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*''Chinese/Japanese'': 二胡 ''(èr hú / niko)''
The ''erhu'', a two-stringed bowed spike fiddle, is perhaps the most prominent or well-known of traditional Chinese musical instruments. It belongs to a family or category of spike fiddles known in Chinese as ''[[huqin|húqin]]''.
Closely related to the Okinawan ''[[kokyu (instrument)|kûchô]]'', the ''erhu'' incorporates a small round or hexagonal body (soundbox), covered typically in snakeskin, and a bow which is held between the two strings; unlike the bow of a Western instrument such as a violin, the ''erhu'' bow is not easily, or typically, removed, and is played between the strings rather than atop them.
The ''erhu'' is often played as a solo instrument, as well as in traditional ensembles, modern orchestras, and in providing the music for theatre, including in ''[[jingju]]'' (Beijing opera). In the theatre, it someimes doubles the melody played by the ''[[jinghu]]'' ("opera fiddle") but at a lower octave, and is also used to accompany singing by female roles.
In southern China and Taiwan, the instrument is often called a ''nanhú'' (南胡, "southern fiddle").
{{stub}}
==References==
*Gallery labels, "Beijing Opera Orchestra," Musical Instruments gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
[[Category:Art and Architecture]]
[[Category:Poetry and Theater]]
The ''erhu'', a two-stringed bowed spike fiddle, is perhaps the most prominent or well-known of traditional Chinese musical instruments. It belongs to a family or category of spike fiddles known in Chinese as ''[[huqin|húqin]]''.
Closely related to the Okinawan ''[[kokyu (instrument)|kûchô]]'', the ''erhu'' incorporates a small round or hexagonal body (soundbox), covered typically in snakeskin, and a bow which is held between the two strings; unlike the bow of a Western instrument such as a violin, the ''erhu'' bow is not easily, or typically, removed, and is played between the strings rather than atop them.
The ''erhu'' is often played as a solo instrument, as well as in traditional ensembles, modern orchestras, and in providing the music for theatre, including in ''[[jingju]]'' (Beijing opera). In the theatre, it someimes doubles the melody played by the ''[[jinghu]]'' ("opera fiddle") but at a lower octave, and is also used to accompany singing by female roles.
In southern China and Taiwan, the instrument is often called a ''nanhú'' (南胡, "southern fiddle").
{{stub}}
==References==
*Gallery labels, "Beijing Opera Orchestra," Musical Instruments gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
[[Category:Art and Architecture]]
[[Category:Poetry and Theater]]
