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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 16, 2007 20:04:49 GMT
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Post by gtbehary on Jun 8, 2007 11:58:19 GMT
At first, my wife bought 3 music Cds at the Chinese culture store. they happen to be all erhu music. I bought 2 music cds by 12 girls band. Then came my own erhu...now I am waiting for two erhu instructional vcd's....I have no money now.
george
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Lisa
Intermediate
Erhu
Posts: 33
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Post by Lisa on Jun 11, 2007 23:14:07 GMT
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Post by ziman on Nov 20, 2012 1:50:43 GMT
Purchased a qinxiao from CCN.
That's because I will be doing many more guqin and xiao duets in the coming year with a friend who plays guqin. I really love that!
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Post by edcat7 on Nov 20, 2012 15:36:45 GMT
There's a very reasonably priced ebony D key hulusi on ebay. The drone holes are upside down, but a little bit of drilling would sort that out. If I had the funds I might be tempted to get it.
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Post by Blue on Nov 20, 2012 17:30:55 GMT
愛德華貓先生, 我的老天爺阿: 您家已經是一座大中國樂器的廠庫. 說不定也是一座尤克里裡廠庫.
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Post by Blue on Nov 20, 2012 23:15:57 GMT
Translation since this is an English language forum after all:
Edcat, my goodness: your home is a Chinese musical instrument warehouse and perhaps is also a ukulele warehouse.
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Post by edcat7 on Nov 21, 2012 0:42:42 GMT
Yes  I need something to do during my retirement |
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Post by Blue on Nov 21, 2012 14:42:17 GMT
Dear Ziman, What's CCN? On the left is a queen's tears qinxiao that I acquired last June. The blowing hole is completely uncovered per my request, but at that time I was ignorant about the differences in notch construction between xiaos made in the PRC and Taiwan. There's two double-layered joints constructed also per my request as this would allow me to bring that xiao in my travels. Finally, I requested that only the inner tubing of the flutes would be lacquered and that the outside definitely should not be lacquered. It's very interesting when attending a Ukulele class to hear that it's best not to have the Ukulele painted with solid colors and that a simple wood stain finish would do. Sounds like generally there's a frowning of using too much lacquer or heavy paint regardless of the type of musical instrument one has. The right monster is a queen's tears Base A pitched dizi.  "] |
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 21, 2012 18:09:25 GMT
Hello Allen,
CCN is Chinese Culture Network, also known as beijingers.com. I have not dealt with CCN recently, preferring other vendors.
Paint and over-done decoration is usually a bad sign. For example, poor quality wood can be covered up with paint. Good quality wood would not be covered up. A beautiful grain does not need decoration to be appealing. For an instrument that resonates, like a ukulele, paint or heavy lacquer may harm the sound. For a flute (dizi), I prefer natural wood or bamboo.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by ziman on Nov 22, 2012 8:46:29 GMT
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Post by Blue on Nov 22, 2012 16:34:45 GMT
Embed your http image link within these two tags: [/img][/quote] If you link starts with https:// then remove the "s" to get http:// Otherwise, the image will not appear. You can also see what other tags and smiles  you can use when you select normal reply instead of quick reply. Normal reply is found at the bottom right area of the last message composed on the forum. It is located right next to "share" and "print." BTW is the blowing hole section of your xiao partially covered or completely uncovered. I usually prefer uncovered ones. |
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Post by Blue on Nov 23, 2012 14:29:34 GMT
Hm . . . . . . this board has issues rendering the images from dropbox. This doesn't happen when using flickr or picassa.
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Post by ziman on Nov 23, 2012 17:24:49 GMT
Indeed. I changed the links to http:// but the images didn't show up either.
Could you see the images when you clicked the links though?
Just got word from CCN that my qinxiao has finally shipped. At last!
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Post by Blue on Nov 24, 2012 1:01:41 GMT
Yes, I was able to see the pictures by clicking on the links, but is the blowing hole section of your xiao partially covered or completely uncovered? Wasn't too clear from the pictures. I usually prefer uncovered ones. Do you have a link to the qinxiao that you ordered on CCN? |
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Post by ziman on Nov 27, 2012 1:42:04 GMT
Ah, forget it. They sent me a flute which was not only run-of-the-mill, but was actually moldy. Caveat emptor.
(Does anyone know a reputable source for qinxiao? I know of Sung Wah at Eason and Henry Wang at Datungarts, but both Eason and Datungarts seem to stock only regular xiao, not qinxiao.)
A happier recent purchase: a handheld audio recorder. Very handy for recording myself during practice, so I can evaluate my progress and identify areas I need to improve on (intonation, etc.). Also useful for recording my guqin-playing friend so I can continue practicing our duets when she's not around.
(Better sound quality than either computer or cellphone recording too.)
