Chapter 17 Chinese Folk Musical Instruments中国民族乐器
According to recent archaeological findings，ancient Chinese music was much more developed and sophisticated than is generally believed．During the Shang Dynasty，music had already been an important element in traditional ritualistic ceremonies，such as during a traditional Chinese funeral procession．It reached one of its greatest peaks during the Zhou Dynasty，featuring a great abundance of percussion instruments，several wind instruments，but only a few zither-type string instruments．
All the bowed string instruments and most of the plucked string instruments first came to China from Central Asia after the Han dynasty．The Tang dynasty saw the first wave of musical influence from Central Asia，which was a very important epoch in the evolution of Chinese music．However，it was during the Song Dynasty that Chinese music reached its maturity．
Traditional Chinese musical instruments were classified into eight groups(bayin) according to their materials:bronze，stone，silk and bamboo，gourd，earthenware，hide and wood，many of which have been lost or are obsolete today．Like modern music instruments，traditional Chinese instruments are generally grouped according to the way they are played:1)bowed strings;2)plucked strings;3)woodwinds and 4)percussion．
1.Development of Folk Orchestral lnstruments
More than 2，000 years ago，there were already quite a few musical instruments in China，namely，chime，drum，xun(an egg-shaped holed wind instrument)，bell，etc．In the Zhou Dynasty and Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period，the number of musical instruments totaled over 80．During the period of Qin Dynasty，the Han Dynasty，the Three Kingdoms，the Jin Dynasty，the Southern and Northern Dynasties，Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty，there appeared such instruments as hengchui(like today's bamboo flute)，qiangdi(a musical instrument of the Qiang Minority)，bi(the present guanzi)，bronze drum，waist drum，etc．They have all become key instruments in modern national orchestral music．
In the Five Dynasty，the Song Dynasty，the Yuan Dynasty，the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty，with the rising of folk art there appeared more instruments，such as yunluo，bajiaogu，diangu，xiaomuyu，bangzi(percussion instruments)，suona(wind instrument);sanxian and yangqin(plucked instruments)，and erhu，banhu，jinghu，zhuihu，ect．(bowed instruments)．
Like musical instruments，national orchestral music was well developed in ancient times．The most influential orchestras in history were wind music(Guchuiyue)in the Han Dynasty and Yanyue in the Tang Dynasty．The former mainly consisted of percussion instruments while the latter focused on tender music．
