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Xun
Dec 29, 2012 0:40:18 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Dec 29, 2012 0:40:18 GMT
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Xun
Dec 29, 2012 7:37:37 GMT
Post by Flolei on Dec 29, 2012 7:37:37 GMT
With yoybuy: First payment (item + postage inside China): 59,35 USD Second payment (postage for 2 kg): 54,12 USD with DHL or 47,15 with EMS (no other way aviable). All together: about 110 USD
With Buychina: Only one payment but the weight estimation seems to be wrong (only half a kilo), so they can contact you for an adding payment. 65,48 USD (item) + 34,06 USD (postage with DHL) or 45,16 USD (postage with EMS). About 100 USD, but - once again - they calculate only half a kilo. When I bought the ebony dizi it was the same and I had to pay about 15 USD much for the real postage. New thing: they offer a "Buychina express" shipment for about 10-15 USD, but I really don't know what it is and if it is reliable.
No idea how it is if you buy on Ebay (I don't know this instrument very well).
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Xun
Dec 29, 2012 8:25:26 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Dec 29, 2012 8:25:26 GMT
Thanks Flo,
I don't really want a gaohu...yet, but was willing to try a flutter if it was very, very cheap. My teacher is bound to go back to China this year or next so I'll ask him to pick me up a decent zhonghu.
He got his XB dizi (it's the fattest D I've seen) from the Shanghai Expo at a fraction of the internet prices.
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Xun
Dec 29, 2012 8:28:08 GMT
Post by Flolei on Dec 29, 2012 8:28:08 GMT
Gaohu is like a high pitched erhu, isn't it?
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Xun
Dec 29, 2012 10:30:37 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Dec 29, 2012 10:30:37 GMT
Yes, I wanted a cheap one, preferably in ebony. My sandalwood LLS is not as forgiving as my ebony MRX.
My guess is if a gauhu is not played very well it can sound dreadful.
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Xun
Dec 29, 2012 21:06:07 GMT
Post by davidmdahl on Dec 29, 2012 21:06:07 GMT
A gaohu is typically tuned to G/D, which makes it a fourth above the erhu, and an octave above a zhonghu. I think that any two string fiddle can sound bad if not well played, but the gaohu can be a deadly weapon in the wrong hands. Especially new, a cheap gaohu can sound loud and harsh at first. Over time, it can mellow out a bit.
I have a lot of fun playing my MRX gaohu, but I usually wait until my wife and daughter are shopping. <g>
Best wishes,
David
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Xun
Dec 29, 2012 23:35:43 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Dec 29, 2012 23:35:43 GMT
As I understand it a huqin made from ebony will sound more mellow than rosewood. My thoughts are that an ebony gaohu would offset the natural sharpness.
I loved the tone of the MRX gaohu on Eason's website, very pure and violin-like and definately better than Eason's budget one. But the budget one sounded ok to me and is more affordable.
Even the budget one is beyond my grasp at the moment. I suppose it's a big ask to get a gaohu for the price of an intermediate dizi. I wouldn't dare ask my teacher to bring back two huqins.
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Xun
Jan 25, 2013 2:00:02 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Jan 25, 2013 2:00:02 GMT
David,
I know this has digressed from the xun but what strings do you use for your gaohu? SW thinks Fang Fang gaohu strings sound better. I dueted with my teacher and was playing his gaohu and I'm glad my one is on the way, (me hopes)
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Xun
Jan 25, 2013 2:10:53 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Jan 25, 2013 2:10:53 GMT
Back to the Xun Greentea, I highly recommend getting a xun. I have a 8 hole F and G. (the vendor sent me a 8 hole instead of a 10 hole ) The embouchure is tricky even for a dizi player, but it's simple enough and also challenging enough to be self taught. A tutorial book with scores is a must.
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Xun
Jan 25, 2013 2:50:57 GMT
Post by davidmdahl on Jan 25, 2013 2:50:57 GMT
I have not yet had to replace my gaohu strings, and am not inclined to do so unless one breaks. Based on my recent experience though, I would probably go with steel strings, maybe even Dunhuang.
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Xun
Jan 29, 2013 0:19:02 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Jan 29, 2013 0:19:02 GMT
Just an observation: why are the only decent xuns, with the exception of Eason, all in G or F.
I personally find the slightly larger F easier to hold. I'd be glad for any links. Also I'm going through the tutorial book at a rate of one tune per week but as yet not had the need to get a 10 hole xun. So is a 10 hole necessary?
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Xun
Jan 29, 2013 8:22:35 GMT
Post by Flolei on Jan 29, 2013 8:22:35 GMT
No, in much cases 9 holes is enough, but 10 holes must be easier as you can play the high 3 is not the highest note of the instrument. But anyway I won't get a 10 holes xun. I'd rather find a very good 9 holes one as the fingering is clother to fingering of the majority of other flutes.
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Xun
Jan 29, 2013 10:03:23 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Jan 29, 2013 10:03:23 GMT
In the tutorial book that came with the xun, the highest note is .2 The highest a 8 hole will go is .1
I knew I needed I needed something better than a 8 hole!