In answer to your question, Allen, the blowing hole of my workhorse xiao (the DXH) is partially covered. I have not seen completely-uncovered blowing holes in person before; they are quite uncommon back home in Malaysia. Or rather, I should say, the xiao is an extremely rare sight in Malaysia. I blame it partly on the fact that Chinese orchestras here always employ lots of dizis, but never xiao. This is especially the case with Malaysian Chinese schools-- exposure to dizi is very common through school orchestras, but you never see any xiao (or bawu for that matter.)
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 27, 2012 3:15:00 GMT
I am sorry your qinxiao purchase did not work out. So, what is the difference between a qinxiao and a xiao, I thought that a qinxiao was simply a xiao in F.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by ziman on Nov 27, 2012 4:07:44 GMT
Hi David, The main difference between a normal xiao and a qinxiao is not the key (although you are right, most are in F), but the design of the bore. A qinxiao has a narrower and often longer bore than a normal xiao, resulting in a quieter instrument well suited to duet with the also very quiet guqin. A good qinxiao should enable the full range of dynamics (resonance, manipulation of tone color, etc.) to be played as with a normal xiao, except that it is quieter. What I've been doing so far is playing guqin-xiao duets with a normal xiao. There are two main issues with this arrangement: 1. Normal xiao are significantly louder than guqin (for instance, my workhorse DXH xiao can totally swamp the guqin if played at full volume). Therefore, closing down the embouchure to allow less air through is necessary for volume reduction. However, this demands extremely precise embouchure control and constant self-monitoring to make sure one isn't unwittingly relaxing into the music and letting the volume rise back to normal levels. 2. The embouchure restrictions as mentioned above also seem to hamper the expression of dynamics. For example, I find that it is more difficult to achieve resonance when playing at a low volume in that manner. Additionally, playing a normal xiao at reduced volume seems to result in a tone that is more hollow and less penetrating. The majority of qinxiao are indeed in F. However, I also know of some that are in E. It all comes down to a matter of musical taste, i.e. whether one prefers a lighter or darker tone color. The E is lower-pitched than the F and thus tends to have a darker sound. It also requires stronger lungs... which may be a deal-breaker for some.  The key of the xiao is thus not always a defining characteristic of qinxiao. As for the guqin, it doesn't quite care what key the xiao is-- the usual practice is simply to tune the lowest string of the guqin to the lowest note of the xiao. Guqin tuning is done by adjusting the pitch of the strings relative to each other (i.e. relative pitch rather than fixed pitch), so in principle the guqin can adapt to whatever key of xiao you have with you. G key xiao are inconvenient for guqin players to duet with, however, because if the lowest string is racked up to D4 (the lowest note of the G key xiao), the string tension in the highest-pitched string is quite high, thus risking string breakage and/or tuning peg slippage midway through playing. |
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 27, 2012 7:49:21 GMT
Thanks for the very clear explanation of the qinxiao, ziman. The dizi player in my teacher's ensemble has a particularly long xiao, but I think that he picked it up in China during a trip there. I will check with him to see if he has any contact information on the vendor. Can you communicate in Chinese?
You might ask Sung Wah directly if he can supply a qinxiao. I don't think that everything in stock is necessarily on his web site.
Good luck.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by Blue on Nov 27, 2012 12:49:02 GMT
If you could fork out US$600, you could purchase one of the lovely qinxiaos that Flolei and I have been spotting on dongsiau's facebook page! During my in person visit to Dongsiau, he told me that one wealthy doctor in the US actually sent someone as a courier to pickup a custom made dongsiau. How I wish I could have won the lottery and acquired sufficient funds to purchase flutes from Dongsiau. If you fork out US$130, you could purchase a pretty good xiao from perhaps the second-most well known xiao maker in Taiwan blog.chinatimes.com/wonder/archive/2011/05/25/693601.html |
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Post by edcat7 on Nov 27, 2012 16:00:29 GMT
Since Eason deals in English most of us on this forum consider Dong Xue Hua to make the best dizis. Also I haven't had the luxury to compare like with like dizs. Does DXH makes the best dizis for the money?
Also DXH dizis seem to be made from bitter bamboo, I would love to compare high end dizi made other types of bamboo/wood.
