Wich tune should I choose?

[Josec]

Hi All,

It´s my first post on this Forum. I´m a new age musician from Brazil and I´m glad to find this community, I´ve already learned a lot of dizis here.

A couple years ago I bought a dizi (black model, C/F tuned) from Lark in The Morning, but I always have trouble to reach the second octave from it. So I´m planning to buy a dizi from Cadenza, but I´m in doubt about what tune should I get first, ´cause I´m thinking to have more in the future. Could you help me please?

Second question about the dizi I have now: does anyone play with it? The second octave it´s a flute problem or a musician problem here?

Many thanks,

[davidmdahl]

Welcome to our forum, Josec! I look forward to your posts.

It is quite likely that your dizi problems are due to a poorly cut embouchure. This is quite common. It is not impossible to get a good dizi from Larkinam but I would not want to order blindly and rely on luck. Based on personal experience, Cadenza is a much more reliable source. I have a xiao and a D dizi from Cadenza that are wonderful.

Regarding the key to get, this is a matter for personal preference and the needs of the music you want to play. A F dizi is in the piccolo range, and is a popular key. The dizi player in my teacher's group frequently uses a yet higher-pitched G dizi. I prefer a lower-pitched flute, such as D (or A with all six holes covered) or C (G with six holes covered). The low A or G dizi have a wonderful sound, but require pretty big hands to cover the stretch.

I have noticed that the dimo membrane can mess up higher octaves if it is not adjusted properly. If you cannot play in all appropriate octaves with the dimo hole covered with tape, then there is probably a fault in the dizi. You might check to see that there is not a leak somewhere such as in the head cork or tuning joint. I have never had to mess with the cork, or whatever it is on a dizi, but that is a possibility.

Lark is not the most reliable of sources for a good dizi, so I suggest ordering from Cadenza. I think that anything you get from Cadenza will be high quality. I have not ordered a dizi from Eason, but I would expect a good dizi from them as well as long as you stay away from the lowest price models. Their store brand dizi and the ones by Dong Xue Hua look good.

Best wishes,

David

[jetz320]

The one you're using, is a really cheap Dunhuang model. It is not really good. Cheap flutes will give you trouble while playing the music. Take Davids advice.

[song]

Welcome to the forum Josec.

Yes a good dizi will allow you to reach the second octave more easily. The technique does play a part also, but I'm more into Erhus, so perhaps Yinhao can teach you a trick or two.

Our house brand dizis are actually made by Ng Teck Seng. cgi.ebay.com/Unsurpassed-Quality-Professional-Dizi-in-C-D-F-G_W0QQitemZ230042701738QQihZ013QQcategoryZ308QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
He's a respectable dizi maker in Singapore. You can do a search on the forum and read more about him. Cadenza used to carry his dizis but now I do. I don't have his higher end ones listed but drop me a note if you're interested in them. Dong Xue Hua is a dizi maker in China and his dizis are a very good as well.

Thanks,
Sung Wah

[YouLanFengChune]

Hmm... Josec,

Lets meet on MSN. Maybe we could discuss a bit here. Dizi playing can be BOTH the dizi AND OR the musician. Having said that, we have performed on everything, including drilled carrots before, dizi fashion...

The crux to a good dizi is 2 things: 1 bamboo quality. SiO2 content, cellulose structure and water porosity and water content all plays a complex part in a dizi. However, to select dizi, we base on feel.

2. Cutting. The traditional ways of cutting is still prevalent. As far as cadenza is concerned, we are experimenting with many many cuts for various players. Currently 3 models:P Unjointed, Jointed , Jointed for beginners, these will expand into 6 or more models. I have people saying they need valves (sad to say, i dun like it) I play dizi with full chromatic tuning (8 holes) with double dimo holes, squarish blowholes, flattened holes, partially enclosed........

We threw away more bamboo than paper this year, to be precise

David is a lucky chap, as he always gets his first hand pick via my special hotline. Erm, just to tell Josec, if you want something like David's, the next shipment will arrive in 27 NOV. My last stock was a good sellout.


Many musicians but THE C/F dizi, thinking that is the best for them, pitch wise. I recommend having the D/A one, as it is ergernomically easier to play. It is also easier to play as its smaller and gentler on the breathe.

As you progress, get a bangdi, and play outwardly technically more challenging pieces. I'm working my butt off doing paganini's motto perpetuo, transcibed for dizi.
Its crazy. I need to accomplish Sarasate's carmen fantasy by Dec next year, on top of one other concerto. my tongue goes numb....

[Josec]

Thank you for all advices. After read and talk by MSN with YouLan I decided to do a "new begining", buying a better dizi before and studying harder after When I receive the new one I´ll post my new "first" impressions.

I´m glad to find this forum and see how can Music bring all of us in a big family.


Regards,

[Si]

do you import bamboo stems and sut thems to size and then cut the holes? sounds interesting....

[YouLanFengChune]

I have both bamboo imports into Singapore, as well as one of my makers in China cutting them for me.

It is very important to know that even though I am the attestor behind it, I have limited time and effort in making. Hence, a good maker and a good, performing attestor is the better formula.

David would be very happy if i said something: All Singaporean instruments, with the words, "¯F •¸œú h means "Made in Singapore , Bing Xu (60-year Cycle Chinese Calendar) Year" is what we use to makr our Instruments. they come with 5 year warranty!!!!