What is Banhu?

One of the central components of the Chinese instrument is the Banhu. The Banhu (sometimes called the Banghu, Banzhu or qinhu) is a two string fiddle (a fiddle is a bowed string instrument). It is classified as one of the Chinese traditional bowed string musical instrument that belongs to the family of huqin (a bowed string instrument that derived from the Turco Mongol Tribe or commonly known as the Xi tribe that consist of octagonal, round or hexagonal sound box). The Banhu term has two unambiguous meaning; the ‘ Ban ’ means a flat board and the ‘ Hu ’ is the short term for the huqin. It was also believed that the term ‘ hu’ means a Barbarian fiddle. The Banhu is the 4^th classification of Huqin family in the traditional Chinese bowed string musical instrument. Other members of huqin include the Gaohu (same with erhu yet the sound box is smaller), zhonghu (larger size compared to erhu and equivalent in western viola cello and bouble bass) and the jinghu (used in the Beijing opera and one of the instruments that survived from the Qing Dynasty). The Banhu is essentially same with the Erhu (or the nanhu wherein the sound box is hexagonal or round and creates a very expressive and warm tone), yet the only divergence between the two is that, the sound box of Banhu is covered with a thick wooden instead of a snakeskin (python). The Banhu or Banghu is also closely related to other Chinese musical instrument like the Ehu and the Gaohu.

The Banhu has four (4) modern versions which include the alt Banhu, the bamboo Banghu, the median Banhu and the three stringed Banhu.

The history of Banghu

The term Banhu came from its wooden sound board that covers half of the globular resonating chamber of coconut. The Banghu is the most outstanding name that refers the historical usage in the opera of northern Bangzi in the middle of 17^th century during the Qing Dynasty. From that moment, the playing of Banhu extends in many regional operas & famous narratives that spread over the north, northeast and northwest of China which deceives the origin of the strong styles of local opera. The Banhu are closely related to the following instruments; the Yehu, a fiddle that originated from China and the Dangao that generated from Vietnam. Some of the popular Banhu music that is used on folk music in Celtic are the Da Qi Ban – which is a famous opera tune, Hua Bang Zi – a distinctive Banhu tune came from the province of Hebei, Huan Qing De Ri Zi which means days of jubilation, Niao Tou Lin or known as the birds roosting into the woods, Shan Dong Xiao Qu which means a small bridge in the province of Shandong, the Qin Chuan Xing – which is Guanzhong plain journey, Qinqiang which is the opera in the province of Shaanxi and the Yue Ya Wu Geng which literally means crescent before the dawn.

Certain parts of Banhu

Based on the International Radio in China, the Banhu is made usually from the tung wood and regarded frequently as countryside instrument. The sound box is made out of coconut shell covered with an emaciated slice of wood, (sometimes bamboo or bronze). The tune quality is sonorous, clear and uninhibited.

The instrument measures about 70 cm long and has 2 strings that are made of wire or silk. The strings of Banhu are generally tuned a 4^th apart or a 5^th that engenders a bright, crisp and strident tone quality and frequently employs the glissando. The upright 2 strings of the instrument are stretched transversely on a wooden rod that ends on a concave resonating canister. The instrument also ranges over 5 octaves with strings tuned to A or the space on the bottom bass clef and d1 which is the space located below the treble clef.

Uses of the Banhu

The Banhu instruments are noted on its capability on paying rapid notes by bowing. It is considered one of the instruments that lend a strong local flavour. It is used as the accompanying instrument in different local and regional operas and popular narratives in north China. The Banhu is used as a solo instrument and lead in band with its alto sound since it is good in performing passionate and joyful moods. It also became the lead instrument in the vehenet & resounding Shanxi Opera and became one of the most popular musical bowed string instruments in modern Chinese ensemble.