Guan (instrument)

The "guan" (; pinyin: guǎn; literally "pipe" or "tube") where northern China version is called "guanzi" () or "bili" (traditional: ; simplified: ) and the Cantonese version is called "houguan" (). It is classified as a bamboo instrument in the Ba Yin (ancient Chinese instrument classification) system. The "guan" is a Chinese double reed wind instrument. Unlike instruments in the shawm family, such as the Western oboe or Chinese "suona", the "guan" has a cylindrical bore, giving it a clarinet-like tone.

History

The earliest use of the word "guan" can be trace back to Zhou Dynasty records, where it refers to end-blown bamboo flutes such as the "xiao" or "paixiao". The earliest double-reed instrument appears in the late Zhou dynasty and is referred as "hujia" (; literally "foreign reed pipe") because it had been introduced from the northwestern region of China. During that time, the "hujia" was used as the primarily military instrument for signaling, and is depicted in early Chinese poetry as raucous and barbaric.

The "guan" was developed after the "hujia" in the Tang Dynasty due to the flourishing music and art culture that were influenced by the silk road trade. Like the "hujia", it was probably adopted from Central Asian nomads, and became an important leading instrument in the court and ritual music. At the height of the Tang Dynasty, the "guan", alongside many other instruments was introduced to neighboring countries, where the "guan"'s descendants (called "piri" in Korea and "hichiriki" in Japan) are still used today.

However, in subsequent dynasties, the "guan" fell out of use in court music but became very popular in folk ensembles. It plays an important part in the wind-and-percussion ("chuida" or "guchui") ensembles that play on traditional festivals and celebratory occasions and is still popular in the wind band music of northern China, as well as in some other Chinese regions. In the Beijing opera orchestra, the "guan" is used to depict military scenes along with the "suona" and other percussion instruments.Fact|date=November 2007

Construction

The "guan" consist of a short cylindrical tube made of hardwood in northern China, where the instrument is called "bili". In the Guangdong region of southern China, it is made from bamboo and is called "houguan" (literally "throat guan"). Traditionally the instrument has seven finger holes on the top and one thumb hole on the back. The length of the guan varies from 7 inches (18cm) to 13 inches (33cm).

The northern "guanzi" comes in various keys and the "houguan" is available in three sizes.

In the 20th century, modern versions of the "guan" were developed in China. These modernized "guan" have extra holes and are fitted with metal keys to provide a wider and fully chromatic range. Such instruments are used primarily in large traditional orchestras.

All "guan" have a large, wide double reed made from "Arundo" cane, which is inserted into the top end of the tube.

Playing

The instrument's range is about two and one-half octaves. It has been used in a variety of musical contexts over the centuries, often as a solo instrument used to evoke a mood of sadness."Guan" is capable of doing vibrato and wide pitch bends.

The "guan" is quite difficult to play, largely due to the difficulty of controlling the embouchure; a Chinese saying states that "the "sheng" (mouth organ) takes 100 days to learn, but the "guan" takes 1,000 days to learn."

External links

* [http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Music/mus-guan.html "Guan - Chinese Traditional Musical Instruments"] from Paul and Bernice Noll site
* [http://www.asza.com/iguan.shtml "The Guanzi or Bili"] from AZSA.com
* [http://www.china.org.cn/chinese/minyue/436573.htm Guan article] (Chinese)
* [http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/1702/2005-5-3/[e-mail] Houguan article]
* [http://www.chinamedley.com/langyuan/houguan/ Houguan article]
* [http://www.chinamedley.com/langyuan/houguan/houguan_jiegou.shtml Houguan article]

Video

* [http://resources.emb.gov.hk/musiceb/english/Instrument/chinese/guan/video/video_2.htm Houguan video] from The Musical Instruments E-book

Listening

* [http://music.yahoo.com.cn/search.html?pid=ysearch&p=%B9%DC%D7%D3&button=%CB%D1%B8%E8%C7%FA&button=%CB%D1%B8%E8%B4%CA&mimetype=all&source=ysearch_music_result_topsearch Guanzi audio] (click headphones to listen to individual tracks)

ee also

*Traditional Chinese musical instruments
*Piri
*Hichiriki