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This article has been tagged since November 2006. The trapezoidal yangqin (Simplified Chinese: 扬琴; Traditional Chinese: 揚琴; Pinyin: yángqín) is a Chinese hammered dulcimer originally from the Middle East (Persia (modern-day Iran)). It used to be written with the characters 洋琴 (lit. "foreign zither"), but over time the first character changed to 揚 (also pronounced "yáng"), which means "acclaimed." Hammered dulcimers of various types are now very popular not only in China, but also Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India and Pakistan. The instruments are also sometimes known by the names "santur" and "cymbalom." Image File history File linksMetadata Yangqin1. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Yangqin1. ...
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
Traditional Chinese (Traditional Chinese: æ£é«”å—/ç¹é«”å—, Simplified Chinese: æ£ä½“å—/ç¹ä½“å—) refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ...
Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), commonly called Pinyin, is the most common variant of Standard Mandarin romanization system in use. ...
A diatonic hammered dulcimer made by Masterworks The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. ...
A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...
The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the old Persian homeland, and beyond in Western Asia, Central Asia and the Caucasus. ...
World map showing the location of Europe. ...
A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...
Santur Woman playing the santur in a painting from the Hasht-Behesht Palace in Isfahan Iran, 1669 The santur (سنتور – also santūr, santour, santoor) is a hammered dulcimer of Iran. ...
It is also possible that you want to know about the Cymbal instrument. ...
The yangqin was traditionally fitted with bronze strings, which gave the instrument a soft timbre. This form of instrument is still occasionally heard today in the hudie qin (蝴蝶琴, lit. "butterfly zither") played in the traditional silk and bamboo genre from the Shanghai region known as Jiangnan sizhu (江南絲竹), as well as in some Cantonese music groups. The Thai and Cambodian khim are nearly identical in their construction, having been introduced to those nations by southern Chinese musicians. Since the 1950s, however, steel alloy strings (in conjunction with copper-wound steel strings for the bass notes) have been used, in order to give the instrument a brighter, and louder tone. The modern yangqin can have as many as five courses of bridges and may be arranged chromatically. Traditional instruments, with three or more courses of bridges, are also still widely in use. The instrument's strings are struck with two lightweight bamboo beaters (also known as hammers) with rubber tips. A professional musician often carries several sets of beaters, each of which draws a slightly different tone from the instrument, much like the drum sticks of Western percussionists. Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ...
Jiangnan sizhu is a style of traditional Chinese instrumental music from the Jiangnan region of China. ...
Cantonese music or Guangdong Music is a style of traditional Chinese instrumental music from Guangzhou and surrounding areas. ...
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Kim (musical instrument). ...
Bass (IPA: [], rhyming with face), when used as an adjective, describes tones of low frequency or range. ...
The yangqin is used both as a solo instrument and in ensembles.
Origins
Historians offer several theories to explain how the instrument was introduced to China: 1) that the instrument may have been introduced by land, through the Silk Route; 2) that it was introduced by sea, through the port of Guangzhou (Canton); or 3) that it was invented without foreign influence by the Chinese themselves. Guangzhou is the capital and the sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the Peoples Republic of China. ...
The word "yangqin" has historically been written in two different ways, using different Chinese characters for "yang". The "yang" in the earlier version was written with the character 洋, meaning "foreign." It was later changed, in 1910, to the character "yang" (揚), meaning "acclaimed" and is also the first character of the name of Yangzhou (揚州 or 扬州) which some Chinese linguistic scholars[citation needed] have stated was done because the latter term was more politically correct during a period when China was resisting foreign cultural influences. Political correctness is the alteration of language to redress real or alleged injustices and discrimination or to avoid offense. ...
Theory of introduction by land The by land theory of yangqin being bought into contact with the Chinese is through Silk Road. At the glance of the trading route of China, the Silk Route stretches almost 5,000 miles reaching to the Middle East, including Iran (Persia). The Iranian santur, a dulcimer, has existed since ancient times. If any dulcimer was to influence China by land, it is likely to be of this instrument. The Silk Road Silk Route redirects here. ...
Santur Woman playing the santur in a painting from the Hasht-Behesht Palace in Isfahan Iran, 1669 The santur (سنتور – also santūr, santour, santoor) is a hammered dulcimer of Iran. ...
The santur seems to be a likely predecessor of the yangqin. The instrument is somewhat smaller in size, is same in shape and is also played using two wooden mallets.