The locations of the imperial capitals in ancient times are the centers of the transmission of orchestras and maestros of folk music today．For example，Xi'an percussion music dates from the days when Xi'an was the capital of the Tang Dynasty; the Daxiangguo Temple music of Kaifeng emerged when that city was the capital of the Song Dynasty;and the Zhihua Temple music of Beijing and the wind orchestra music of Hebei Province have associations with the days when Beijing was the capital of the Liao，Jin，Yuan，Ming and Qing Dynasties．Hebei's Chengde City，which is not far from Beijing，was the summer resort of the Qing emperors，and local musicians can still play the court music of that time，despite the fact that the dynasty disappeared long ago．This makes it easy to understand why so many farmer-musicians can have such comparatively high artistic attainments．This is an important component of the Chinese people's musical artistry．
2.Representatives of Folk Musical lnstruments
1)Zeng Houyi Bells—Gem of Ancient Chinese Art
The set of bells，set of chimes and other instruments excavated from the tomb of Zeng Houyi，a Warring States duke，are the largest-scale ancient percussion instruments found so far．
The Zeng Houyi bells(see picture 17-1)are a three-tiered set which has 65 refined bronze bells．There were inscription of seal characters and his name on each bell．
The musical range of the Zeng Houyi bells，which can carry the main melody as well as the harmony，was five octaves，next only to modern piano．Modern scholars inferred that the set of bells could not only play melody，but also play in a musical ensemble．
All the musical instruments excavated from the Zeng Houyi tomb show superb craftsmanship and function surprisingly well．The bells has established itself as one of the wonders of traditional Chinese music．
2)Zhuihu—an Instrument That Can Speak and Sing
Zhuihu，a bowed string instrument，also known as Zhuiqin or Zhuizi，is altered from sanxian(a three-stringed musical instrument)，can be used to perform solo and tutti．Since Zhuihu has a wide diapason，a soft sound and relatively high sound volume，performers can use it to imitate the voice of human and animals．
There is a legend about the origin of Zhuihu．In the Qing Dynasty，Emperor Kangxi forbad all the opera performances in the Forbidden City and artists had to earn a living on the street．One day，an artist's sanxian was bitten by mice and the covering leather of the sound box got a hole in it．In order not to miss the performance，the artist had to use piece of paulownia wood to replace the leather and used a bow from huqin(two-stringed Chinese violin)to play the sanxian．This musical instrument that could not only play music but also imitate human voice，was later called Zhuihu．
3)Bone Flute—Earliest Musical Instrument of China
There are various kinds of musical instruments in the world，including Chinese musical instruments，western musical instruments，special instruments，wind instruments，stringed instruments and so on．Among them，the earliest musical instrument is bone flute(see picture 17-2)．However，in the 1980s，China did discover bone flutes of 8，000 to 9，000 years old．Excavations in 1986 and 1987 at the early Neolithic site of Jiahu Village，Wuyang County，located in central Henan Province，China，have yielded 6 complete bone flutes．Fragments of approximately 30 other flutes were also discovered．Three seven-hole dizi are now kept in Beijing Musemu，Henan Musemu and Henan Institute of Cultural Relics．The flutes may be the earliest complete，playable，tightly-dated，multi-note musical instruments．
