Post by annk on Nov 8, 2006 20:18:32 GMT
I am completely new to erhu, but was a professional musician for many years (played French horn in the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and freelanced in the Norwegian Opera and Oslo Philharmonic). In addition, I studied violin seriously for 12 years. I've just finished four semesters of Chinese at the University of Oslo, and when I was in Shanghai in August of this year, I decided to buy an erhu.
Having played violin for so many years, I'm somewhat acquainted with string instruments, but a few things about erhu puzzle me.
Those of you who also play a Western string instrument - can you tell me how much pressure and bow speed you use when bowing erhu, compared to our string instruments? And how much pressure do you use with your left hand when fingering?
I don't know the maker of my erhu off hand (it's in the case, and the characters on the instrument are written in an old form - I'll have to get my book with ancient character forms out to translate it :-) ), but I bought it in a reputable music store in Shanghai, and paid 2400 yuan, so I think it is a good instrument. I made it clear in the store that I was a musician and wanted to buy a good-quality instrument, and they seemed to take me seriously - I was speaking Chinese, and the "house erhu specialist" gave me a free lesson!. I'll post the maker's name later.
I've gotten the name of someone here who has studied erhu in China, so I'll hopefully be taking a few lessons soon. But I stumbled over this site, and decided to post, both to ask for your advice, and to introduce myself.
Having played violin for so many years, I'm somewhat acquainted with string instruments, but a few things about erhu puzzle me.
Those of you who also play a Western string instrument - can you tell me how much pressure and bow speed you use when bowing erhu, compared to our string instruments? And how much pressure do you use with your left hand when fingering?
I don't know the maker of my erhu off hand (it's in the case, and the characters on the instrument are written in an old form - I'll have to get my book with ancient character forms out to translate it :-) ), but I bought it in a reputable music store in Shanghai, and paid 2400 yuan, so I think it is a good instrument. I made it clear in the store that I was a musician and wanted to buy a good-quality instrument, and they seemed to take me seriously - I was speaking Chinese, and the "house erhu specialist" gave me a free lesson!. I'll post the maker's name later.
I've gotten the name of someone here who has studied erhu in China, so I'll hopefully be taking a few lessons soon. But I stumbled over this site, and decided to post, both to ask for your advice, and to introduce myself.