The technical structure of the santur is different in the way the tuning pegs are place, the bridges and the mallets. The yangqin's tuning pins are set in parallel instead of an angle 90 degree down at the side. The mallets of the santur also differ from those of the yangquin: they are made of wood with finger grip, designed to let the players perform by gripping the two mallets between their fore and middle fingers. The both modern and the earliest yangqin mallets did not include finger grips.
The bridge of the yangqin consist of long, single piece of wood with many stubs supporting the strings unlike the Santur which uses a number of small individual chesspiece-like bridges. The yangqin uses an individual bridge like the dulcimer instead of the santur.
Theory of introduction by sea The seaport at Canton, Guangzhou attracts traders from all over Asia: from Japan, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The ships from this region bought back precious stones, slaves, exotic wares, fruits and spices etc. Along with commercial goods, thriving businesses, ideas, philosophies and scientific knowledge were exchanged including religion (principally Buddhism).
During the 16th century, the Age of Exploration in Europe reached it climax and soon trade was established between China and Europe. Historians state that Portuguese, and later, English and Dutch ships, had brisk trade with China. Portuguese trading in Chinese waters began in the 1500s according to historians. Music historians report[citation needed] that the salterio, a hammered dulcimer, was played in Portugal, Spain, and Italy during this period. Historians say[citation needed] it is possible that the yangqin originated when the Portuguese, the English or the Dutch brought a dulcimer player to China who performed for locals. // Concept, etymology: Salterio / saltério is used in Italian and Spanish where both psaltery and dulcimer are used in English, psaltérion and tympanon in French, psalterium in Latin. ...
Possible relationship to clavichord Some historians have stated[citation needed] that European clavichord is another possible precursor to the yangqin. These historians state[citation needed] that Italian missionary Matteo Ricci had brought a clavichord from Europe to China and that the Chinese court had many clavichords and harpsichords in the palace, which were given as gifts by various European nations. Large five-octave unfretted clavichord by Paul Maurici, after J.A. Haas The clavichord is a European stringed keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. ...
Matteo Ricci. ...
Theory of invention within China Some music scholars support[citation needed] the theory that the Chinese dulcimer, yangqin was developed within China itself, devoid of all foreign influence. These historians state[citation needed] two possible explanations for the instruments native origins, which are: the yangqin is a development from an ancient string instrument called zhu （筑）. Or that the yangqin originated from Yangzhou （扬州 or 揚州）, China itself. Yangzhou (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; former spellings: Yang-chou, Yangchow; literally Rising Prefecture) is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu province, Peoples Republic of China. ...
Relationship to the zhu Some music scholars state[citation needed] that the yangqin developed from the ancient music instrument zhu (筑). The zhu is shaped like the guqin, rectangular with one side wider than the other. It had 12 to 13 strings (earliest variant only had 5 strings), assumed to have been made of silk or gut with resemblance to the guqin. It was performed using techniques quite similar to the guqin, one hand pressing the strings while the other pluck. However in the case of the zhu, instead of plucking the strings, it was struck by using a slender bamboo hammer. Like many string instruments, zhu is made of silk or gut. The zhu (ç‘) was an ancient Chinese string instrument. ...
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The Yangzhou theory Another theory supported[citation needed] by some music scholars is that the yangqin was developed in Yangzhou, a city in Jiangsu Province. According to one yangqin thesis written by Mr Chew in 1921, "Yangqin was named Yangqin because it was invented in Yangzhou, different variants came about after it was introduced into Guangzhou."[citation needed] Yangzhou (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; former spellings: Yang-chou, Yangchow; literally Rising Prefecture) is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu province, Peoples Republic of China. ...
Jiangsu (Simplified Chinese: 江è‹; Traditional Chinese: 江蘇; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chiang-su; Postal System Pinyin: Kiangsu) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. ...
Construction As the yangqin is a type of hammered dulcimer, it shares many elements of construction with other instruments in the hammered dulcimer family:
Strings Modern yangqin usually have about 200 strings in total, with each pitch running in courses, with up to 5 strings per course, in order to boost the volume. The strings come in various thicknesses, and are tied at both ends by screws instead of tuning pegs, and are covered during playing. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2112x2816, 1581 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Yangqin Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2112x2816, 1581 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Yangqin Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create...
Bridges There are usually four to five bridges on a yangqin. From right to left, they are: bass bridge, "left bridge", tenor bridge, "right bridge", and the chromatic bridge. During playing, one is supposed to strike the strings on the left side of the bridges. However, the "left bridge" can be struck on both sides of the bridge.
Hammers The hammers are made of flexible bamboo, and one end is half covered by rubber. Due to their unique construction, there are two ways to play: with the rubber side for a softer sound, and with the bamboo side for a more percussive sound. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2112x2816, 777 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Yangqin Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2112x2816, 777 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Yangqin Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create...