4)Liuqin—Small Version of Pipa
Liuqin(see picture 17-3)，with four strings which sound similar to mandolin，is played with a piece of plectrum，and is used to accompany other instruments for folk songs and local opera．
The liuyeqin，abbreviated to the liuqin，has got its name from the willow-leafsharped sound box．It is also called tu pipa(unrefined pipa)because of its appearance of a small pipa．It came into use in the music of the local operas，narrative singing (storytelling music)in north Jiangsu，south Shandong and Anhui provinces．
The folk type is made of willow wood，with 2 or 3 strings and 7 frets．The performer plays it with a slender bamboo tube on the forefinger as a plectrum．The professional type is made of red sandalwood or rosewood，and the performer plays it with a plastic pick(the same as guitar pick)．In the modern type the front sides made of paulownia wood and the reverse side，of red sandal．The four strings are steel wires．The frets，increased from 7 to as many as 24，are arranged in half-step intervals．The plectrum is made of horn．The tone quality is clear，bright and more delicate．
5)Qing—Oldest Percussion Instrument
Qing(see picture 17-4)(musical stone)was a kind of stone or jade percussion instrument in ancient China．It was hung on shelf and played with wooden hammer．It was not only a kind of musical instrument，but also the symbol of power and status．
Historical records show that qing originated from stone tools used in daily life by Chinese ancestors．During their laboring，they found that these tools could produce pleasant sounds and therefore used them as musical instruments for entertainment．
Archeological findings show that qing came into being in the Xia Dynasty 4，300 years ago．By the Zhou Dynasty，a set of qing，pending from a rack and each with a different tone，emerged and these qing series were a native Chinese invention．The whole rack is called Bianqing．
6)Erhu—Queen of Chinese Folk Orchestra
Producing one of the most beautiful and haunting sounds in Chinese music，the erhu(see picture 17-5)is one of the most popular Chinese bowed-string instruments with a history of more than 1，000 years．
Hailed as a Chinese violin，the erhu is quite different from a western fiddle．There is a vertical post with a fingerboard crosses the sides of a resonator at its base．This resonator，made of either wood or bamboo，is covered with a piece of stretched python skin．The erhu bow is placed between its two strings called the inner and outer strings．Traditionally the two strings are made of silk，but metallic strings are more popular now．An erhu player usually sits with the instrument on his or her left upper thigh in front of the left hip．The erhu is played by moving the bow horizontally over the two vertical strings，with sound produced by the vibration of the strings．
