difference between Zhuihu and leiqin

[lumry]

whats the differnce between the Zhuihu and leiqin?

[davidbadagnani]

According to this website, the short answer is that the leiqin is the modern version of the traditional instrument zhuihu. They're both like bowed sanxians, as you press (and slide) your fingers against the wood of the fingerboard. A little like the Japanese kokyu, too.

en.chinabroadcast.cn/1702/2005-5-3/[e-mail]

Maybe some of the experts on this board can read this article and see if it looks accurate.

There are some more links in these articles:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiqin
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhuihu

[lumry]

davidbadagnani said:

According to this website, the short answer is that the leiqin is the modern version of the traditional instrument zhuihu. They're both like bowed sanxians, as you press (and slide) your fingers against the wood of the fingerboard. A little like the Japanese kokyu, too.

en.chinabroadcast.cn/1702/2005-5-3/[e-mail]

Maybe some of the experts on this board can read this article and see if it looks accurate.

There are some more links in these articles:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiqin
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhuihu

does anyone know wheater it is harder to play than a erhu or not?

[davidmdahl]

lumry said:

does anyone know wheater it is harder to play than a erhu or not?

I have never heard or seen a leiqin, so the following is only a guess. I suspect that players of the leiqin are greatly outnumbered by players of the erhu. The leiqin is probably an appropriate instrument for a relatively limited body of traditional music, while the repertoire of the erhu is quite vast in comparison.

If the leiqin appeals to you particularly well, and the music that suits it calls to you, then go for it. However, you will find it a lot easier to find a teacher for the erhu, and the music for it is very engaging. Once you develop basic skills on the erhu, perhaps adjusting to the leiqin will not be difficult. It is quite possible that while learning the erhu, you may run into someone who is acquainted with the leiqin. Otherwise, if there is a living tradition for the leiqin, you may need to visit China to study it.

Best wishes,

David

[davidbadagnani]

Not having played one or seen one in person, I think playing the leiqin is more "athletic" than playing the erhu because many models have a neck as long as a sanxian, and you slide up and down quite a bit, meaning that your left hand is stretched out and gets quite a workout. It's also not as "subtle" an instrument as the erhu.

A Chinese friend clued me in to the fact that you can easily find MP3s at this site in a way that isn't possible in North America.

Here are some leiqin MP3s (click on the small headphones to listen to individual tracks).

music.yahoo.com.cn/search?pid=ysearch&p=%22%C0%D7%C7%D9%22&mimetype=all&source=ysearch_music_result_topsearch

Listening to these tracks, I think you'll quickly find out why the leiqin isn't universally liked or played throughout China (its slightly harsh, slidey tone may appeal more to northern listeners, almost as a lower equivalent in sound and playing style to the banhu).

The second track has a great imitation of farm animals (!)

I think CCTV shows performances of leiqin from time to time; a couple of years ago there was actually an entire hour program of virtuosic leiqin solos by several performers, with one of the Chinese traditional instrument orchestras.

[dawei]

BTW, if anyone wants an older zhuihu, I have one I can sell PM me.