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Post by ziman on Nov 28, 2012 17:49:42 GMT
Hi David and Allent, thanks for your kind suggestions. David, I do indeed speak Chinese. And I am planning to ask Sung Wah if he knows of a qinxiao source-- if he does, that'll be my most convenient option, since I will be back my hometown (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) for about three months starting at the very end of December. I'm also writing to Wensong (Donsiau) to ask if there is in fact a way (further refinement of embouchure etc.) I can do everything a qinxiao can do, but with a normal xiao. In my experience this has not been the case, but my experience is a mere drop in the bucket compared to him. If it turns out that it can be done, then I would instead go for another normal DXH xiao like my current one, but in F. After all, a flute can't always be brought along, but a skill will always be with me. If I can achieve something through practice rather than through some external tool, I'd prefer to go that route first. Allent, my dream is to one day have the funds and free time to fly to Taiwan, visit Donsiau, study with him for a time, and get at least one of his flutes As things stand, I don't have $600 of spare cash, although $130+ is certainly workable. How do you find that guy 黃朝慶's flutes? His website doesn't list qinxiao either, although I could ask him if he has any/ if he can make me one. Hope he ships overseas though. Edcat, I have not played Dong Xue Hua's dizis before, but my currently most-used xiao was made by him. I will say that it is very good, albeit not as great as the famed instruments of Donsiau. Like you, though, I haven't had the luxury of comparing it with other similarly-priced flutes, such as those made by Huang Weidong, which are also said to be very good. |
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 28, 2012 18:13:11 GMT
I enjoy the discussions regarding the xiao that appear from time to time. One of the first Chinese tunes that got under my skin was Ping Hu Qiu Yue (Autumn Moon over Tranquil Lake) as performed on xiao. I transcribed that tune from the recording and learned to play it on my Irish flute. Now I mostly play it on erhu or gaohu.
I much prefer the sound of the xiao over the dizi for certain tunes. Early on I did get a xiao, but it soon cracked right through the embouchure at the end. Even after gluing it, I find it hard to get a good consistent tone. I think that whatever sweet spot is left after the crack is now pretty narrow. On top of that, the finger stretch is a bit of a challenge. Sometimes I get close to ordering a DXH xiao from Eason, but other expenses keep getting in the way. I am very intrigued with what I hear about the Wensong flutes, but I would only go that route if I got really serious about playing the xiao. At this point, if I got a xiao, it would be simply to tootle around on. It has to be good and comfortable enough to make me want to play it. Is that DXH, or should I consider another maker?
Thanks.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by ziman on Nov 30, 2012 20:37:21 GMT
Hi David, That's too bad about the cracked flute. About the finger stretch, I find 8-hole xiaos more comfortable than the older 6-hole types, because the lowest finger hole is always equally far down regardless of whether the xiao is a 6 or 8 hole, but the 8 hole xiaos have the lowest hole offset, making it easier to reach with the pinky. All 6 hole xiaos I've seen have all the front finger holes in a straight line, making for an uncomfortable stretch. In fact, standard technique for 6-hole xiaos is to use a piper's grip, much like with the Irish low whistle. I've recently switched to using the piper's grip for the right (lower) hand even on my 8 hole xiao, as it's more comfortable. Wensong has commented that although it is possible to use one's finger pads to cover all the holes on an 8-hole xiao, the resulting wrist angle on the right hand causes more tension compared to the piper's grip, and that tension will make one's right hand fingers less relaxed and less able to move swiftly and smoothly. It is also not very ergonomic for long playing sessions. Of DXH's xiao, I will say that they are both very forgiving and very demanding. What I mean by that is, they are some of the easiest and most comfortable flutes to make a sound on, but a high level of skill is needed to bring out their best. In other words, the learning curve is not very steep, but it is a long road to perfection. Even in a beginner's hands they will sound better than most other xiao, but even though the sound keeps on getting better, there seems to be no end to the improvements until one reaches a high level of skill. (I don't think I'm anywhere near that pinnacle yet...) So, if you want a flute that is comfortable to tootle around on, DXH is a good choice, but tootle around with it more often and the flute will reward you with nicer and nicer sounds. A note of caution though: from what I've read while trawling about in Chinese xiao forums, it seems that there is a very large number of DXH fakes in Mainland China. Thus, even if you have contacts in China, it might be safer to order from Eason if you want one. If you actually get to visit DXH's shop in Beijing, that would be even nicer. Cheers, Ziman. |
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Post by davidmdahl on Nov 30, 2012 21:24:14 GMT
Thanks, Zeeman. Coincidentally to our discussion, the dizi/xiao player in my erhu teacher's group called me yesterday. He is going to China for a few weeks in January, and offered to find me a xiao. Even though the DXH xiao from Eason is a good choice, I am interested to see what my friend is going to bring back. I like the fact that he will be able to play-test a variety of xiao and choose what he likes the best. He might not make the same choice I would, but at least he does play the xiao, and I will not have to be content with the next one off the pile.
I played around with my cracked xiao last night. At times I could get a good tone, but as you say, it was murder on my right wrist. I think that piper position is the way to go. Unfortunately, I have a lot of trouble sealing the holes. My fingers are a little skinnier since I lost over 20 lbs this fall, so maybe that is a factor. <g>
I understand that xiao flutes can come in various thicknesses. As you noted, the qinxiao are long and skinny. Some of the root end xiao are quite fat. What do you find most comfortable on the hands, skinny or fat. My friend reports that the fat xiao are louder. It would be great to have good volume, tone, and comfort at the same time. Is that realistic?
Best wishes,
David
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I need something to do during my retirement
The key of the xiao is thus not always a defining characteristic of qinxiao.