The lusheng (traditional: 蘆笙; simplified: 芦笙; also spelled lu sheng; spelled qeej in the Hmong language) 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 made of hardwood. 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.
Contents |
External links
- Lusheng page (Chinese)
- Lusheng and Qeej
Listening
- Audio of modernized lusheng (click headphones to listen to individual tracks)
Video
- Traditional Miao lusheng performance in Guizhou
- Traditional Miao lusheng performance in Guizhou
- Modernized lusheng performance
See also
- Sheng (instrument)
- Yu (wind instrument)
- Hulusheng
- Mangtong
- Music of China
- Traditional Chinese musical instruments
| Traditional Chinese musical instruments | ||
|---|---|---|
| █ Silk (string): Plucked: Guqin • Se • Guzheng • Konghou • Pipa • Sanxian • Ruan • Liuqin • Yueqin • Qinqin • Duxianqin █ Bowed: Huqin • Erhu • Zhonghu • Gaohu • Banhu • Jinghu • Erxian • Tiqin • Yehu • Tuhu • Jiaohu • Sihu • Sanhu • Zhuihu • Zhuiqin • Leiqin • Dihu • (Xiaodihu • Zhongdihu • Dadihu) • Gehu • Diyingehu • Laruan • Matouqin • Yazheng █ 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 █ Stone: Bianqing █ Metal: Bianzhong • Fangxiang • Luo • Yunluo █ Clay: Xun █ Hide: Daigu • Bangu • Paigu • Tanggu | ||
| █ Others: Gudi • Lusheng • Kouxian | ||
