Erhu

The erhu (Chinese: 二胡; pinyin: èrhú; ) is a Chinese two-stringed bowed musical instrument, often called a spike fiddle. People sometimes refer to it in the Western world as the Chinese violin or a Chinese two-stringed fiddle. It belongs to the huqin family, a group of traditional bowed string instruments used by many ethnic groups in China.

The erhu is very popular and can be played alone or with small groups of musicians and even in large orchestras. It is very flexible and can be used in many kinds of music, including traditional Chinese songs, modern pop, rock, and jazz. Because of this, the erhu is enjoyed by many people around the world.

History

The erhu has ancient roots, tracing back to proto-Mongolic instruments that first appeared in China during the Tang dynasty. It is thought to have developed from the xiqin, which came from the Xi people in what is now northeast China.

The erhu’s name reflects its unique features. The first part of its name, meaning “two,” refers to its two strings. The second part connects it to the huqin family of instruments, which were often linked to people from northern and western regions beyond ancient Chinese kingdoms.

For much of its history, the erhu was mainly used as a folk instrument in southern China. But in the 1920s, a musician named Liu Tianhua brought it to Beijing, after which it grew to become 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 create sounds.

The erhu is made from different types of hardwoods and measures 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, helping it become a popular 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 also 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 in several ways. The erhu uses a flat base for its bridge and has a stretched, flattened python skin as its main sound surface, while a violin uses a curved wooden plate. The erhu’s bow has hair strung between its two strings, using both sides, whereas a violin’s bow rests on top of its strings. Also, the erhu has only two strings, while 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, instruments like the erhu were mostly used to go with Chinese opera and storytelling. The erhu began being played alone in the early 1900s as part of a new style of Chinese music made for concerts. Early players included Zhou Shaomei and Liú Tiānhuá, who created many pieces for the erhu in the 1920s and 1930s.

After China’s government grew and music schools expanded, many great erhu players appeared. Some famous names are Lu Xiutang, Zhang Rui, and Tang Liangde. Liu Mingyuan was known for playing many different huqin instruments and taught music in Beijing. Tang Liangde grew up in a musical family in Shanghai and played erhu in films and for 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 many new works for the instrument.