Lusheng

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The lusheng (traditional: 蘆笙; simplified: 芦笙; also spelled lu sheng) is the Chinese name for a musical instrument with multiple bamboo pipes, each fitted with a free reed, which are fitted into a long blowing tube. It most often has five or six pipes of different pitches, and is thus a polyphonic instrument. It comes in sizes ranging from very small to several meters in length.

The lusheng is used primarily in the rural regions of southwestern China (e.g. Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan) and in nearby countries such as Laos and Vietnam, where it is played by such ethnic groups as the Dong and Miao. Performers often dance or swing the instrument from side to side while playing. Since the late 20th century, a modernized version of the instrument has been used in composed compositions, often as a solo instrument with Chinese traditional instrument orchestra.

[edit] External links

Lusheng page (Chinese)
Lusheng and Qeej

[edit] Listening

Audio of modernized lusheng (click headphones to listen to individual tracks)

[edit] See also

Traditional Chinese musical instruments
█ Silk (string): Plucked: Guqin • Se • Guzheng • Konghou • Pipa • Sanxian • Ruan • Liuqin • Yueqin • Qinqin • Duxianqin █ Bowed: Erhu • Zhonghu • Gaohu • Banhu • Erxian • Tiqin • Yehu • Tuhu • Jiaohu • Sihu • Sanhu • Zhuihu • Zhuiqin • Leiqin • Dihu • (Xiaodihu • Zhongdih • Dadihu) • Gehu • Diyingehu • Laruan • Matouqin • Yazheng • Aijieke █ Struck: Yangqin • Zhu
█ Bamboo (woodwind): Flutes: Dizi • Xiao • Paixiao • Koudi █ Oboes: Guan • Suona █ Free-reed pipes: Bawu • Mangtong
█ Gourd (woodwind): Sheng • Yu • Lusheng • Hulusi • Hulusheng
█ Percussion: Wood: Muyu • Guban █ Metal: Bianzhong • Fangxiang • Luo • Yunluo █ Clay: Xun █ Hide: Daigu • Bangu • Paigu • Tanggu