The range of erhu spans over three octaves and the tune produced shares some qualities with the violin，although it produces a more nasal tone which is gentle but firm．The erhu resembles a human voice and can imitate many natural sounds，such as birds and horses．It is a very expressive instrument，most known for playing melancholy tunes，but also for its joyful melodies．
The erhu is almost always a must in national orchestras．In fact，the erhu plays the same role as the violin in Western orchestras．The erhu is extremely popular in China today as a medium for both traditional and contemporary music and plays an important role in both solo and orchestral performances．
7)Dizi—Bamboo Flute
Dizi is native to China with a very long history．It became popular as early as the Warring States Period．Two flute instruments were discovered in the relics excavated in Tomb No．3 of Mawangdui in Changsha，Hunan Province．
This transverse bamboo flute has a blowing hole，a stop hole and six finger holes．Bamboo can be found in many places in China and it is very easy to make a bamboo flute．Therefore，bamboo flute is a very popular musical instrument in the country．
There are two basic kinds of dizi—bangdi and qudi．Bangdi，popular in northern China，got its name because it is used to accompany clapper-type operas．It is 40 centimeters long and has a strong and piping tone，suitable for expressing robust and lively emotions．Qudi，popular in southern China，is also named as sudi for its origin from Suzhou city．It is often used to accompany Kunqu Opera．Sudi is about 70 centimeters long and its tone is pure and mellow，making it suitable for expressing delicate and understated moods．
A large number of techniques are used when playing these wind instruments，such as tapping，tremolo，legato，flower tongue，augment，glide，trill，overtone．Famous dizi tunes include Joyous Meeting，The Partridge Soars，The Bird in the Shade，Five Clappers and A Trip to Suzhou．
8)Guqin—Representative Instrument of Chinese Music Culture
Guqin is(see picture 17-6)also called the seven-stringed qin．The body is a long and narrow sound box made of wood．Generally speaking，it is 130 centimeter long，20 centimeter wide and about 5 centimeter thick．The surface is generally made of paulownia wood or China fir，and has seven strings stretched along it．Black is the common color for guqin．Sometimes brown or red ones can also be seen．On the edges are 13 inlaid jade/gold markers．Catalpa wood is used for the base，and there are two holes，one big and one small(called the“phoenix pool”and“dragon pond”，respectively)to emit the sound．
Because it embodied the traditional cultural values of clarity，fineness，simplicity and far-sightedness，guqin，along with chess，calligraphy and painting，headed the list of four subjects scholars trained themselves in．Throughout history，philosophers and artists such as Confucius，Cai Yong and Ji Kang were all masters of the instrument．Old records contain a large number of treatises on guqin，and thousands of pieces of music for this instrument have been preserved．
