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The guzheng, or gu zheng (Chinese: 古箏; pinyin: gǔzhēng) or zheng (箏) (gu- means "ancient") is a traditional Chinese musical instrument. It belongs to the zither family of string instruments. Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell(ing) and yin means sound(s)). This article describes the most common variant called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉è¯æ‹¼éŸ³; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; pinyin: Hà nyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme...
A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ...
A Musima Guitar Zither 45 strings with 21 melody, 24 chords The zither is a musical string instrument, mainly used in folk music. ...
A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ...
The guzheng is the parent instrument of the Japanese koto, the Korean gayageum, and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. Masayo Ishigure plays the koto The koto (Japanese: ç®) is a traditional stringed musical instrument from Japan resembling a zither. ...
A gayageum is a traditional Korean zitherlike musical instrument with 12 strings. ...
The Ä‘Ã n tranh is a plucked zither of Vietnam. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 3353 KB) Summary Guzheng, a stringed zither-like musical instrument Taken by uploader Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Guzheng Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 3353 KB) Summary Guzheng, a stringed zither-like musical instrument Taken by uploader Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Guzheng Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to...
Description The modern-day guzheng is a plucked, half-tube zither with movable bridges and 21 strings, although it can have anywhere from 15 to 25 strings (a customized version exists with more than 34 strings). The guzheng's strings were formerly made of twisted silk, though by the 20th century most players used metal strings (generally steel for the high strings and copper-wound steel for the bass strings). Since the mid-20th century most performers use steel strings flatwound with nylon. Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ...
The guzheng has a large resonant cavity made from wu tong wood (Paulownia tomentosa). Other components may be made from other woods, usually for structural and decorative purposes. Paulownia tomentosa or the princess tree is a deciduous tree in the Foxglove family with heart-shaped leaves. ...
The guzheng is not to be confused with the guqin, another ancient Chinese zither without bridges. The guqin (Chinese: å¤ç´; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: ku-chin; literally ancient stringed-instrument) is the modern name for a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family (ä¸è¯çµƒæ¨‚å™/ä¸åŽå¼¦ä¹å™¨). It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favored by scholars and literati as an instrument of great...
Playing styles There are techniques used in the playing of the guzheng, including basic plucking actions (right and left hand) at the right portion and pressing actions at the left portion (left hand) as well as tremolo (right hand). Plucking is done mainly by the right hand with four plectra (picks) attached to the fingers. Advanced players may use picks attached to the fingers of both hands. Ancient picks were made of ivory and later also from tortoise shell. Tremolo is a musical term with two meanings: A rapid repetition of the same note, a rapid variation in the amplitude of a single note, or an alternation between two or more notes. ...
A plectrum (plural: plectra) is a device for plucking or strumming a stringed instrument. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Genera Chersina Dipsochelys Furculachelys Geochelone Gopherus Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria Psammobates Pyxis Testudo A tortoise is a land-dwelling reptile of the order Testudines. ...
The sound of the guzheng can express a cascading waterfall, thunder and even the scenic countryside. The guzheng's pentatonic scale ranges to Do, Re, Mi, So and La, but Fa and Ti can also be produced by pressing the strings to the left of the bridges. One of the most famous contemporary pieces for guzheng is called "Zhan Tai Feng" (战台风; Fighting with Typhoon), composed by Wang Chang Yuan. Famous pieces from the instrument's classical repertoire, extant since the T'ang dynasty, include the nostalgic "Yu Zhou Chang Wan", or The Fisherman SIngs to the Night - memorably performed by Canadian pi'pa player Liu Fang. Wang Changyuan at the 2004 Yangzhou Guzheng Conference Wang Changyuan (surname Wang; Chinese: 王昌元, Pinyin: Wáng ChÄngyuán) is a Chinese guzheng performer and composer. ...
History The ancient guzheng had 12 strings, which gradually evolved into the modern form. Tuned pentatonically over four octaves, it has existed since the Warring States Period and became especially popular during the Qin dynasty. In music, an octave (sometimes abbreviated 8ve or 8va) is the interval between one musical note and another with half or double the frequency. ...
Alternative meaning: Warring States Period (Japan) The Warring States Period (Traditional Chinese: 戰國時代; Simplified Chinese: 战国时代; Pinyin: Zhà nguó ShÃdà i) covers the period from sometime in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the Qin in 221 BC. It is nominally considered to be the second part...
The Qin Dynasty (Chinese: 秦æœ; Pinyin: QÃn Cháo; Wade-Giles: Chin Chao) (221 BC - 206 BC) was preceded by the Zhou Dynasty and followed by the Han Dynasty in China. ...
Until 1961, the common guzheng had 18 strings. In 1961 Xu Zhengao together with Wang Xunzhi introduced the first 21-string guzheng after two years of research and development. In 1961, they also invented the "S-shaped" left string rest, which was quickly adopted by all guzheng makers and is still used today, whether in the shape of the letter "S", "C", etc.
