Xiao (instrument)
The xiao is a traditional Chinese flute-like instrument characterized by its long, thin, vertically-held body and finger holes. Originating around 6,000 BCE in northern China, the xiao has a rich history, with its contemporary form emerging during the Han dynasty around 200 BCE. The instrument is made primarily from bamboo, though it can also be crafted from wood, porcelain, ivory, or jade. Musicians produce sound by blowing into an opening at the top while covering and uncovering finger holes, allowing for a range of musical scales. Typically tuned to the key of C or D, the xiao is known for its soft and melodic tones, often played solo or alongside other gentle instruments like stringed zithers. Its peaceful melodies have garnered recognition in various contexts, including popular media, such as its feature in the 2008 animated film "Kung Fu Panda." The xiao remains a versatile and culturally significant instrument in contemporary music, reflecting a deep historical lineage.
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Xiao (instrument)
The xiao is a flute-like musical instrument from China. Its long thin body with finger holes is held vertically instead of horizontally, and the musician blows into an opening at the top to generate a soft, melodic sound. It is one of the oldest known styles of flutes and is frequently played in contemporary times.
Overview
The xiao (pronounced SHOWH, as in the first syllable of shower) is sometimes known as a dongxiao. It was first developed in ancient northern China about 6,000 BCE. The earliest known version was made of a bird bone and had five finger holes and one hole to blow into. The xiao as it exists in the twenty-first century dates to around 200 BCE, during the Han dynasty, though the hole configuration as it appears in contemporary times seems to have been introduced during the Jin dynasty between 265 and 420 CE.
The term xiao for a single, vertically held flute dates to the Tang dynasty from 618 to 907 CE. Prior to that, the name was used for a panpipe, a series of flutes held and played together. The instrument that became the xiao was originally called a di; this name gradually faded out until the instrument became universally known as the xiao somewhere between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Contemporary xiao are often made of bamboo, though they can be made of wood, porcelain, ivory, or even jade. Bamboo instruments are fashioned by cutting a length of material that may be 36 inches (91 centimeters) or more. All the natural nodes except the top one are removed from the inside to make a smooth hollow tube. Half of the top node is removed, leaving a portion of the opening covered, and a notch is cut in the open side. A number of holes are cut into the remaining length. Most contemporary xiao have six or eight finger holes and several vent holes, all cut at a specific distance from the mouth hole regardless of the instrument's length.
To play the xiao, the musician holds it vertically at about a forty-five-degree angle from the mouth and blows into the open end while covering and uncovering the finger holes with both hands. Most xiao are tuned to the key of C or D. The design of the instrument allows it to play many scales based upon the pitch the musician chooses, which makes it a versatile instrument.
The materials and structure of the xiao generate a sound that is naturally soft and sweet. It is usually played as a solo instrument or with other instruments that generate gentle, melodic sounds, such as a stringed zither or other flutes. It can be incorporated into an orchestra. Tunes played on the xiao are peaceful and gentle.
Some Western audiences may be most familiar with its sound as the instrument played during the 2008 animated movie Kung Fu Panda, when the character Master Shifu plays a flute and reminisces.
Bibliography
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Thrasher, Alan. R. "Xiao." Open University of Kaohsiung, www2.ouk.edu.tw/yen/grove/Entries/S45374.htm. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
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"Xiao." Eason Music Store, www.easonmusicschool.com/chinese-orchestra-instruments/chinese-woodwind-instruments/xiao/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
"Xiao." Grinnell College Musical Instrument Collection, omeka1.grinnell.edu/MusicalInstruments/items/show/142. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.
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"Xiao." Top China Travel, www.topchinatravel.com/china-guide/xiao.htm. Accessed 25 Sept. 2017.