Advanced Xiao Techniques?

[pentamerone]

Hello everyone- I'm rather new here but after finding the oasis for Chinese instruments that is this forum I really had to join. This place seems really friendly, so I apologise for what probably sounds like a rather noobish question.

I recently bought a xiao flute and I love her to pieces, and after a bit of a difficult start I'm no longer having trouble playing basic music (I used to play the Western flute as a child, which I am now SUPREMELY thankful for). But I've come across a little hitch. In jianpu there is a symbol that baffles me- to the upper-left of some numbers there are smaller numbers underlined, with a little curve between them. I assume you clever people know what this is, and if so how would I go about doing what it tells me?

Sorry I haven't got an image, I can't seem to find any. Anyway, thank you for providing such a nice forum!

[davidmdahl]

Without knowing more about the notes specified, I can't be very precise, but the small numbers are an ornament. The line beneath indicates time-value/rhythm as normal. I expect that the curve between the notes indicates note-bending. Can you post a scan?

Best wishes,

David

[pentamerone]

Here's an attachment with an example. I know the basics of music theory and reading music, but things like ornaments have me baffled.

Thank you for being so helpful .

Attachments:

[xindi]

Pretty much as David has described.

You can assume 4 beats in a bar ...the 5 note will have half the time of the 3 note. It is a grace note, which is played quicker than the main (bigger note) 3 note. The dashes .. you can hold the note for the rest of the time.

It's not unusual to find a run of notes in small lettering like 532 before a big note. These are played like decorative trills - supposedly lightly and deftly.

The arrow .. I can't recall, but I tend to 'bend' the note towards the 3 in this case, rather than having 2 distinct and clear notes..