獨弦操 二胡 Erhu One String Piece

i DID mess up big in the 2nd segment.. and DID mess up countless times throughout the piece... but my excuse is that i am only using 1 string (erhu = 2 string instrument)... and all the high notes were extremely hard to get and they sounds very harsh also... however, this is frankly quite an experience that i enjoy!

so.. like 2 weeks ago my string broke while practicing w/ a reduced volume (pencil trick)... i guess i was just pressing it too hard, since reducing volume also increase the tension.. i bet there's other ways to reduce the volume but... oh well.... and i'm on the island, and i have no spares, and i'm sure they don't' sell spare erhu strings on the island so...

BUT! it is close to xmas, which means i get to go home, in a month or so. and then i'll have access to spares. though i won't be bringing it back to the island again, since if everything workout well i can go back to the states in april.

and then i remembered this song.. i was never taught of this song, but i've heard of it countless times. the literal translation of the title = single string play. or something on that line... i'm pretty sure ppl don't perform this piece w/ the single string anymore, but i think it was written intended to do so (why else would he named it this right?) but yah, the whole piece is slow enough for me to jump my hand positions, but still, i didn't jump right on many occasions.

i haven't heard the real version in over 2 years though, so i'm not exactly sure what it is suppose to sound like.. maybe im a bit off on the rhythm or something... oh well~~ just another mark of my life~

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 獨弦操
• 独弦操
• 二胡
• Erhu
• 劉天華

[tsukael]

Great job man. I ordered one of these and can barely get it to even make one note.

[Jackoo]

@tsukael thank you. so you are a beginner? are you taking lessons? if you've never played any string instruments before, it might just take a couple days to get used to. it's important to get the basics down, including your form, and then you'll have a lot of fun playing :)

[tsukael]

@Jackoo

I'm definitely a beginner - never played a string instrument before. I made a stupid impulse buy late at night on amazon after researching the instrument, loving the sound and everything. Bought a real cheap one (~$100 plus 20 shipping), but I think the majority of my problem is that I don't fully understand how to rosin it or how much rosin to use...I bought some rosin and I've rubbed it on the string but maybe not enough? lol..I'm clueless. I love this instrument though! mayb someday

[Jackoo]

@tsukael if it's a new erhu, just rub in as much rosin as you can, it won't hurt it. to a point where when you play the power will come out (for the 1st few strokes anyways). make sure you are rubbing the rosin along the length of the bow, small segments at a time, and both sides that touch the strings.

also, in the beginning, you want to play as loud as possible, that'll help the snake skin to loosen up and for its beautiful sound to come out.

[RusselMuttly]

They sell Mutes for erhu to silent it I also tape what ever I can find on the end of my soundbox when ever I have a gig and I'm told i'm playing to loud Mutes make the sound very quiet for personal practice time While taping material on the soundbox just gives a softer quieter tone I've never heard of the "pencil trick"?

[Jackoo]

@RusselMuttly i never tried any other mute methods, but the pencil trick is, that you put a pencil in the space in between the strings and the snake skin.

[tsukael]

@Jackoo wow man, you are awesome! so kind to a complete stranger over the net lol. Thank you a ton for your advice...I'm kind of excited to try it out again now! :D I'll try it and let you know if it works!

[RusselMuttly]

@Jackoo Oh cool I'll have to try that some day

Here's the link to where I bought my erhu mute if your interested

The whole site is really good and easy to buy supplies

[Jackoo]

thank you very much! i'll try to record some more when i have more free time :p

[xianning]

ahh very lovely piece :D!! they use to play this in um...beijing soap operas lol it brings back some good memories LOL 5/5!!