Tunes on Chinese fiddle?

Subject: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 09 May 16 - 04:01 AM

At Holmfirth Festival last weekend, during a tune session, an unusual sound started behind me, a duet of melodeon and Chinese one string fiddle - really nice mellow playing. I spoke briefly but do not know who they are or their location?

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: GUEST,Geoff Lakeman
Date: 09 May 16 - 04:19 AM

That will be Kevin Marshall from Sheffield and Ying Pin, fro Taiwain, who is just finishing an ethnomusicology post graduate degree at Sheffield University.She turned up at my gig at Crookes Folk Club two weeks ago with Kevin and was stunning.Her Chinese version of "The Horserace"- a bit like the Irish "Foxhunters" is virtuoso.She is going back to China soon, so try and catch her around Yorkshire

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 09 May 16 - 04:43 AM

I had the pleasure of speaking to the young lady at a session in the Nook on saturday and discovered the instrument has in fact two strings and is called if l remember correctly an EHRU and sounded amazing.

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 May 16 - 05:18 AM

I once heard the er-hu featured on a Scottish music radio programme - the player did "Mrs Macleod" on it.

The er-hu repertoire has one of the great tune titles of all time:

The Abyss of Misery

(ok, that version is on the suona, I can't find an erhu version on YouTube).

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 09 May 16 - 05:35 AM

There's a great erhu player in Sheffield called Country Dave Chang who plays with Johnny And The Prison Didn't Help Boys. I'm NOT kidding.
Ray

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 16 - 06:45 AM

My wife watches period Chinese dramas where string instruments are sometimes featured, the most popular one being played while it is horizontal, I quite like it but one needs to listen rather than look because it is evident even to a non-musician that the star is not actually playing the instrument.

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 09 May 16 - 08:40 AM

Many years ago I saw the Chieftans in concert with the Guo brothes on Chinese fiddles.
They were along on that whole tour, and perhaps there was recording done as part of it? It was a memorable concert with a stage packed with virtuosos on each instrument.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 09 May 16 - 09:00 AM

I was once treated to an impromptu Er-Hu recital by Ray Man at his Chinese musical instrument shop in London circa 1978 which included several Irish airs and a reel or two. In those days you could buy such an instrument for a tenner. The shop's moved up Chalk Farm Road now and still worth a look if ever you're passing even if the prices aren't quite what they were back in the day - a real piece of history that shop!

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 09 May 16 - 12:22 PM

The moment stood out -it was at the Nook. I would love to hear more from that duo, lucky Yorkshire. There were some great sessions in both bars, sadly had to drive down to the campsite for a rehearsal. Next year I will make time to get involved. Nice festival, thank you weather, thank you Alex.

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 09 May 16 - 01:07 PM

I think that's erhu... My father used to have one. I never heard him play, though. I think I do have several friends who play erhu, but I can't remember clearly. One of them played in college Chinese orchestra.

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 May 16 - 04:28 PM

technical summary

intro video 1
intro video 2
intro video 3
intro video 4

I have two beautifully inlaid tuning pegs for an er-hu - they came with a bunch of Chinese flutes I got from EBay. I'm not in any hurry to get the rest of the instrument.

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 10 May 16 - 04:05 AM

Chinese one string fiddle

It's worth pointing out that the Erhu actually has two-strings tuned in 5ths with the unique arrangement of having the bow rosined both sides and threaded between the two and moved between the them accordingly - the strings being so close together the player fingers both together whilst only sounding one. An odd idea to get your head around but it means Erhu players never mislay their bows.

Subject: RE: Tunes on Chinese fiddle?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 10 May 16 - 08:29 AM

Johnny And The Prison Didn't Help Boys with Country Dave Chang on erhu, in Sheffield.