the dizi and the erhu

although i may walk at the same park on numerous days, every walk is a different experience. of course, there are walkers whose sole purpose is to walk (exercise) and they are oblivious to the things and changes around them. but i enjoy observing flora, fauna and people at the park. today, during my walk at bukit batok nature park, i came across two musicians playing two different chinese musical instruments in two different parts of the park.

the one playing the erhu was at one of the pavilions nearer to the car park. he had two supporters with him. these two were keeping him company but they were not with any instrument.

the one playing the dizi was bare-bodied and he was performing at the abandoned quarry. think he could not have chosen a more suitable spot to play the dizi as the sweet melody resonated and wafted through the air around the granite cliffs.

the dizi

because it sounds great, is easy to learn, light to carry and inexpensive, the dizi (chinese bamboo flute) is one of most popular chinese instruments in asia. the dizi is a side blown wind instrument made of bamboo. the dizi has a very simple structure: 1 blowhole, 1 membrane hole, 6 finger holes, and two pairs of holes in the end to correct the pitch and hang decorative tassels.

most special about the dizi is the "mo-cong" (membrane hole), which is located between the blowhole and 6th finger hole. what makes the mo-cong special is its thin membrane covering. some people mistake this membrane for rice paper, but it is actually made from the inner tube of a bamboo or reed plant. when the dizi is played, the membrane vibrates with the dizi, producing a sweet, bright tone. in addition it helps to deliver the dizi sound far away. you can also adjust the membrane to get the just the "right" tone for the specific musical mood.

the erhu

the erhu has only two strings but just listen to what those two strings can do - from playing the earliest classic, "the sound of agony," to imitating perfectly the voices of peking opera singers or even the music of bird chirping.

the erhu is a simple instrument that has a drum-like body made of ebony or sandalwood. the front opening is covered with the skin of a snake and the back is left open. the functions of the body is to resonate and amplify the vibrations of the strings.

the neck of the erhu is about 81 centimeters long and is made from the same materials as the drum. the top of the neck is bent for decoration. the two strings of the erhu, which is usually tuned d and a, are made of silk or nylon, but nowadays metal strings are commonly used.

the bow is 76 centimeters long and is manufactured from a reed which one curves by steaming and is then arched with horse hair in the same way as the bow of violin. however, in the case of erhu, the horse hair runs between the two strings so one cannot take the bow off the instrument unless one of the two strings is taken off or broken.