I saw an interesting thing on the way to work today

[garnigal]

I was walking the PATH from the bus station to work and in the little area between Eatons and the Bay there was a busker. Not unusual. What was unusual was the fact that he was playing a two-string. I wouldn't have had a clue what the instrument was except that D's parents have both taken it up. D's Dad played (or, tried to play) happy birthday for D and Herb in November on it.

For a picture, check out: http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/culturecapsules2002/changweb/images/images/erhu.JPG

Comments

[sandraregina.livejournal.com]

Hey, nifty. I've seen that instrument before but I don't know where. Not in T.O., though. I don't know the name of it either, I'm afraid.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

In Chinese (I don't know if it's Mandarin, Cantonese or another dialect - probably Mandarin) it's called Erhu, but D's family alwasy calls it a two string.

As you can see, the bow is attached between the two strings. Sound is created by drawing the bow across the strings, just as in a violin. Different pitches are created by pressing the strings down in various spots, just like in a violin or guitar.

Unlike a violin, it sounds like a cat being killed.

[garnigal.livejournal.com]

In Chinese (probably Mandarin) it's called an Erhu. D's family just calls it a two-string.

As you can see, the bow is attached between the two strings (ie, unremovable). Sound is created by drawing the bow across the strings, just like a violin. Different pitches are produced by holding the strings down in specific areas, just like a violin or guitar.

Unlike a violin, it sounds like a cat being killed.

[sandraregina.livejournal.com]

Although I'm sure that cats being killed is a good sound in Chinese (possibly Mandarin) ;)

Actually, violins often sound cat-death-like to me unless they're played very, very well. I think its the strings.