Xiao: China musical instrument

The xiao is a Chinese vertical end-blown flute. The musical instrument is generally produced of dark brown bamboo. The musical instrument is sometimes called ‘dongxiao’. An ancient name for the xiao is ‘shudi’. The xiao is a very ancient Chinese musical instrument often thought to have developed from a simple end-blown instrument used by the Qiang people of the southwestern China in the ancient era.

source: s-o-n.net

Today, the xiao are most often pitched in the key of G, though the musical instrument in other less common keys are also available, most commonly in keys of F. more traditional version of the xiao have six finger holes on it, while the modern version of the musical instrument have about eight finger holes on it; the additional holes on the instrument do not extend the range of the instrument but rather make it easier to perform notes like the F natural.

There are further 4 sound holes located beneath third of the length of the musical instrument. The blowing hole of the instrument is at the top end of the instrument, it may be cut into a ‘U’ shape, ‘V’ shape or at an angle. Some xiao have the blowing end fully cut off, as this will permit the player of the musical instrument to use the space between their chin and lips to cover the hole entirely. There could be a metal joint between the blowing hole of the instrument and the top finger hole for tuning functions and sometimes also between the last finger hole of the instrument and the end. The length of the musical instrument ranges from about 45 cm to above 75 to 85 cm. commonly, shorter versions of the musical instrument are more difficult to perform because of the need for the player of the musical instrument to control his breath more accurately. The angle to perform the xiao instrument is about 45 degree from the body of the player.

The qinxiao is a version of the xiao musical instrument that is narrower and commonly in the key of the F with 8 finger holes. The musical instrument is used to accompany the guqin. The narrowness of the musical instrument makes the tone softer and this makes it suitable to perform with the qin instrument. The instrument is also the longest of all the versions of the xiao family, with about 1.25 meters.

The nanxiao that also called ‘chiba’ is a short version of the xiao, with open blowing end. This version of the musical instrument is used in the Nanyin, the local Fujian’s opera from Quazhou.

A separate musical instrument, the paixiao is a panpipe that was used in the ancient China and that has recently had something of a come-back, although it remains unusual.

The Japanese ‘shakuhachi and hocchiku’ and the Korean ‘tungsu and danso’ are fabricated from the earlier version of the musical instrument in china.