The guzheng in other genres The guzheng has been used by the Chinese performer Wang Yong in the rock band of Cui Jian, as well as in free improvised music. Zhang Yan used it in a jazz context, performing and recording with Asian American jazz bandleader Jon Jang. Other zheng players who perform in non-traditional styles include Randy Raine-Reusch, Mei Han, Zi Lan Liao, Levi Chen, Andreas Vollenweider, Jaron Lanier, Mike Hovancsek, and David Sait. The American composer Lou Harrison (1917–2003) played and composed for the instrument. Jerusalem based multi-instrumentalist Bradley Fish is the most widely recorded artist of loops for the guzheng. Fish is known for using the guzheng with a rock-influenced style and electronic effects on his 1996 collaboration "The Aquarium Conspiracy" with Sugarcubes/Björk drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson. The virtual band Gorillaz used the guzheng in their song "Hong Kong" from the Help: A Day In The Life compilation. The Canadian composer Kevin Austin[1] has written several pieces for guzheng and electroacoustic sounds. Cui Jian (Chinese: å´”å¥; Pinyin: CuÄ« Jià n; Korean: 최건; born August 2, 1961) is a Beijing-based musician, songwriter, trumpet player, guitarist and composer. ...
Jazz is an original American musical art form originating around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in Western music technique and theory and marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans. ...
Asian American jazz is a musical movement in the United States begun in the 20th century by Asian American jazz musicians. ...
Jon Jang (b. ...
Randy Raine-Reusch is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and composer specializing in wind and string instruments from around the world, particularly those from East and Southeast Asia. ...
Mei Han (surname Han; name given in Chinese order as Han Mei; traditional: 梅韓; simplified: 梅韩) is a Chinese guzheng performer and scholar. ...
Andreas Vollenweider (born October 4, 1953) is a Swiss musician. ...
Jaron Lanier (born 1960) is an American musician and virtual reality developer. ...
Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 - February 2, 2003) was an American composer. ...
Bradley Fish (b. ...
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic rock-pop band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. ...
Björk Guðmundsdóttir (IPA: ) (born November 21, 1965 in ReykjavÃk, Iceland) is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and composer (formerly the lead singer of alternative rock band The Sugarcubes), with a great expressive range and an interest in many kinds of music including pop, trip hop, alternative rock...
Sigtryggur Baldursson is an Icelandic musician. ...
Gorillaz are a virtual band, composed of four fictional animated band members: 2D, Murdoc, Noodle and Russel. ...
The terms Electroacoustic or Electroacoustic music have been used to describe several different musical genres or techiniques. ...
Notable guzheng performers This article or section may contain external links added only to promote a website, product, or service – otherwise known as spam.
If you are familiar with the content of the external links, please help by removing promotional links, in accordance with Wikipedia:External links. (you can help!) Bradley Fish (b. ...
Mei Han (surname Han; name given in Chinese order as Han Mei; traditional: 梅韓; simplified: 梅韩) is a Chinese guzheng performer and scholar. ...
Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 - February 2, 2003) was an American composer. ...
Jaron Lanier (born 1960) is an American musician and virtual reality developer. ...
Liang Tsai-Ping (æ¢åœ¨å¹³ in Chinese; pinyin: Liang Zaiping; surname Liang) was a Taiwanese master of the guzheng. ...
Zi Lan Liao is an international concert circuit performer on the Ku-Cheng (Chinese harp). ...
Weishan Liu Weishan Liu is one of the world’s leading guzheng virtuosos. ...
Andreas Vollenweider (born October 4, 1953) is a Swiss musician. ...
Wang Changyuan at the 2004 Yangzhou Guzheng Conference Wang Changyuan (surname Wang; Chinese: 王昌元, Pinyin: Wáng ChÄngyuán) is a Chinese guzheng performer and composer. ...
Faye Wong, or Wong Fei (王菲; pinyin: Wáng Fēi) (born August 8, 1969) is an extremely popular Chinese singer and is very well-known all throughout Asia. ...
Zhang Yan the bandit leader of the Black Mountains. ...
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External links - Sound of China Guzheng Music Promotion Center The largest English guzheng instrument resource website. Teachers around the world, instruments, CD, Textbooks.
- GuzhengOne.com Club for guzheng enthusiasts (in English and Chinese)
- San Francisco Gu-Zheng Music Society
- Beauty of Guzheng information and recordings
- Guzheng - Chinese zither history and information
- Washington GuZheng Society
- Lunlun Zou official site
- "The Eight Schools: Zheng Music Down the Ages", from Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra site
Guzheng makers - Dunhuang (in Chinese) Big brand in China making guzhengs and other instruments
- Master Xu Zhengao considered by some the "Father of Guzheng"
- Peter Kahl Austrian-born guzheng designer and maker
Listening - Recording of guzheng player Ann Yao performing "Lotus" (recorded at the 1992 Florida Folk Festival; made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida) (track 5)
Video - Guzheng video from Robert Garfias site
Guzheng strings - Guzheng strings by Lunlun Zou
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