Performance and production techniques of Qiang flute

Chinese national intangible cultural heritage Name: Qiang flute performance and production skills

Applicant: Mao County, Sichuan Province

Item No.: 69

Project No.: Ⅱ - 38

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Sichuan Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Mao County, Sichuan Province

Protection unit: Maoxian Cultural Center

Introduction to Qiang flute performance and production techniques:

Applicant: Mao County, Sichuan Province

Qiang flute is a kind of folk vertical wind instrument, which consists of two bamboo pipes about 15 to 20 cm long with the same hole size, wrapped with silk thread and bamboo spring inserted in the pipe head. It is mainly used for Solo, there are more than ten ancient pieces, the music content is quite wide, mainly to convey the yearning of Qiang people.

The Qiang flute in CHIBUSU and Shaba areas was brought from the western region by Qiang people who moved to the South during the war of Qin and Han Dynasties. According to historical records, before the Western Han Dynasty, there were four holes on the surface of Qiang flute. In the first century A.D., the musician Jingfang added a treble hole to form five holes. Ma Rong of the Eastern Han Dynasty once recorded in his ode to flute that "in modern times, two flutes started from Qiang". In modern times, Qiang flute has become six holes. It can be inferred that Qiang flute has existed for at least 2000 years.

The sound of Qiang flute is often illusory, confusing and soul stirring. The Qiang people often use it to express their feelings of happiness, anger, sadness, joys and sorrows. The repertoire often played includes "broken willow Ci", "thought song", "saran song" and so on.

Qiang flute is mainly played by the method of breath exchange with the gills, which can be played for several minutes at a time. Even if it is a simple tune, its technical requirements are also very high. In addition, the Qiang flute also has the skills of throat trill, finger up and down glide in playing. In addition, the rhythm difference of double pipe production and the sound of double spring resonance make its sound quality and melody unique.

Qiang flute is usually made of Fargesia with straight rod, round tube, long section, uniform head and tail thickness, thick and thin bamboo, tough texture, fine and dense fiber, and not easy to crack. The pitch should be determined according to the length, thickness and size of the tube. The pitch must be accurate and equal, otherwise the pitch is not uniform.

As the Qiang people have no written language, their history and culture are not only handed down from generation to generation, but also become an important channel for communication and inheritance of national culture. The rhythm, timbre and playing skills of Qiang flute are unique, which are rare treasures in the treasure house of Chinese national musical instruments.