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Post by kennethm on Apr 4, 2015 9:46:01 GMT
Hi!  I have decided to treat myself with a Xiao flute, as I really love their deep, soothing sound. I have no experience with Xiao, Dizi or anything similar - I mainly play the ocarina. I am however confident in learning to play it and that it's a Xiao that I want. However I have some questions that I hope someone experienced could answer. 1. I see you can get the flutes in either one or several sections. What is considered to be the best choice here? I want the highest flute quality possible without compromising the quality of the sound. Also, what benefits does a multi-section flute have compared to single section? 2. What key would be best to get? I would like to be able to play music like this and this - what key is being played in these videos? And is it a Dong Xiao or Qin Xiao? 3. Would 6 or 8 holes be required to play the above music examples? 4. Is there any commonly known good makers? I don't want to buy from Ebay but from a proper maker. I am very interested in this one by Dong Xue Hua: LINK. Any recommendations here? That was it for now, would appreciate any help with this! |
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Post by Flolei on Apr 4, 2015 11:29:54 GMT
Hello, welcome to the forum.
The xiao on these recordings are not qin xiao. Qin xiaos are very rare. They are particulary thin in order to be less loud and be more suitable to be played with a cithar guqin.
The xiao by Dong Xue Hua should be a good choice. It is better to choose a 8 holes one, as it is more confortable and you can play more notes without half-covered holes.
Some people say that one section is better, but I would choose a two sections one. It is tunable, which is not bad if you want once play with a play-along recording or with another musician. Chen Yue's xiao is a 2 parts one and the DXH is also 2 parts one (actually Chen Yue's is maybe a DXH xiao).
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Post by kennethm on Apr 4, 2015 13:52:58 GMT
Thank you Flolei. I have looked at both northern and southern Xiao, i see the southern is more expensive and should also be harder to learn. I am more interested in northern, though. How do you see how many holes and sections the flute i linked to have? Do multiple sections have any effect on the sound quality? |
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Post by Flolei on Apr 4, 2015 14:45:16 GMT
I don't know if it really affects. Some people say so. I noticed that my 2 sections xiao is better than the 3 sections one, but it is also thicker and very differently build.
I know it because I know this model. Anyway, you can contact Eason before buying and verify that it is so.
Southern xiao is not more difficult to learn. The sound is very different, it is the main point. I also prefer Northern xiao, but many people like the Southern one better (it is a little louder and mellower).
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Post by kennethm on Apr 4, 2015 14:56:06 GMT
Alright, i will try and contact Eason about it. regarding the sound, I'm going for the deep, zen like sound like that in the videos i linked to. |
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Post by Flolei on Apr 4, 2015 15:31:03 GMT
I wouldn't describe this sound as deep and zen. You have to consider that Chen Yue's sound is really amplified and modified with artifial echo. Have a look to this channel and you will see very well the difference between northern and southern xiaos. www.youtube.com/channel/UC1xwvm3-myaEGPCiEp8lhVAThis oher channel is also interesting: www.youtube.com/user/d03246666Just to be sure that you will choose the instrument which will really correspond to your taste. |
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Post by kennethm on Apr 5, 2015 16:15:20 GMT
Do you have a link to a xiao with a really deep, vibrating sound? |
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Post by Flolei on Apr 5, 2015 18:49:03 GMT
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Post by kennethm on Apr 5, 2015 19:51:13 GMT
Thanks, I really enjoy that sound. Does the xiao i linked in my first post sound similar to that from your link? Or is this a southern style xiao (bottom part of the bamboo)? I do not understand the chinese letters.
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Post by Flolei on Apr 5, 2015 20:13:31 GMT
To je Southern style. Here the same player is playing a Northern style which should sound close to the one sold by Eason www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8mz3oejTBEDifficult to say which style is better for you. Listen to many recordings without reverb to make your opinion. I play both of them and I can say that the feeling and sound and quite different. |
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Post by billdsmall on Apr 6, 2015 10:53:10 GMT
Not meaning to cause trouble, but if you're looking for a "deep", "zen-like", "vibrating" sound...are you sure it's a xiao you want and not a shakuhachi ?!
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Post by Flolei on Apr 6, 2015 10:56:55 GMT
Yes, billdsmall, it is exactly what I ask myself. Thanks to have expressed it so clearly!
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Post by billdsmall on Apr 6, 2015 11:18:21 GMT
(Flolei, you're welcome!)
kennethm - I think you're still better off with a xiao, a G-xiao to be specific. One can certainly learn to produce deep, zen-like, vibrating sounds on a xiao as well as a shakuhachi. Also, good luck covering Chen Yue on a shakuhachi!
