshe (Peoples Music Publishing House)

[edit] Audio Sample

Ping Hu Qiu Yue

Sample of "Ping Hu Qiu Yue" (平湖秋月, Autumn Moon On Calm Lake). Composed by Lü Wencheng. Gaohu solo played by Yu Qiwei, with guzheng accompaniment.
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

[edit] Video Sample

Video of Mr Yu Qiwei performing the gaohu piece Ping Hu Qiu Yue (平湖秋月, Autumn Moon On Calm Lake). Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3BWTmcrbl0

[edit] See also

Traditional Chinese musical instruments
    █  Silk (string):    Plucked: Guqin • Se • Guzheng • Konghou • Pipa • Sanxian • Ruan • Liuqin • Yueqin • Qinqin • Duxianqin █ Bowed: Huqin • Erhu • Zhonghu • Gaohu • Banhu • Jinghu • Erxian • Tiqin • Yehu • Tuhu • Jiaohu • Sihu • Sanhu • Zhuihu • Zhuiqin • Leiqin • Dihu • (Xiaodihu • Zhongdihu • Dadihu) • Gehu • Diyingehu • Laruan • Matouqin • Yazheng █ Struck: Yangqin • Zhu
    █  Bamboo (woodwind):    Flutes: Dizi • Xiao • Paixiao • Koudi █ Oboes: Guan • Suona █ Free-reed pipes: Bawu • Mangtong
    █  Gourd (woodwind):    Sheng • Yu • Lusheng • Hulusi • Hulusheng
    █  Percussion:   Wood: Muyu • Guban █ Stone: Bianqing █ Metal: Bianzhong • Fangxiang • Luo • Yunluo █ Clay: Xun █ Hide: Daigu • Bangu • Paigu • Tanggu
    █  Others: Gudi • Lusheng • Kouxian
v • d • e
Huqin instrument family
Erhu • Gaohu • Banhu • Jinghu • Zhonghu • Yehu • Erxian • Tiqin • Daguangxian • Datong • Datongxian • Hexian • Huluhu • Maguhu • Tuhu • Jiaohu • Zhuihu • Zhuiqin • Leiqin • Sihu • Sanhu • Dahu • Dihu • (Xiaodihu • Zhongdihu • Dadihu) • Cizhonghu • Gehu • Diyingehu • Laruan (Dalaruan) • Paqin • Xiqin • Niutuiqin (niubatui) • Matouqin • Aijieke • Sataer
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