Xun
Xun ( Chinese 塤 / 埙 , pinyin xūn ) is one of the oldest musical instruments in China with a history of about 6000 to 7000 years. The wind instrument , like the ocarinas, belongs to the vessel flutes.
The oldest Xun were made of stone and bone and are believed to have been used by hunters to attract prey. As far as we know, no music was played on it, as the oldest finds only had 1 hole.
The xun developed very slowly. It was not until around 4,000 years later that five-hole instruments were used in the Shang Dynasty. From this time on it was an important instrument in court music in China, especially in sacrificial ceremonies.
The Xun is available in different sizes - from the goose egg-shaped larger version to smaller peach-shaped instruments. Traditionally, the Xun had five to seven holes on the instrument body and a mouth hole at the tip for sound generation . The range of playable notes was therefore quite limited.
Nowadays a Xun has 6 finger holes in the front and 2 thumb holes in the back, which increases the number of playable notes.
A six-hole Xun from the Qing Dynasty, which is approximately 100 years old, is on display in the " Forbidden City " in Beijing . It is 8.5 cm high and 7 cm wide, covered with red paint and carved delicate dragons and clouds.
The Xun develops a haunting tone. The pieces in which it is played are characterized by a melancholy, elegant, almost mystical and slightly sad atmosphere.
Web links
- Sound of the Ancient Time - Xun. china.org.cn