Tone color difference between dizi

[ziman]

I recently bought this Xie Bing dizi as a gift to my father: www.easonmusicstore.com/webshaper/store/viewProd.asp?pkProductItem=142

While playing it, we agreed that it was a lovely instrument. Meanwhile, recently, after listening to some of the dizi and xiao player Chen Yue (陈悦)'s compositions, I became convinced that there are indeed a few slow songs that sound nicer on dizi rather than xiao. An example is this one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce3BeSI8Wrk

I therefore felt like buying myself a dizi too. However, as some of you probably know, I'm also trying to save up to commission a xiao from Donsiau. Because of this, I thought perhaps I should go for the somewhat cheaper $60 dizi, also by Xie Bing: www.easonmusicstore.com/webshaper/store/viewProd.asp?pkProductItem=140

Does anyone own both the more expensive ($86, concert grade) and the cheaper ($60, professional grade) Xie Bing dizis?

If you've owned both before, what aspects in sound and playing characteristics did you perceive to be different between those two grades of dizi?

When I played my dad's dizi (the higher-grade one), there were two things I particularly liked- firstly, it was easily controllable even when played very softly, and secondly, it had a rich timbre, not just bright like most dizi, but also having a kind of deep and complex tone which was really satisfying to listen to.

Not having played the cheaper $60 dizi before, I'm wondering if it also shares those characteristics. Which is why I'm asking.


P.S. I bought my dad a D dizi, because it's the most useful key, but would like to get a C key dizi for myself instead, as I mostly play mellower songs. That's why the two linked dizis above are in different keys.

[edcat7]

I have always wanted a D and C key DXH from Eason. I won't bore you with the details but I ended up with an E DXH.

I have a C XB concert grade and two XB's with the Carrot name on them. If you didn't know, XB makes dizis for Carrot.

There is one note I find very difficult to play on a XB. I can't remember it off hand but it's using the second fingering chart. My teacher has the fattest C XB I've ever seen and I too noticed he has trouble playing this single one note.

My advice is if you're serious about the dizi and want the best get a Dong Xue Hua. If however you're going to concentrate more on the Xiao then get the 'performance range' from Carrot. With the exception of the horn ends; Carrot ones are imitation whilst the concert grade XB are real , there is very little difference.

[Flolei]

I think that the 2 recordings provided by Eason tell very well which is the difference. The professional grade is less loud, less rich in timbre. It's a good value for the price, but it's not the same. Carrotmusic performance grade is actually better, if you cannot buy the concert one from Eason.

Ed, are you really sure that the horn ends on Carrotmusic performance level dizi are fake? I have the feeling that it is true horn, but less nice, more commoun, without pattern. Actually they are not good-looking enough to be fake. Fake horns usually look like brilliant and lovely pattern plastic. On my dizi I can see the work with horn inside, even if it's not very pretty. It's not important, but if you mentionned it....

[ziman]

Thanks for your thoughtful responses, Ed and Flolei! Much appreciated.

Flolei- I'd thought that that was the case. Listening to the youtube videos, I could tell that difference as well. Just wanted to confirm that impression by asking people who've personally played both before.

By the way, I recently had the distinct pleasure of meeting Hu Yulin, lecturer of dizi at Beijing's Capital Normal University, and hearing him play at close range. His qudi was made by DXH, and it again had that very sweet, smooth timbre typical of DXH dizis.

From listening and playing in person, I feel that the concert dizis made by DXH and Xie Bing have distinctive differences in timbre. DXH dizis sound very sweet, bright, smooth, and are very even in intonation across the scale. Xie Bing dizis have a darker and more complex timbre.

The XB concert dizi also takes somewhat more effort to play than the DXH, but when played right, it rewards you with that nice rich timbre. For the type of songs I'd like to play on dizi, I prefer the XB's timbre. Though, this is a subjective preference for one kind of sound, and has nothing to do with the objective qualities of the flutes in themselves.

[Blue]

You've noted that the two Xie Bing dizis that you are showing are pitched differently. Would have preferred a same pitch comparison to be more accurate. That being said, I prefer the Xie Bing dizi that you gave to your father based on the youtube video. You should purchase a dizi that is more controllable rather than to be limited to what the dizi can do for you.

One shouldn't be concerned if the ox horns are real or not. Playing quality is paramount here.

Some people think that Dong Xue Hua is too bright and hard for their tastes and prefer the softer Huang Wei Dong. As I've mentioned in a post long ago, these two makers are considered brothers in dizi making because they were trained under the same shifu Zhou Lin Sheng. It's all subjective.

I have always wanted a D and C key DXH from Eason. I won't bore you with the details but I ended up with an E DXH.

Ha: didn't you end up getting a C key DXH from Allen?

[edcat7]

Oh yeah Thanks Allen. But it's also high sounding and since it's one piece there nothing I can do about it.

[davidmdahl]

I have a few flutes by DXH, however they are not my favorites. If I spring for another flute, XB would be on the short list, but maybe Ng Teck Seng would be higher up on the list. I have a xiao by NTS that has a wonderful sound, and I wonder about his dizi flutes.

However, I have recently been intrigued by the videos of Donsiau playing transverse and xiao flutes. I love the sound he gets.

Best wishes,

David

[Blue]

You're also learning how Donsiau likes to classify the pitch of the flute in his discussions:

First letter indicates the lowest pitch that can be played on the flute (western classification of the pitch of the flute). Second letter indicates the Chinese reckoning of the pitch (ie note one plays with XXX000 fingering).

A D-pitched dizi/xiao is also known as AD
A C pitched dizi/xiao is also known as GC
A G pitched dizi/xiao is also known as DG