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Xun
Jan 29, 2013 12:06:58 GMT
Post by Flolei on Jan 29, 2013 12:06:58 GMT
Are you sure? I always thought that 2 is when all holes are covered (on a 8 holes xun). In this case, the lowest should be low 6 and the highest high 2. What is the distance between one hand covered + one finger and one hand covered? 1 tone or half a tone? I cannot verify because I have no 8 holes xun.
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Xun
Jan 29, 2013 12:22:15 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Jan 29, 2013 12:22:15 GMT
I don't quite understand these fingering charts: there is a tiny box with two numbers. The top number seem to work for me. On a 8 hole, with all notes covered, it's a 5, with absolutely no notes covered it's .1
You've lost me on the above. I didn't stick strictly with the given fingering chart, if I did one note would sound high. It would seem logical to me that with 8 holes, there must be a lot of permuatations of playing the same note.
btw. I think Autumn mediation would sound great on a F xun....and easier to play too.
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Xun
Jan 29, 2013 13:10:18 GMT
Post by Flolei on Jan 29, 2013 13:10:18 GMT
Sorry, but I really don't understand what you do. Unlike dizi and xiao, xun is not called "G" or "F" because the left hand covers 3 holes. When I cover only 3 holes of the left hand I get C (actually C#). Therefore I consider that C(#) is 5. With special blowing I get low 5 with all holes covered and very "inner" way of blowing. I reach 3 or 4 up, as shown in this fingering chart. Please, help me to understand what you do. Anyway, autumn meditation is really not very appropriate for xun. Or you should play a simpler version. The score go from low 6 to high 6, it means 2 octaves. You cannot play this even with a 10 holes xun. Maybe only the main melody, which is a very ancient pipa piece, but not the score I posted. Hope to continue with this topic about xun. I like this instrument and the xun players seems to be rare on this forum. Have a nice day, Flo. Attachments:
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Xun
Feb 19, 2013 12:00:09 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Feb 19, 2013 12:00:09 GMT
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Xun
Feb 19, 2013 12:14:07 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Feb 19, 2013 12:14:07 GMT
Playing around with it briefly I managed to get 12 notes. Is that standard for a 10 hole xun or are there more?
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Xun
Feb 19, 2013 14:56:37 GMT
Post by Flolei on Feb 19, 2013 14:56:37 GMT
2 lowest with inner blowing + 10 with 10 fingers?
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Xun
Feb 19, 2013 15:06:15 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Feb 19, 2013 15:06:15 GMT
hmm...I think so
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Xun
Feb 20, 2013 10:09:41 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Feb 20, 2013 10:09:41 GMT
I have a hulusi book with scores and backing tracks. It appears this guy on youtube has the same but for the xun: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhv5IlUK1OII don't know when you- know-who is next going back to China/HK. Where can I get such books over the internet. Soegeo doesn't stock them.
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Xun
Feb 20, 2013 14:41:33 GMT
Post by Blue on Feb 20, 2013 14:41:33 GMT
Actually, I played that song in front of you using a Bb dizi. You suddenly wanted to record it, making me very nervous.
I could visit you again during Easter and the Qingming Festival and play that song either using a Queen's Tears Dizi pitched in C (which I truly love) or a Taiwanese Dongxiao pitched in G or a Taiwanese polycarbonate Dongxiao pitched in G. And I could stay long enough so that I wouldn't fall asleep again. But I'm not sure I have the stamina to try to purchase books for you as I spent two days wondering various places in Taiwan to help find books you wanted and that totally worn me out.
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Xun
Feb 20, 2013 23:49:09 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Feb 20, 2013 23:49:09 GMT
Thanks Allen for traipsing around Taipei shopping for me. I wish you didn't mention Queen's Tears dizi in C. Although I like my wooden C dizi I'm begining to think bamboo resonates better As in the way of books I'll just have to wait till the next time my teacher goes back to China. My shopping list is getting longer and longer. Can you upload the above tune please.
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Xun
Feb 26, 2013 11:25:13 GMT
Post by edcat7 on Feb 26, 2013 11:25:13 GMT
I have a hulusi book with scores and backing tracks. It appears this guy on youtube has the same but for the xun: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhv5IlUK1OII don't know when you- know-who is next going back to China/HK. Where can I get such books over the internet. Soegeo doesn't stock them. I've emailed hongyueqi on eBay and he said he'll try to find some. I've enquired about similar books for dizi and erhu as well.
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Xun
Mar 20, 2013 0:10:36 GMT
Post by armillary on Mar 20, 2013 0:10:36 GMT
I've recently started to make a simple type of Xun, mainly four holes in similar proportion to pendent ocarinas. I'm trying to improve at making them, I've seen a video of an experienced craftsman making them on a wheel and I've attempted a few this way but the walls are thick and the fipple is tough to carve out. I'll post some pictures and sound clips if anyone's interested.
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