In recent times，a dozen or so masters of guqin have emerged in China．They have mastered the strong points of the various schools of this instrument and grasped the interpretation of a large number of pieces of guqin music，manifesting not only their musical skill but also their deep esthetic appreciation．
9)Konghou—Chinese Harp
Konghou(see picture 17-7)，also called Kanhou，is an ancient plucked stringed instrument in China．There are mainly three kinds of konghou:one is played lying flat，one is played upright and another one is the phoenix-headed konghou．As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period，there appeared the rudiment of konghou played lying flat in the Chu Kingdom in southern China．Konghou was originally used in Yayue(court music)，and was used in Qingshangyue(a music genre) in the Han Dynasty．It was used in Yanyue(music played in court banquets)in the Sui Dynasty，and gradually prevailed among the ordinary people and in places inhabited by ethnic minorities．
Konghou played upright appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasty and got popular in the Sui and Tang Dynasties．It was generally played in rites and ceremonies．The phoenix-headed Konghou was introduced from India to the Central Plains of China in the Eastern Jin Dynasty，and was prevalent in the Sui and Tang Dynasties．
Konghou，with its sweet timbre and wide diapason，can be used to play not only cantus but also chord and has many advantages in both solo and tutti performances．It was an indispensable instrument in China's ancient royal courts．From basso-relievo in the Yungang Grottoes of Datong and Dunhuang murals we can see persons playing Konghou．This shows that Konghou playing was very popular in China a long time ago．
10)Pipa—an Expressive Instrument
The earliest form of pipa(see picture 17-8)known appeared in the Qin Dynasty．It had a long neck，leather surface and circular sound box，and was held upright．Around the time the Qin was succeeded by the Han Dynasty，this instrument underwent a number of modifications and it evolved into the ruan，three-string (sanxian)，yueqin，etc．All these forms of the pipa had the common characteristics of a straight neck and circular sound box．
Two major changes which took place in the course of its evolution were the practice of holding the instrument upright instead of horizontally while playing it and the use of 5 fingers to pluck the strings，instead of using a plectrum．The long-time history endowed pipa a rich collection of scores and a mature performing technique．In the 20th century，through the unremitting efforts of a large number of performing artists and composers，the amount of techniques and compositions developed quickly，with the result that the pipa is now one of China's most important national instruments for solo，accompaniment and ensemble recital．
11)Harvest Drum—A Special Instrument
