Paixiao
Encyclopedia
The paixiao is an ancient Chinese
wind instrument, a form of pan pipes
. It is no longer used, having died out in ancient times, although in the 20th century it was reconstructed. A major difference between the Chinese Paixiao and the panpipes used in European and South American traditions, is that at the top of the Chinese instrument the pipe holes are each cut angled or with notches. This allows for bending the pitch
in similar capacity to the dongxiao
down a minor second
. This allows Chinese paixiao to be fully chromatic
without loss in timbre
, even though the included pipes are tuned diatonically
.
In Korea, an instrument called the so (hangul
: 소; hanja
: 簫) was derived from the paixiao and used in ritual music.
A musician named Gao Ming
(高明) plays a version called the paidi in the Tang Dynasty
Music and Dance Show at the Shaanxi Grand Opera House in Xi'an
; he has been a member of this ensemble since 1982. While his instrument superficially resembles the instrument used during the Tang Dynasty, its pipes have ducts
rather than being end-blown, it is played with the pipes held horizontally rather than vertically, and it is set up to play in parallel thirds.video
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
wind instrument, a form of pan pipes
Pan flute
The pan flute or pan pipe is an ancient musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube, consisting usually of five or more pipes of gradually increasing length...
. It is no longer used, having died out in ancient times, although in the 20th century it was reconstructed. A major difference between the Chinese Paixiao and the panpipes used in European and South American traditions, is that at the top of the Chinese instrument the pipe holes are each cut angled or with notches. This allows for bending the pitch
Pitch (music)
Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,...
in similar capacity to the dongxiao
Xiao (flute)
The xiao is a Chinese vertical end-blown flute. It is generally made of dark brown bamboo . It is also sometimes called dòngxiāo , dòng meaning "hole." An ancient name for the xiāo is shùdí The xiao is a Chinese vertical end-blown flute. It is generally made of dark brown bamboo (called...
down a minor second
Semitone
A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically....
. This allows Chinese paixiao to be fully chromatic
Diatonic and chromatic
Diatonic and chromatic are terms in music theory that are most often used to characterize scales, and are also applied to intervals, chords, notes, musical styles, and kinds of harmony...
without loss in timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
, even though the included pipes are tuned diatonically
Diatonic and chromatic
Diatonic and chromatic are terms in music theory that are most often used to characterize scales, and are also applied to intervals, chords, notes, musical styles, and kinds of harmony...
.
In Korea, an instrument called the so (hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 소; hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 簫) was derived from the paixiao and used in ritual music.
A musician named Gao Ming
Gao Ming
Gao Ming is a retired Chinese football player.-Qingdao:His career at Qingdao was a big success. He started representing Qingdao Etsong in senior level matches in 2000. Alongside with Qu Bo, they were considered to be one of the best attacking partners in China.-Shandong Luneng:Shandong Luneng...
(高明) plays a version called the paidi in the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
Music and Dance Show at the Shaanxi Grand Opera House in Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
; he has been a member of this ensemble since 1982. While his instrument superficially resembles the instrument used during the Tang Dynasty, its pipes have ducts
Fipple
A fipple is a constricted mouthpiece common to many end-blown woodwind instruments, such as the tin whistle and the recorder. These instruments are known variously as fipple flutes, duct flutes, or tubular-ducted flutes.-How it works:...
rather than being end-blown, it is played with the pipes held horizontally rather than vertically, and it is set up to play in parallel thirds.video