Gehu
Encyclopedia
The gehu is a Chinese
instrument developed in the 20th century by the Chinese musician Yang Yusen (杨雨森, 1926-1980). It is a fusion of the Chinese huqin
family and the cello
. Its four strings are also tuned (from low to high) C-G-D-A, exactly like the cello's. Unlike most other musical instruments in the huqin family, the bridge does not contact the snakeskin, which faces to the side
There is also a contrabass gehu that functions as a Chinese double bass
, known as the diyingehu
, digehu, or beigehu (倍革胡).
By the late 20th century the gehu had become a rare instrument, even within China, as the tendency for the snakeskin to lose its tightness increases with humidity. Today, it is used mostly in Hong Kong
and Taiwan
, although even there, the cello is beginning to become a popular replacement for it. In addition, there are also other Chinese instruments that are able to take on the role bowed bass range instrument, such as the laruan
(which uses the structure and acoustics of the ruan
), the lapa
(also known as paqin, using the structure of the pipa
), and the bass matouqin.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
instrument developed in the 20th century by the Chinese musician Yang Yusen (杨雨森, 1926-1980). It is a fusion of the Chinese huqin
Huqin
Huqin is a family of bowed string instruments, more specifically, a spike fiddle popularly used in Chinese music. The instruments consist of a round, hexagonal, or octagonal sound box at the bottom with a neck attached that protrudes upwards...
family and the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
. Its four strings are also tuned (from low to high) C-G-D-A, exactly like the cello's. Unlike most other musical instruments in the huqin family, the bridge does not contact the snakeskin, which faces to the side
There is also a contrabass gehu that functions as a Chinese double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, known as the diyingehu
Diyingehu
The diyingehu is a Chinese bowed string instrument in the huqin family. It was developed by Yang Yusen along with the gehu in the 20th century...
, digehu, or beigehu (倍革胡).
By the late 20th century the gehu had become a rare instrument, even within China, as the tendency for the snakeskin to lose its tightness increases with humidity. Today, it is used mostly in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, although even there, the cello is beginning to become a popular replacement for it. In addition, there are also other Chinese instruments that are able to take on the role bowed bass range instrument, such as the laruan
Laruan
The lāruǎn is a relatively new Chinese string instrument blending the acoustics of the ruan with that of the Western cello...
(which uses the structure and acoustics of the ruan
Ruan
The ruan is a Chinese plucked string instrument. It is a lute with a fretted neck, a circular body, and four strings. Its strings were formerly made of silk but since the 20th century they have been made of steel...
), the lapa
Lapa
Lapa is a district in the subprefecture of the same name in the city of São Paulo, Brazil....
(also known as paqin, using the structure of the pipa
Pipa
The pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument, belonging to the plucked category of instruments . Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets ranging from 12–26...
), and the bass matouqin.
External links
- Gehu page from Paul and Bernice Noll Website
- Gehu page (Chinese)
- "Chinese Version of the Cello and Double Bass, by Brandon Voo
Video
- Video of a piece for gehu and Chinese traditional instrument orchestra, entitled 草原风情 ("Grasslands Character and Style"), performed by performed by Dong Jinchi (董金池), from CCTV
- Rossini Duet for Cello and Double Bass, played by a gehu and diyingehu.