Harvest drum，or peace drum，is popular among regions of Northeast China，Inner Mongolia，Hebei and Anhui provinces．It's a kind of feature instrument used mainly by the Han and Manchu people．It is said that the drum came into being in the Tang Dynasty and was named as harvest drum in the Ming Dynasty．
According to folk legends，the harvest drum was a tool used by Manchu hunters．Hunters were beating drums when they pursued an animal．And they kept beating drums to express their pleasure when they got back with their preys．
Harvest drums have many different features．Those used by Manchu are ovalshaped．The ones used by Han people are round，oblate or peach-shaped．The drum in Mongolia is only oblate-shaped．People like dancing accompanied by harvest drum playing，especially when they celebrate festivals．
12)Xun—One of the Oldest Music Instrument in China
The only earthen musical instrument is a kind of ocarina called xun(see picture 17-9)，which was a very important wind instrument in ancient China．It can produce sound with a timbre similar to that of human voice，and is suitable for performing some lamenting aria．People in ancient times used the instrument to imitate bird sounds and ensnare them．
The oldest xun that has been discovered in China up to now was made about six thousand years ago．For instance，a conical xun was discovered in the Hemudu of the Hangzhou Bay in Zhejiang Province．The xun without holes and the one-hole x un were found in the Yangshao Culture site in Banpo Village in Xi'an and x un was also discovered in Wanrong County of Shanxi Province，Yumen Huoshao Gou of Gansu Province and Huixian County in Henan Province．
13)Yangqin—Adapted from a Foreign Instrument
Yangqin(see picture 17-10)，the strike-stringed music instrument，was originated from west Asia and introduced to Europe in the 11th century．It was said to have been introduced to China from Europe in late Ming Dynasty．It has been combined into Chinese national music for more than 300 years and has become an important folk musical instrument．
To improve the traditional yangqin，Chinese musicians have tried very hard to make changes on its music scales，increase its harmony，augment its loudness and deepness，and improve its timbre．Moreover，many professional performing techniques have been developed to lift up on its expressions．Thus the instrument has been a dominant character in a modern Chinese ensemble as well as a powerful solo instrument for performing Chinese national pieces．
Word Bank
chime编钟，排钟
maestro名作曲，名指挥，艺术大师
ensemble合奏
tutti合奏，合唱
timbre音品，音色，音质
diapason音域
plectrum拨子，弦拨，琴拨
fret(弦乐器指板上定音的)品
resonator共鸣体，共振器
transverse横的
tremolo震音
legato连音
augment强音
trill颤音
overtone弦外音
partridge鹧鸪
catalpa梓，梓树
rudiment雏形
cantus曲调，旋律
basso-relievo浅浮雕
recital演奏会
oblate扁平的，扁圆的
ocarina奥卡里那笛，陶制的卵形笛
aria曲调，咏叹调
ensnare使入陷阱
参考译文
根据考古学家最近的发现，古代中国音乐远比人们所想的更为发达、复杂。在商朝，音乐已经成为如葬礼等传统仪式的一个重要部分。至周朝，音乐的发展就已经到达过一个高峰，打击乐器种类很多，也有吹奏乐器，筝类弦乐器较少。
拉弦乐器和大部分弹拨乐器在汉朝之后从中亚传入中国。唐朝是中国音乐史上一个重要时期，中亚音乐第一次大规模影响中国。到宋朝，中国音乐到达一个成熟阶段。
传统的中国乐器根据制作材料，按照周代的“八音”乐器分类法分为金、石、丝、竹、匏、土、革、木，其中不少乐器已经失传或者废弃。同现代乐器一样，传统的中国民族乐器一般也根据演奏方式分为四类:1)弹拨乐器;2)拉弦乐器;3)吹奏乐器;4)打击乐器。
1.民族管弦乐器的发展
