Just received the Dongxiao - Jing Music and Arts - Mizumori

[noodler]

Has anyone tried one of these dongxiaos,
and would offer an opinion?

I'm shopping for a first dongxiao.

Thanks -

[Flolei]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Do you have any link to the instruments you are speaking about?

[noodler]

Yes:

www.amazon.com/Dongxiao-Bamboo-Wutaguji-Voicing-Instrument/dp/B004PX6ED0

Thanks!

[Flolei]

It's hard to say. Can be good or not. Here is what I notice:
- The price is not high, almost cheap for this kind of xiao,
- U shape mouthpiece is good, but only 6 holes is not very convenient (I prefer 8 holes xiaos),
- the outside is lackered, which can be good to avoid cracking, but doesn't look very traditional
- the seller is not very specialized for Chinese winds.
Has anyone any more accurate opinion?

[davidmdahl]

As Flo wrote, the price is on the low side for a good Xiao. Other than that, I don't see any serious red flags. The standards for shakuhachi which the vendor also sells, are high, so maybe the maker is skilled. I like the Taiwanese Xiao styles. There is not much feedback for the vendor's flutes, but it is all good. You can never be completely sure with feedback that it is legitimate, and I like to see more. I also like to know the return policy and where the vendor is located.

When it comes to flutes, I really prefer to play before buying, but sometimes it is necessary to take the chance. Maybe you could ask the vendor to post a video on Youtube of the Xiao being played.

I agree with Flo about the number of finger holes. I prefer 7 or 8.

Best wishes,

David

[noodler]

Flolei and David, thank you for the info. I went ahead and purchased from
this dealer, but bought one of his 7-hole xiaos instead of the 6-hole.

BTW a dongxiao from this dealer (Benjamin Yen - http://www.jingworkshop.com)
got good reviews on another forum (fluteportal.com).

Anyway, it arrived today. First impressions:

Whoa, the embouchure thing seems it will be a challenge. Guess I'm like every other
newbie trying to coax a sound out of an end-blown flute. This will take some patience.
And of course, right away I wonder: is it me or is it the instrument?

The instrument certainly looks well made. It seems more or less in tune with itself,
though my flaky embouchure makes it tough to get pure notes so as to evaluate the
intonation.

It's esthetically very pleasing. Has a solid, maybe even heavy feel to it.
The way it vibrates when I manage to find the sweet spot with the embouchure
and produce a clear tone is pleasant. It's an inviting instrument, for lack
of a better way to say it.

The fingering is new to me. I knew about the low note being "sol" and not "do".
I didn't know the seventh hole would be where it is, to flat the seventh ("ti").
Well!

Then again, it does make sense. But it's going to be an adjustment from the
fingering I'm accustomed to on the 6-hole Irish whistle and wooden flute I have.
Even if I get the dongxiao embouchure down, I'll be hesitating at the fingering
as I unlearn what my fingers are used to doing.

I'm near Olympia, WA. This is not dongxiao headquarters of the known world,
but who knows, maybe I'll find another player with whom I can compare xiaos.
Or maybe I have to go to Asia...

Thanks again -

Noodler

[davidmdahl]

Congratulations on your xiao! The fingering will take some getting used to, I am sure, so be patient with yourself. It helps me to think of the right hand holes covered by the middle and ring fingers as one hole. Maybe it will help you. For me, the challenges are covering the holes with a good seal while not gripping too tightly. My fingers are not particularly long, so I use 'pipers grip', a term that may be familiar to you. This is a common technique when playing the low D whistle in Irish music.

Best wishes,

David