中文课 Blog Post #6

1.我的生日四月三号。
2.我太兴奋了。
3.我是二十一岁！
4.好长时间没上网，你是不是功课很忙啊？
5.好好学习，天天向上！

While the dizi (笛子) is the common Chinese transverse flute, the xiao (箫) is the long flute. It is played as a Western recorder, meaning that it is an end-blown flute. Painted xiao players can be seen on pots from the Han dynasty and on brick tomb walls from the Wei and Jin period (220-240). Nowadays, it is usually made from nine-joint black bamboo and has eight finger holes. Six are placed near the front with one at the rear and two air holes at the end.

Tones created with the xiao are soft and suitable for either solo performances or accompaniment. The term long-feng xiao refers to two coupled flutes engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns.

Source:
http://www.melodyofchina.com/06instruments/xiao.html

Performances:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-pjlgQhcqc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NfhHqQPxgs&feature=related

中文课 Blog Post #5

1.上个周末你做了吗？

2.对不起，好久没有我跟你写。

3.你网上吗?

4.你给我发送电子邮件。

5.我念跟你说话。

I didn't know this next instrument existed until I started searching for new ideas. It is called the Sheng (笙) and it resembles a cross between a pipe organ and a pan flute. In fact, many Westerners call it the "Chinese mouth organ." It was first made during the Zhou dynasty around 551 BC and exists as one of the world's oldest instruments. It was also the first instrument utilizing a "coupled acoustical system," meaning it uses both air columns and free reeds. It usually is made with 17 to 36 pipes on a small wind chamber with a free brass reed at the base through which air is blown to make sound. The player determines which notes are played by pressing on small keys near the base to select which pipes receive the air. They can cover two or more holes on various pipes in order to make chords, a common technique used by regional orchestras in China. It's the only Chinese instrument that can play up to six notes at the same time.

Performances:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ogX7jzTG2A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0HSidnmptQ&feature=related

Links:http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Music/mus-sheng.html