Leiqin
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The leiqin (雷琴 or 擂琴, literally "thunderous instrument"; also called leihu) is a Chinese bowed string musical instrument.
Construction
Made of brass and wood, the leiqin is covered with snakeskin and has a long fretless fingerboard. The two strings pass over a small bridge that is placed on the snakeskin, near the top edge. A mobile unit called a shankou holds the strings in place.[1]
Playing technique
The leiqin is played while the player is seated in a chair, with the instrument's body resting in his or her lap and held in a vertical or near-vertical position. Unlike the erhu and other instruments in the huqin family, the strings are touched against the fingerboard in the same technique as the sanxian. Players use a leg rest, typically made of solid wood with a smooth, flat bottom. Leg rests especially aid beginners who may not have exact control over their playing pressure.[2]
History
Wang Dianyu, a traditional folk musician from Shandong, created the leiqin in the late 1920s.[1] It was adapted from an earlier traditional instrument called zhuihu.
See also
References
- ^ a b Zhang, Zixue; Yeoh, Joanne; Razali, Camellia (January 2024). "Effect of humidity on the vibrating membrane of the python skin and eco-friendly materials imitation skin on traditional Chinese musical instrument - Leiqin". International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development. 13 (1): 1666–1679 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Zhang, Zixue; Yeoh, Joanne; Razali, Camellia (February 2025). "Remodeling the Leiqin Leg Rest with Additive Manufacturing: Enhancing Performers' Learning Interest". International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development. 14 (1): 1607–1619 – via ResearchGate.
External links
Audio
- Leiqin MP3s (click on headphones to listen to individual tracks)
Video