Sheng

Already popular among the Chinese people during the Yin Dynasty (1401 - 1121 BC), the Sheng is one of the most ancient traditional Chinese instruments that is still in common use today. It has more tah 10 vertical bamboo reed pipes of varying length set in a cylindrical base attached to a mouth piece. It is one of the few instruments capable of playing chords in the traditional Chinese Orchestra.

The original version of Sheng is made up of a group of bamboo tubes of different lengths that are tied together with a string. Later improvements added reeds to each tubes. The early Sheng had thirteen to seventeen bamboo tubes. In AD 1006, the Northern Song Dynasty, 19-tubes Sheng was used. In the Ming and Qing Dynasty, popular Sheng were 17-tubes, 14-tubes, 13 tubes and 10-tubes. In modern China, further improvements were made, and the 21-tubes, 24-tubes, 26-tubes, 27-tubes, 32-tubes, 36-tubes, and 51-tubes Sheng were produced. Such arrangements allow Sheng to play complicated chords and music.

There are 2 types of Shengs: the Gaoyin Sheng and the Zhongyin Sheng.

Gaoyin Sheng is high pitch Sheng. It can be played as solos or in a Chinese Orchestra. Its sound is unique and is the traditional instrument that can accompany beautiful melody with many variety of complex chords.

Zhongyin Sheng is medium pitch Sheng. It is played in Chinese Orchestra. Unlike Gaoyin Sheng which is hand held, Zhong Yin Sheng is large and heavy, and has to be placed on the lap or on the floor. Its sound is low and mellow and can produced a great variety of chords. Steel tubes are used instead of bamboo tubes for large bamboo tubes that produce low pitch notes are difficult to find.

Among popular solos for the Sheng is Phoenix.

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