Guzheng

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Template:Cleanup-spam The guzheng, or gu zheng (Template:Zh-cp) or zheng (箏) (gu- means "ancient") is a traditional Chinese musical instrument. It belongs to the zither family of string instruments.

The guzheng is the parent instrument of the Japanese koto, the Korean gayageum, and the Vietnamese đàn tranh.

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Description

The modern-day guzheng is a plucked, half-tube zither with movable bridges and 21 strings, although it can have anywhere from 15 to 25 strings (a customized version exists with more than 34 strings). The guzheng's strings were formerly made of twisted silk, though by the 20th century most players used metal strings (generally steel for the high strings and copper-wound steel for the bass strings). Since the mid-20th century most performers use steel strings flatwound with nylon.

The guzheng has a large resonant cavity made from wu tong wood (Paulownia tomentosa). Other components may be made from other woods, usually for structural and decorative purposes.

The guzheng is not to be confused with the guqin, another ancient Chinese zither without bridges.

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Playing styles

There are techniques used in the playing of the guzheng, including basic plucking actions (right and left hand) as well as tremolo (right hand). Plucking is done mainly by the right hand with four plectra (picks) attached to the fingers. Advanced players may use picks attached to the fingers of both hands. Ancient picks were made of ivory and later also from tortoise shell.

The sound of the guzheng can express a cascading waterfall, thunder and even the scenic countryside. The guzheng's pentatonic scale ranges to Do, Re, Mi, So and La, but Fa and Ti can also be produced by pressing the strings to the left of the bridges. One of the most famous contemporary pieces for guzheng is called "Zhan Tai Feng" (战台风; Fighting with Typhoon), composed by Wang Chang Yuan.

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History

The ancient guzheng had 12 strings, which gradually evolved into the modern form. Tuned pentatonically over four octaves, it has existed since the Warring States Period and became especially popular during the Qin dynasty.

Until 1961, the common guzheng had 18 strings. In 1961 Xu Zhengao together with Wang Xunzhi introduced the first 21-string guzheng after two years of research and development. In 1961, they also invented the "S-shaped" left string rest, which was quickly adopted by all guzheng makers and is still used today, whether in the shape of the letter "S", "C", etc.

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The guzheng in other genres

The guzheng has been used by the Chinese performer Wang Yong in the rock band of Cui Jian, as well as in free improvised music. Zhang Yan used it in a jazz context, performing and recording with Asian American jazz bandleader Jon Jang. Other zheng players who perform in non-traditional styles include Randy Raine-Reusch, Mei Han, Zi Lan Liao, Levi Chen, Andreas Vollenweider, Jaron Lanier, Mike Hovancsek, and David Sait. The American composer Lou Harrison (1917–2003) played and composed for the instrument. Jerusalem based multi-instrumentalist Bradley Fish is the most widely recorded artist of loops for the guzheng. Fish is known for using the guzheng with a rock-influenced style and electronic effects on his 1996 collaboration "The Aquarium Conspiracy" with Sugarcubes/Bjork drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson. The virtual band Gorillaz used the guzheng in their song "Hong Kong" from the Help: A Day In The Life compilation.

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Notable guzheng performers

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External links

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Guzheng makers

  • Dunhuang (in Chinese) Big brand in China making guzhengs and other instruments
  • Master Xu Zhengao considered by some the "Father of Guzheng"
  • Peter Kahl Austrian-born guzheng designer and maker
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Listening

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Guzheng strings

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See also

de:Zheng fr:Guzheng nl:Guzheng fi:Guzheng th:กู่เจิง zh:筝

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