XIAO ( 簫 )

XIAOA CHINESE VERTICALLY PLAYED FLUTE

Pronounced : “hsiao”

Country of Origin: China

Classification: Woodwind (bamboo)

HISTORY/ORIGIN Earliest Xiao was found to be made out of bird bone Xiao appeared in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) as

a simple end blown flute, which was imported by the Qiang people

Xiao later developed more holes, which was used by the Qiang people during the Tang Dynasty.

Artifacts have been discovered of Xiao player figurines

Construction of Xiao Xiao is usually constructed of dark brown bamboo; but

some are made out of jade, porcelain, and ivory The Xiao is in the key of G The blowing hole, at the top end of the instrument, is

usually cut into a “U” or “V” shape The Xiao is held 45 degrees away from body when

played Traditional Xiao originally has 6 holes-5 finger holes in

the front and one thumb hole in the back; modern Xiao has up to 8 holes (however, additional holes make it easier to play, i.e: F natural; also sometimes used for attaching tassels)

There is a metal joint between the blow hole and top finger hole for tuning purposes

Length of Xiao is usually around 75-85cm long

Sounds Xiao has a range of two octaves The Xiao produces a soft, gentle, mellow tone,

melancholy like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfakKLj647M

Suitable majorly for solo playing and/or blending with the qin (zither)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8CBPA0dnzs Also used in sizhu (silk/bamboo instrument) chamber

music traditions/ensembles

HOW TO PLAY Stand or sit upright with Xiao 45 degrees away from body Touch the top of Xiao, U hole towards the lower lip Left hand covers top three holes while right hand covers the

bottom three holes (can be reversed, which ever is more comfortable)

With the smallest circular opening facing the lower lip, blow gently aiming a thin stream of air directly where the tube touches the lower lip

Experiment with direction of blowing airstream till a clear tone is produced

Producing higher octaves requires aiming slightly higher towards the top notch

NOTATION

VARIETY Paixiao: panpipe-row of xiao’s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCH8CP5LviQ Qinxiao: narrower version of the xiao; in the key of F, with 8

finger holes; narrowness makes the tone softer-easier to accompany the guqin-plucked seven string of the zither family

Nanxiao (Nanyin dongxiao): one foot, eight inches long; uses bamboo root as bottom; thicker than the xiao; also called chiba; (shakuhachi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1vW24fFeDM

RELATED INSTRUMENTS

Dizi: horizontally played flute; higher pitched sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eA8YCB1q6I

PAIXIAO

SHAKUHACHI

DIZI

XIAO

VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8CBPA0dnzs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW3-F6LdOPo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHthypwRDhg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UPj98KWMTQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeY04BdM7KQ&feature=related

Dizi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eA8YCB1q6I