~Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou
Image credits: LDHan and Anna Frodesiak, CC use
Every culture rocks out in different ways.
The traditional music of some countries might feature a guitar, sitar, balalaika, cuarto, charango, banjo or dozens of other truly unique instruments. In the music of China, you often hear a distinctive instrument called an erhu (二胡; pinyin: èrhú, [êɻxǔ]). Although it resembles a violin in some ways, the erhu has only two strings and has a soaring voice and emotional quality that is all it’s own. In fact, if you check out the video below, you’ll realize that you’ve probably already heard an erhu many times but did not know the specific name for the instrument.
Roots Of The Erhu
Although this instrument is now heard throughout China and Chinese folk music, it has its roots in the culture of nomadic people who traveled from Central Asia to this region about 1,000 years ago. They brought a family of instruments; called the Huquin family, which includes the erhu, the zhonghu (lower in pitch) and the gaohu (higher in pitch) as well as other related instruments with similar characteristics. And although there are almost 30 Huquin family instruments, the versatility and unique sound of the erhu earned it a special place in traditional Chinese music as well as modern jazz, pop and even rock music groups.
Two Strings And A Bow
It is unique in many ways. The instrument consists of a very small soundbox made of hardwood (such as sandlewood) which sits in the player’s lap. A long neck sticks upright and two strings are held in place with tuning pegs. The instrument is played with a bow that was originally made from bamboo and horsehair and the small soundbox was generally covered with snakeskin or python skin to create the specific sound associated with an erhu.
Not A Violin
Although the erhu is sometimes called a Chinese fiddle, a 2 stringed violin or a southern or spike fiddle, it is definitely not played in the same manner as a Western-style violin. The erhu sits on a players lap while the violin rests between the shoulder and chin of its player. On the erhu, the strings are pressed but do not touch the fingerboard and the bow does not leave the strings. On the violin, fingers touch the fretboard to create different notes and the bow can move on and off the strings while it is being played.
Erhu Peformance By Yu Hong-Mei
You can see an erhu playing a traditional folksong in this short video clip featuring Chinese musician, Yu Hong-Mei, originally from Shangdong province. She performs a song whose title translates to “Spring Scenery in the South of the Yangtze River.”
Color An Erhu Or Other World Music Instruments
If you’d like a coloring page of the Chinese erhu or other stringed instruments from around the world, check out the resources listed below:
Black and white coloring page of the erhu from DARIA’s world music for children site
Color poster of erhu plus black and white coloring page from TeachersPayTeachers
Free Coloring Pages of World Music Instruments from DARIA
Chinese New Year Math and Literacy! PreK-1
Want to introduce your PreK through 1st grade students to Chinese New Year? Our Chinese New Year Math and Literacy Unit is one resource you don’t want to miss! Available at the Kid World Citizen Teachers Pay Teachers Store, this unit is an incredible collection of Common Core aligned reading, writing, math, and critical thinking activities, as well as craftivities and coloring sheets. Go now! >
Chinese New Year Math and ELA Unit, Grades 1-3
We also have created a math and ELA unit for grades 1-3 to teach about Chinese New Year. Also Common-Core aligned, this unit includes fantastic resources and lessons such as word problems, a scramble, a greater than/less than activity, vocabulary cards, a graphing activity, a maze, coloring sheets, and more!
Check it out at our TPT store now >
[…] Beijing (Chinese) opera, sometimes called Peking Opera, combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It started in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. China’s form of musical theater and drama has been encouraged by past court emperors and officials, and is a customary art form. The songs are accompanied by conventional musical instruments, such as the gong, flute, and Erhu. […]