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Post by Blue on May 17, 2013 18:15:42 GMT
Resistance is futile . . . . . . . I'm gonna find myself traveling to south-central Taiwan and purchase a Tang-style xiao to my Imelda Marcos collection of xiaos. Somehow I bet no one here has ever played a tang-style xiao before . . . . . unless that person has played a shakuhachi before . . . . . .
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Post by Flolei on May 18, 2013 11:59:23 GMT
You didn't explain what you expect from a Tan-style xiao. Could you tell us what is your motivation?
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Post by yudingbon on May 18, 2013 14:38:58 GMT
I have played a Tang xiao before. Of course, I play shakuhachi. Its quite an interesting instrument.
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Post by davidmdahl on May 18, 2013 17:55:04 GMT
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Post by edcat7 on May 18, 2013 23:25:49 GMT
Wow, what a beautiful sound and played by a master. Luckily I don't have any plans to get one. |
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Post by Blue on May 19, 2013 0:57:50 GMT
Which would also explain my crush on anyone who really likes xiao or has given me a xiao flute such as the second flute pictured here. Beixiaos are too common and can easily be purchased at Carrotmusic and taobao. Nanyin Dongxiao or Nanxiaos are not as common, especially those whose blowing hole is completely opened. Tang xiao requires a lot of effort for a non-Chinese speaker to find (already difficult enough for a Chinese speaker to find). Additionally, the skill to play that is way more challenging than a typical xiao. So yes: I'm being elitist here! I know one place where I could purchase a tang xiao for about US$130 rather than five to six hundred dollars.  Second picture is xiao made by a Yue (aka Cantonese) craftsperson:  |
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Post by ziman on May 19, 2013 18:32:02 GMT
Allen, that second flute pictured-- you have one of those? Interesting-- a flute made by Guo Daqiang (郭大强), called by some the "king of nan xiao". How does it play? Do you like it?
I'm still saving up for a Donsiao commission. I will probably get a U-notch, though-- am reserving the Tang embouchure for later when I have consistent in-person access to a teacher that knows Tang xiao.
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Post by Blue on May 20, 2013 0:21:14 GMT
King of Nan Xiao? He needs to work on his accessibility to the public on the level of Donsiau! Most google search hits go to Donsiau's website. It's true that most of these instrument makers from mainland China don't have access to facebook since it is banned in the PRC, however. Anyway, the resonance of 郭大强's xiao is so strong that it is VERY forgiving to any error in embouchure. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it is made of wood rather than bamboo. (But a polycarbonate xiao that I have is even less forgiving in embouchure errors). So in terms of resonance, I do like it. The flute costs ~US$100 in Hong Kong compared to the US$600+ one may need to fork out for Donsiau's flutes. I would recommend 郭大强's xiao if you're trying to practice with a six finger xiao just to reduce the second guessing as to if your embouchure is at fault or if your attempts at a piper's grip is at fault. The only problem is that my 郭大强 wooden xiao somehow expanded and cracked! It looks like the xiao is made out of several wooden sections that are glued together. In contrast, it seems that Donsiau's wooden xiao is made out of one piece of wood based on one of his numerous youtube demonstration videos. The 郭大强 wooden xiao was given to me the first time I met a certain person who used to frequent this forum but has now disappeared. I kept on protesting when we were in the Chinese instrument shop in Hong Kong, so he said that he would buy it for himself then. But he kept shoving that xiao to me. We Chinese people are horribly insistent on giving gifts to others, and both the sender and the recipient bicker of course regardless if it is my parent's generation or my own generation. Having a father who constructed this monster may have helped 郭大强 with his skills:  |
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Post by ziman on May 20, 2013 6:40:08 GMT
Hahahaha! I had a good laugh when I saw that picture-- I've seen quite a few xiao makers do such monster flute experiments. Tam Po-Shek made an 8-foot xiao once, and Donsiau's tried it a few times too.
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Post by Blue on May 20, 2013 13:15:46 GMT
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Post by seven on May 21, 2013 3:03:39 GMT
I've got one. I found it on ebay listed for $500 and I got it for $380 shipped from Taiwan.
Compared to my DXH xiao's, I would say this root end shakuhachi xiao, is not as loud, much more difficult to play consistently, some days I can barely make a sound, especially in 2nd octave, and other days, wow.. its like the best sounding flute imaginable.
From a background in guitar and bass I can say its kind of like having a ''fretless'' flute. In other words you can bend each note by adjusting the angle of your blowing, same as in shakuhachi.
In fact the only real difference between this and a shakuhachi is that this has 7 holes, whereas japanese shakuhachi have 5 holes.
You can also adjust the ''tone'' of your sound, by controlling if all of your airstream hits the blowing edge, or if you allow some of it to miss and go down the tube, creating a very nice breathy tone, characteristic of shakuhachi.
This flute is incredible and I am so glad I found it on ebay, even spent almost $400 sight unseen, from some unknown maker in Taiwan, and no chance of returning the item if I didn't like it.
Turned out to be an incredible flute, plus has the tuning joint. I am in USA and I am planning to send it to a USA shakuhachi maker to have it bound, also to find the right case for it.
