Harmonium...

Good Day Peeps !!!

Today, I'm going to explain to you about the harmonium. Do you know what is harmonium?

Actually, harmonium is the musical instrument that looks like a  keyboard or a piano, but it's sounds more like an accordion. Why? This is because foot and hand operated keys and pedals shoot air through reeds that give it the sound a woodwind instrument might make. The harmonium originated in Paris in 1842, using a free reed technology that was developed around 1780. The man credited with inventing the harmonium is Alexandre Debain.

How to play harmonium?

First, we have to press the foot pedals at the base of the instrument. At the same time, sets of keys are all pushed to pump air at different points inside the harmonium. This air passes over various free reeds inside, which vibrate and produce different sounds, depending on the note desired.

Different types of harmoniums are categorized by the sets of reeds they have. Those used in most classical music have only one set while those used for Islamic religious music usually have three sets. Two- and four-set harmoniums also exist.

 Today, harmoniums are not manufactured by any Western nation, but they are sold between enthusiasts and are often modernized for contemporary use. The Estey Company, the last manufacturer of the harmonium, ceased production in the 1950s.

Last but not least, to those who never play the harmonium, please give it a try. It is very interesting to play it because it such a great musical instrument.

Angklung...

GooD MoRNiNG Guys !!!!

Firstly, I would like to ask you. Do you know what is angklung?

Angklung is one of the musical instruments. It is made out of two or more bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. It is carved to get a reasonant pitch when struck. The tubes are tuned to octaves or making chord.The base of the frame is held with one hand while the other hand shakes the instrument rapidly from side to side. This causes a rapidly repeating note to sound.(tremolo)

Thus each of three or more angklung performers in an ensemble will play just one note and together complete melodies are produced,or played by single player on the rack. Angklung is popular throughout Southeast Asia, but originated from Indonesia (used and played by the Sundanese since the ancient times).It is heard it both folkloric and modern songs. It is is a familiar and beautiful sound in Indonesia.

According to folklore, angklung was a musical instrument of agricultural festivals and was also used during the festivities to arouse the fighting spirits of soldiers. It was also associated in Java with kuda lumping dancing tuned to the traditional pentatonic scale .

We produce two tubes angklung and three tubes angklung using black bamboo(bambu hitam/ Gigantochloa aff. atter ) tuned to the International Chromatic scale(diatonic scale) which differs from the traditional pentatonic scale .

Erhu...

Hi everybody !

Long time no write something. So, today I will continue write about the Malaysian musical instruments. I will write about "Erhu". Do you know what is Erhu?

Erhu is a kind of violin (fiddle) with two strings which. It is said that its origin would be dated up to the Tang dynasty and related to the instrument, called xiqin originated from a Mongolian tribe Xi. During Song dynasty, the instrument was introduced to China and was called "Ji Qin". Soon the second generation of the huqin was among the instruments played at the imperial banquets. During the Dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing, the erhu underwent a great development at the time of the golden age of the local operas. The erhu then developed in a different "schools". Two famous artists Hua Yanjun (1893-1950) and Liu Tianhua(1895-1932) made an exceptional contribution to the improvement of the erhu, and it was indeed due to the latter that the erhu, an instrument mainly for accompaniment in an opera, becomes a solo instrument. After the foundation of People's Republic of China (1949), the manufacture of the erhu, the playing techniques, the repertoire as well as the musical education of this instrument have undergone an unpresidented development. The repertoire has grown rapidly in the genres of solo, with ensemble as well as concerti with symphony orchestra. Erhu now has become one of the most popular instruments in China.

The sound body of the erhu is a drum-like little case usually made of ebony or sandalwood and snake skins. It usually has a hexagonal shape with the length of approximately 13 cm. The front opening is covered with skin of python (snake) and that of the back is left open. The functions of this case of resonance are to amplify the vibrations of the strings. The neck of the erhu is about 81 cm long and is manufactured with the same materials as the drum. The top of the stem is bent for decoration. The two strings of the erhu is usually tuned D and A. The two tuning handles (pegs) are found close to the end of the stem. There is no frets (as contrast to the lute) or touching board (as contrast to violin). The player creates different pitches by touching the strings at various positions along the neck of the instrument. The strings are usually made of silk or nylon. Nowadays, metal strings are commonly used. The bow is 76 cm long and is manufactured of reed which one curves during cooking, and arched with horse hair in the same way as the bow of violin. However, in the case of erhu, the horse hair runs between the two strings. In another word, one cannot take off the bow from the instrument unless one of the two strings is taken off or broken.

Lastly, for your information Erhu often plays an important role in the national orchestras. In the smaller orchestras, there are usually 2 to 6 erhu, in larger ones, 10 with 12. In fact, the erhu plays the same role as the violin in the Western orchestras.

Bye, thank you...=)

Gambus...

G`day peeps ,

Hi everyone ! How are you?

Today I'm going to write about one of the musical instruments in Malaysia.

First and foremost, I want to ask you. Do you know what are the musical instruments? Basically musical instruments can be defined as device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The musical instruments of Malaysia originate from a vast diversity of cultures or countries and are not indigenous to Malaysia. Some of these instruments are found all over Malaysia while others are common only in specific states. There are many varieties of Malaysian musical instruments. One of them is called "Gambus".

Gambus originated from the middle eastern. It is the common lute found in a variety of styles in Malay folk music as well as syncretic music such as ghazal. It is also used to accompany song and dance in Sabah. The Malaysian version uses 9 to 12 wire strings which are plucked. There are two types of gambus in use, the Gambus Hadramaut and Gambus Hijaz.

Gambus Hadramaut

Gambus Hadramaut is shaped like a pear fruit. It is made from a combination of pieces of light wood like the seraya merah, seraya bunga, merawan dan durian belanda. Gambus Hadramaut do not have frets and the strings are plucked and attached in double course except the 11th string which is attached individually. The strings are tuned in perfect fifths down from the highest string, starting from middle C. Regular acoustic guitar strings are used.

Gambus Hijaz

Gambus Hijaz is usually used in the Hamdolok performance in Johor. The body of this gambus is made from jackfruit tree wood and its front surface is made of goat skin. For the gambus hijaz the strings are attached in double course and also tuned a perfect fifth down from the highest string, starting from middle C.

Last but not least, I hope you are really enjoy reading it. At the same time, you get some information about 'gabus', one of the Malaysian musical instruments.

Bye, thank you....