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Post by kennethm on Apr 6, 2015 11:40:25 GMT
Not meaning to cause trouble, but if you're looking for a "deep", "zen-like", "vibrating" sound...are you sure it's a xiao you want and not a shakuhachi ?! No worries, I am more than happy to get all the feedback and information I can. I might have explained myself too unclear - I mainly want a xiao that can sound like the videos in my first post. Doing further research, I found out Chen Yue plays a northern, 8 hole xiao in F in some of her videos I enjoy, so I will be getting the xiao from Eason. |
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Post by Flolei on Apr 6, 2015 11:53:10 GMT
Yes, that's it. Just not be disappointed to discover that natural sound of Xiao (without microphone and reverb) is not very loud and deep. That's all. I like Northern xiao very much and play it almost every day, but I play also other instruments: the dizi (loud instrument also without microphone), the Southern xiao, the xun (quiet without microphone and reverb, as the xiao) and the Japanese shakuhachi (loud, deep and vibrating, but difficult to manage and to play in tune). Each instrument has its qualities and defaults. As you are an ocarina player, I guess that xiao will be loud and expressive enough anyway. Enjoy and, please, let us know about your further experience!
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Post by kennethm on Apr 6, 2015 11:58:51 GMT
Yes, that's it. Just not be disappointed to discover that natural sound of Xiao (without microphone and reverb) is not very loud and deep. That's all. I like Northern xiao very much and play it almost every day, but I play also other instruments: the dizi (loud instrument also without microphone), the Southern xiao, the xun (quiet without microphone and reverb, as the xiao) and the Japanese shakuhachi (loud, deep and vibrating, but difficult to manage and to play in tune). Each instrument has its qualities and defaults. As you are an ocarina player, I guess that xiao will be loud and expressive enough anyway. Enjoy and, please, let us know about your further experience! I am sure I won't be disappointed, I always do a lot of research before committing to an instrument. Thank you very much for your guidance, I have also visited your Youtube channel and you play very beautifully, so I'm sure you know what you are talking about. |
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Post by davidmdahl on Apr 6, 2015 15:51:20 GMT
kennethm, if you are interested in a contemplative style of Xiao, you might check out the music and instruments of Winson Liao. He has a website at donsiau.net/winson/eng.htm and is active on Youtube and Facebook. On Facebook, search for Winson DongXiao. His instruments are expensive, considering the usual cost of mass market dizi and xiao, but from my understanding they are in a different category of quality. If I were more of a xiao player, I would definitely be a serious customer. Best wishes, David |
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Post by kennethm on Apr 6, 2015 17:01:17 GMT
kennethm, if you are interested in a contemplative style of Xiao, you might check out the music and instruments of Winson Liao. He has a website at donsiau.net/winson/eng.htm and is active on Youtube and Facebook. On Facebook, search for Winson DongXiao. His instruments are expensive, considering the usual cost of mass market dizi and xiao, but from my understanding they are in a different category of quality. If I were more of a xiao player, I would definitely be a serious customer. Best wishes, David Very interesting, didn't know he made his own instruments. Does he only sell through facebook? Cant seem to find anything about purchasing on his website. |
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Post by Flolei on Apr 6, 2015 18:32:03 GMT
Thanks for kind compliment. I really have very much fun in making this channel. At the beginning it was even the only way I had - besides this forum - to share my love with other and the best motivation to work pieces until the end. Now, I have the opportunity to perform 3-5 times each year, so I pay more attention to performances than to develop the channel. Anyway, I try to put on it all the favourite pieces I play. I really hope you will enjoy in playing the xiao. Yes, Winson Liao sells his own instruments. If you are on FB, contact him directly in English. He is very kind, responsive and communicative. One of my dreams is to have once the opportunity to go to Taiwan, try more of his instruments and buy the one I will fall in love with!  |
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Post by davidmdahl on Apr 6, 2015 18:44:27 GMT
Very interesting, didn't know he made his own instruments. Does he only sell through facebook? Cant seem to find anything about purchasing on his website. Winson does not sell directly off the Internet. You can contact him by email and go from there. He seems to communicate well in English. I expect that he builds to order, so you can get exactly what you want, with a xiao that fits your hands and style. Best wishes, David |
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Post by Flolei on Apr 9, 2015 10:07:06 GMT
Billdsmall, I found this cover. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eCADWyhjgMActually I tried with my 1.8 shakuhachi and noticed that this piece is really purely pentatonic and easy to play with shakuhachi without any halfcovered holes. I didn't notice that before I tried! |
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I have decided to treat myself with a Xiao flute, as I really love their deep, soothing sound. I have no experience with Xiao, Dizi or anything similar - I mainly play the ocarina. I am however confident in learning to play it and that it's a Xiao that I want. However I have some questions that I hope someone experienced could answer.