Good luck in your travels and shopping. I hope you find one of these flutes they are great.
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Post by seven on May 21, 2013 3:08:28 GMT
Oh by the way, I've NEVER played a shakuhachi before. hahaha
I was interested in it but I got this xiao instead
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Post by Flolei on May 21, 2013 16:12:37 GMT
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Post by Blue on May 21, 2013 16:25:21 GMT
戈建明 is a pretty reputable wood-based flute maker. The resonance of his wooden dizi is so strong that if there were people next to you performing with bamboo flutes, they would throw eggs at you in protest because you would basically cover up their tune! Wouldn't mind venturing with one of his wooden xiao one day, however.
Interesting that Donsiau calls this a "transverse xiao," which is true from a certain point of view:
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Post by Blue on May 21, 2013 16:29:57 GMT
But still, I would choose bamboo as much as possible rather than to risk further destruction of the rainforest. The bamboo used to make xiaos in Taiwan are generally denser and heavier than their cousins from China.
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Post by Flolei on May 21, 2013 16:54:45 GMT
Really? I have 3 dizis and one beixiao from 戈建明. The low G dizi is really loud, the low Bb sound beautifully and the C dizi is very clear and pure. I'm less satisfied with the wooden xiao, bamboo xiao sounds better.
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Post by edcat7 on May 21, 2013 21:10:13 GMT
戈建明 is a pretty reputable wood-based flute maker. The resonance of his wooden dizi is so strong that if there were people next to you performing with bamboo flutes, they would throw eggs at you in protest because you would basically cover up their tune! Wouldn't mind venturing with one of his wooden xiao one day, however. Interesting that Donsiau calls this a "transverse xiao," which is true from a certain point of view: What is this tune and can anyone post the jianpo for it (Allen?) |
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Post by billdsmall on May 21, 2013 22:25:35 GMT
Hi all, A very well-respected shakuhachi maker, Monty Levenson, makes a 7-hole shakuhachi that is probably similar to a Tang Xiao (give or take a hole!). His website is www.shakuhachi.com and he lives in Northern California. Believe it or not, he has developed a Precision Cast Bore method of making shakuhachi, so his flutes are very responsive and extremely well-pitched. His student flute prices are generally in the ballpark of Donsiao's Tang Xiaos, they're not inexpensive...unless you compare Monty's prices with shakuhachi made in Japan! If nothing else, check out Monty's website and read about his Precision Cast Bore method. |
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Post by davidmdahl on May 21, 2013 23:11:39 GMT
If he has what you want, I would recommend Monty Levenson as well. He repaired a crack in my xiao, and the results were great. I am more interested in getting a U embouchure nan xiao, otherwise I would put Monty at the top of my list.
I am very impressed with the sound that Donsiao gets, but I am not sure how much of that sound is due to the maker and how much to the player. I suspect that he could get a great sound out of just about anything. I am impressed that Donsiao can be contacted and is apparently amenable to work with the customer to get the right instrument. Now if he would take Paypal or credit card, it would be even better. <g>
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Post by ziman on May 21, 2013 23:23:21 GMT
Monty does good work-- earlier this year, our dear webmaster David sent a cracked xiao to Monty for repairs, with great results.
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Post by seven on May 22, 2013 3:23:37 GMT
Yes Shakuhachi.com is where I was thinking to send my tang xiao to get it bound. This flute is so great I just don't want to risk it ever cracking. The bamboo they use for this is I think the Taiwanese ''high mountain'' bamboo, it is rock solid, thick and very heavy. Plus its laquered all over the inside, it seems strong. I doubt if it would crack.. If or when I ever buy a shakuhachi, I would definitely buy one from there because of the cast bore method, and pretty reasonable price ranges. Attachments:
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Post by Blue on May 22, 2013 16:57:33 GMT
Looks like there is a ABS plastic 7-hole Shakuhachi flute. One of the holes is actually located at the black tenon. The plastic flute costs US$235. More information can be found at this link: www.shakuhachiyuu.com/7%20Hole%20Yuu.htmWhy can't makers of plastic xiaos/shakuhachi make the bottom-most hole adjustable just to help the 20% of the human population who are left handed? Plastic recorders have such option, for instance. (I'm right handed, but I've encountered sufficient number of left-handed people).   |
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Post by Blue on May 22, 2013 17:10:58 GMT
@edcat: I've wrote a comment on Dongsiau's youtube page asking him what's the name of the song. Let's see how he answers. But you have enough Chinese musician contacts in London who would more likely be able to identify the tune than I can. Show the youtube video to them.
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Post by Flolei on May 22, 2013 17:37:58 GMT
I really wonder how many left-handed people play the flute with the left hand under the right one... (I'm completely left-handed and I never needed to do that).
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Post by Blue on May 22, 2013 17:56:57 GMT
Well, they have left-handed (反手 "counter," "upside down") and right-handed (正手 "correct," "orthodox") xiaos on the market, which means that many people are not as ambidextrous as you are! Actually, one could almost emulate a 6-finger xiao from a 8-finger xiao by covering the second topmost and second bottom most holes with tape!
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