2 000多年前中国就已有了许多乐器，如:钟、鼓、埙、铃等。到了周代和春秋战国时期，乐器发展到了80多种。秦、汉、三国、晋、南北朝和隋唐期间，由于各族人民的频繁交流，又出现了横吹(现在的笛)、羌笛(羌族的笛子，即现在的箫)、筚(现在的管子)、铜鼓、腰鼓等，这些都成为现代民族管弦乐器中的重要乐器。
五代、宋、元、明、清时期，由于民间文艺的兴起又增加了云锣、八角鼓、点鼓、小木鱼、梆子等打击乐器，唢呐等吹奏乐器，三弦、扬琴等弹拨乐器以及二胡、板胡、京胡、坠胡等拉弦乐器，乐器品种更为齐全。
同乐器一样，中国的器乐合奏在古代也很发达。在古代历史上，最有影响的乐队是汉代的鼓吹乐队和唐代的燕乐乐队。鼓吹乐以吹奏乐器和打击乐器为主，而燕乐乐队善于演奏细腻文雅的音乐。
不同朝代首都的所在地往往是音乐传播的中心，也是管弦乐队和音乐大师聚集的中心。例如，西安鼓乐始于作为唐朝首都的长安，开封大相国寺音乐出现于作为北宋首都的开封，北京智化寺音乐和河北管乐与北京曾是辽、金、元、明、清这几个朝代的首都有关系。离北京不远的河北省承德市是清朝皇帝的避暑山庄，当地的音乐艺术家现在还能演奏当时的宫廷音乐。因此不难理解为什么有这么多农民音乐家有如此高的音乐造诣，这是中国民族音乐史的一个重要组成部分。
2.代表性民族乐器
1)曾侯乙编钟——“国之瑰宝”
曾侯乙是战国时期的一个诸侯，从其墓中出土的墓葬物品规模相当可观，仅仅乐器就足以令人瞠目结舌，其中最令人震惊的就是堪称“国之瑰宝”的编钟。
整套编钟上下三层(见图17-1)，共有65枚，全部由青铜铸造，异常精美。每件钟体上都镌刻有金篆体铭文，正面均刻有“曾侯乙乍(作)持”或“曾侯乙乍(作)持用终”。
曾侯乙编钟的总音域可以跨五个八度，仅次于现代的钢琴。现代学者推断这套编钟不但可以演奏旋律，还可以演奏和声。
曾侯乙墓出土的所有乐器，制作工艺精美，音乐效果惊人，尤其是编钟，是中国古代音乐史上的一个奇迹。
2)坠胡——能说会唱的乐器
坠胡(一种拉弦乐器)是由小三弦改制的，又名坠琴或坠子。这种乐器既能独奏又能合奏，它的音域非常宽，声音柔和，音量也比较大，与别的乐器有所不同的是它可以惟妙惟肖地模仿人唱歌说话的声音，甚至鸟兽的叫声等。
关于坠胡的起源有一个传说。在清代的康熙年间，皇帝下御旨，撤掉宫廷戏班，艺人们便流落到民间卖艺。有一天，一个艺人的小三弦被老鼠咬坏了蒙皮，可是马上就要演出了，情急之下，这位艺人就用薄薄的桐木板代替，又把胡琴的弓子夹在两根弦中间拉奏。于是，一个既可演奏乐曲，又近似人声的乐器就诞生了——这就是坠胡。
3)骨笛——中国最早的乐器
现在的乐器五花八门，中式乐器，西式乐器，特色乐器，吹的、拉的、弹的、打的、刮奏的，真是不计其数。但是最早的乐器是骨笛(见图17-2)。20世纪80年代，中国发现了距今有8 000到9 000年之久的笛子——骨笛！1986年到1987年在河南省(中国中部)舞阳县贾湖村新石器遗址发掘出了随葬的骨头制成的笛子。目前，贾湖遗址中出土的骨笛达30多支，比较完整的有6支，其中3支七孔笛分别珍藏于北京故宫博物院、河南博物院和河南省文物研究所。这是迄今发现的最古老、完整、仍可吹奏的多调乐器。
4)柳琴——小琵琶
柳琴(见图17-3)声音很像曼陀林。柳琴用拨片弹奏，主要用于民歌和地方剧种中为其他乐器伴奏。
因其音箱形状像柳叶，所以叫柳琴或柳叶琴，俗名土琵琶、金刚腿，是苏北鲁南一带的柳琴戏及安徽泗州戏的主要伴奏乐器。
民间柳琴用柳木制作。原来的柳琴是二弦或三弦、七品，用拨子弹奏。经过多次改革，专业柳琴用檀香木或红木制作，琴拨同吉他弦拨，塑料制。而现代柳琴前半部用桐木制造，后半部用红檀木，将二弦七品改为四弦二十四品，依半音排列，扩大了音域，便于转调;又将弦改为钢丝弦，增大了音量，使音色更加优美。柳琴琴拨用牛角制，发音刚劲清脆，锐利明亮。
5)磬——最古老的打击乐器
磬(见图17-4)，是中国古代的石制打击乐器(也有用玉石雕刻成的)，悬挂在架子之上，用木槌敲击。磬不仅是乐器，还是权力和地位的象征。
根据文献记载，磬起源于中国人的祖先在日常生活经常用的一些片状的石制工具。他们在长期的生产过程中，发现这些工具能发出悦耳的声音，于是将它们当作娱乐的乐器使用。
考古学家们发现中国早在夏代(距今4 300多年)就有了这种乐器。到了周代，常有十几个大小成组的磬，每一个演奏不同的音调，这种磬被称为“编磬”。
6)二胡——民族管弦乐队的皇后
二胡(见图17-5)音色优美迷人，是中国最普遍的弓弦乐器，已有一千多年历史。
被称作“中国的小提琴”的二胡，与西方的提琴结构造型区别很大。垂直的琴杆是支撑琴弦、接指操作的重要支柱。琴杆底部的琴筒是二胡的共鸣箱，由木或竹制成，一端蒙蟒蛇皮。二胡的拉弓夹于两弦之间拉奏。过去二胡大多用丝弦，现在钢丝弦的使用日益普遍。演奏时通常将二胡置于左大腿根部，水平方向拉动琴弦之间的琴弓，音响来源于琴弦的振动。
二胡的音域跨3个八度，演奏效果可以与小提琴相媲美。音质略带鼻音，但是温婉而坚定。二胡声近似人声，可模拟自然界的许多声音，如鸟鸣和马蹄声等。二胡表现力丰富，能演奏忧思的曲调，也能演奏欢快的乐曲。
二胡在民乐队中是不可缺少的。事实上，二胡在民族管弦乐团中的作用相当于小提琴在西洋管弦乐团中的作用。它既能表现传统音乐，又能演奏当代音乐;既能用于独奏，也是合奏中不可替代的乐器。
7)笛子——竹笛
笛子是中国的土产，历史悠久，源远流长。早在战国时期就很流行，在湖南长沙马王堆三号墓出土的文物中，就有两支笛类乐器。
横吹的笛子上有一个吹奏孔、一个笛膜孔和六个按音孔。竹子遍于乡野，而且竹笛易于制作，因此流传很广。
民间常用的笛子有两种，梆笛和曲笛。流行于北方的梆笛因为其给梆子腔伴奏而得名。梆笛长40厘米，声音非常清脆、嘹亮，擅长演奏一些欢乐的曲子，具有中国北方粗犷豪放的风格。曲笛流传于南方，因其是为昆曲伴奏的主要乐器而得名。由于这种曲笛产于苏州所以也叫苏笛。曲笛大约有70厘米长，声音柔和清新，甜美圆润，具有南方细腻、委婉的风格。
笛子的演奏技巧多样，有打音、叠音、连音、花舌、强音、滑音、颤音和弦外音等，表现力极其丰富。著名的笛子曲目有《喜相逢》《鹧鸪飞》《荫中鸟》《五梆子》和《姑苏行》等。
8)古琴——中国音乐文化的代表
古琴(见图17-6)也叫七弦琴，琴身为一狭长木制音箱，一般长130厘米、宽20厘米、厚大约5厘米。面板用桐木或杉木，上有七弦。背板用梓木，下面有大小两个出音孔。大孔为“龙池”，小孔名“风沼”。琴身通常为黑色，但也有少数用棕色或红色。琴的面板上有13个小圆徽，玉制或金制，用来标记音的位置。
琴、棋、书、画是中国古代文人的四个朋友，其中所谈到的琴，就是现代所说的古琴。古琴体现了中国传统文化价值的清、精、简和远。在中国历史上，著名的哲学家和艺术家如孔子、蔡永和嵇康都会弹奏古琴。古代大量关于古琴的论述和数千首古琴曲都被保存流传了下来。
近年来涌现出一批古琴演奏家。他们的演奏不仅表现出精湛的技艺，而且体现了对古琴曲的深刻理解和欣赏。
9)箜篌——中国的竖琴
箜篌(见图17-7)，又名坎侯，是中国古老的弹拨乐器。箜篌有三种样式，卧箜篌、竖箜篌、凤首箜篌。远在春秋战国之时，中国南方楚国就已有了卧箜篌的雏形。箜篌最初用于雅乐，在汉代用于清商乐。隋代用于燕乐，并逐步流行于民间和少数民族地区。