Cylindrical nuts
 ball shaped nuts, in slots On both sides of the yangqin, aside from the tuning screws, are numerous cylindrical metal Nuts that can be moved for fine tuning the strings or to raise the strings slightly to eliminate unwanted vibrations that may occur. More modern designs also have moveable ball-shaped nuts that can be adjusted on the fly with the fingers; this provides some microtuning and additional dynamics during performances. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2816x2112, 1696 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Yangqin Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create...
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2816x2112, 1696 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Yangqin Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create...
The nut of a string instrument is a small strip or block of hard material forming a transition between the strings playing length and the tuning machines on the headstock, or the tuning pegs in the pegbox at the upper end of the fingerboard. ...
Manner of Performance The sticks are held, one in each hand, and hit the strings alternately. In the orchestra, the yangqin often adds to the harmony by playing chords or arpeggios. The ends of the sticks can be used to pluck the strings, producing a crisp and clear tone quality. Plucking is achieved by bringing the end of the stick towards the body while in contact with the strings. As the yangqin is softer than other Chinese instruments, it is usually positioned at the front of the orchestra, in the row just in front of the conductor. However, this is not a rule: the Singapore Chinese Orchestra positions the yangqin close to the percussion section. As the yangqin's tones sustain long after they have been played, such an arrangement minimizies the dissonance that results.[citation needed] If the hands are free (e.g. in periods of rest), covering the strings with the hands quickly dampens the vibrations. The yangqin has been called the "Chinese piano" as it has an indispensible role in the accompaniment of Chinese string and wind instruments. Various arpeggi as seen on a staff In music, an arpeggio (plural, arpeggi) is a spread chord played top-to-bottom or vice versa in sheet music, or rather the sounding of the tones of a chord in rapid succession rather than simultaneously. ...
The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO; Chinese: æ–°åŠ å¡åŽä¹å›¢, Pinyin: XÄ«njiÄpÅ hùalètuán) is Singapore’s only professional Chinese orchestra. ...
In music, a consonance (Latin consonare, sounding together) is a harmony, chord, or interval considered stable, as opposed to a dissonance, which is considered unstable. ...
Damping is any effect, either deliberately engendered or inherent to a system, that tends to reduce oscillations. ...
Arrangement of Pitches
 Scale of yangqin, the numbers indicate the notes in the diatonic scale, 1 = do, 2 = re etc. The yangqin is a chromatic instrument with a range of slightly over four octaves. The middle C is located at the tenor bridge, third section from the bottom. Image File history File links Yangqin5. ...
Image File history File links Yangqin5. ...
The pitches are arranged so that in general, moving one section away from the body corresponds to a transposition of a whole tone upwards. Similarly, moving one section towards the left of the performer generally corresponds to a transposition of a perfect pitch upwards. These are only rules of thumb since the arrangement has to be modified towards the extremes of the pitch range to fill out notes in the chromatic scale. Such an arrangement facilitates transposition. A rule of thumb is an easily learned and easily applied procedure for approximately calculating or recalling some value, or for making some determination. ...
In the playing of traditional Chinese music, most Chinese yangqin players use a numerical notation system called jianpu, rather than Western staff notation. The numbered musical notation, better known as jianpu (PY: jiǎnpǔ, TC: 簡譜, SC: 简谱), meaning simplified notation in Chinese, is a musical notation system widely used among the Chinese people. ...
Electric yangqin The yangqin has also been modified, much like an electric guitar, to be an amplified electronic instrument. Left: Rosa Hurricane, a heavy metal-style solid body guitar. ...
Standard Repertory - Solo pieces
- Joyous News (喜讯)
- San Liu (弹词三六)
- Song of the Border Region (边寨之歌)
- Opening the Well of Happiness with Our Hands (双手开出幸福泉)
- Spring Arrives to the Qing River (春到清江)
- Thunder During a Drought (旱天雷)
- Dragon Boat (龙船)
- A Festive at Tian Mountain (节日的天山)
- The General's Command (将军令)
- The Red Flower (映山红)
- The Dance of the Tu Tribe (土家族摆手舞曲)
- Lin Chong Flees in the Night (林冲夜奔)
- Concertos
- Ya Lu Zang Bu Riverside (雅鲁藏布江边)
- Huang Tu Qing (黄土情)
- Memory (忆事曲)
- Sound Poem of the Ocean Mounts (海峡音诗)
- (金翎思-满乡随想)
- Yellow River(黄河)
The term concerto (plural is concerti or concertos) usually refers to a musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. ...
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