东汉时期竖箜篌由波斯经西域传入中国，盛行于隋唐时代，一般多用于仪仗音乐中。凤首箜篌在东晋时经天竺传入中国中原地区，在中国隋唐时代使用广泛。
箜篌，音色明亮、音域宽广，不仅能演奏旋律，也能演奏和弦，在独奏与合奏中有着很多优越性，是中国古代皇室中不可缺少的乐器。从中国大同云冈石窟的浮雕上和敦煌壁画中的许多乐舞场面都可以看到弹奏箜篌的人像，可见在中国流传之广、之久。
10)琵琶——具有丰富表现力的乐器
琵琶(见图17-8)最早出现于秦朝。细长的琴颈、皮革的表面、圆形的音箱，竖抱着弹奏。秦末汉初，琵琶经历了数次改良，衍生出了阮、三弦和月琴等近亲乐器。琵琶的这些不同形式都有两个共同点，即直琴颈和圆音箱。
琵琶经历了两大变革，一是由横弹改为竖弹，二是由拨片弹改为五指弹。由于人们弹奏琵琶的历史悠久，积累了大量的曲目和演奏技法。二十世纪，在许多表演艺术家和作曲家的不懈努力下，出现了大量新的技巧和作品。琵琶现在是民乐独奏、伴奏和合奏中的重要乐器。
11)太平鼓——特色乐器
太平鼓流行于东北地区、内蒙古、河北和安徽等地，是汉族、满族、蒙古族等民族经常使用的特色乐器。太平鼓的历史由来已久，相传在唐朝就已存在。到了明代，民间开始固定其名称为“太平鼓”。
民间传说太平鼓最早是满族人打猎的用具。猎人们在围剿猎物时，一边敲鼓一边围追，在缴获了猎物以后又边击鼓边载歌载舞，来表达人们喜悦的心情。
太平鼓在各族都有不同特点。满族的鼓是椭圆形，汉族的鼓有圆形、桃形和扁圆形，而内蒙古(中国北方)的鼓只有扁圆形。人们在舞蹈时也使用太平鼓，经常配合舞蹈，边敲边舞，尤其是喜庆节日，更是鼓乐喧天、热闹非常。
12)埙——最古老的乐器之一
乐器中唯一用土制作的是埙(见图17-9)。埙是中国古代很重要的一种吹奏乐器，它有近似人声的音色，很擅长演奏一些抒情的哀婉曲调。在中国古代人们用这种乐器(当时是捕鸟的工具)模仿鸟叫，用来诱捕鸟兽。
目前发现最为古老的埙是在6 000多年前，比如浙江杭州湾河姆渡出土的圆锥形埙。西安半坡村仰韶文化遗址的无孔埙和一孔埙。而在山西万荣县、甘肃玉门火烧沟、河南辉县等地均有发现埙。
13)扬琴——洋为中用的琴
扬琴(见图17-10)是击奏弦鸣乐器，相传扬琴起源于西亚，公元11世纪时传入欧洲。明代晚期扬琴传入中国，始称“洋琴”，流传至今已300余年，成为中国重要的民族乐器。
传统扬琴经近代中国扬琴演奏家和乐器制造家的不断改进，扩大了音域，提高了和谐度，增加了音量和厚度，美化了音色。加上专业演奏技巧的发展使得这一传统乐器更具备丰富的音乐表现力，成为乐团中举足轻重的独奏、重奏、合奏与伴奏乐器。
Exercises
Section A Thought-provoking questions
1．How are Chinese musical instruments divided？
2．What do silk instruments include？
3．Can you name the instruments included in the wind instruments category？
4．What do you know about Chinese percussion instruments？
5．What is the role of the musical instruments of the ethnic minorities？
Section B Fill in the blanks with the names of the musical instruments
1．The______is a dulcimer played using a pair of bamboo mallets rubberized on one end．
2．The______is a soprano range lute．It looks similar to the pipa but smaller with two sound holes on each side of the body．
3．Like pipa players，______players also have to wear synthetic nails，sometimes on both hands depending on the requirements of the piece．
4．A______is somewhat similar to the Western orchestral harp．Therefore，sometimes a Western harp is used as a substitute when it is not available．
5．The tone produced by______is loud，piercing and uplifting，thus it is usually used to perform vibrant and lively pieces．
6．______instruments produce sound by striking on the surface．
7．The______，or Chinese gong，is made of high-tin bronze，hammered into the shape of a sifter．
8．The______，mostly made of mulberry，was used originally to accompany Buddhist chants only．Since the Qing dynasty the instrument has appeared in folk ensembles．
9．The______means“gourd silk”．“Gourd”is the material making the instrument while“silk”refers to its silky tone．
10．______is a musical instrument with five or six pipes of different pitches，played by such ethnic groups as the Dong and the Miao．
※The most important thing in governing is to utilize revenue intelligently and avoid waste.
From Analects of Confucius
(政在节财。)
——《论语》
※In guiding a large country，serve respect fully and be trustworthy.Spend frugally and care for the people.And employ the people at appropriate times.
From Analects of Confucius
(道千乘之国，敬事而信，节用而爱人，使民以时。)
——《论语》