|
Chinese Musical Instruments - Instrument 5
Ruan - Plucked String Instrument - Page 2
It is a short necked Chinese foiled lute, 4
strings, played by plectrum. It is used by orchestras as well as for
accompanying operatic performances. The ruan consists of three parts:
resonator, neck and head. On the neck are 24 frets in half steps. Four strings,
tuned to fifths (like a mandolin), provide a wide range of notes. It comes in
several sizes according to their different ranges. Neat delicate tone. The ruan
is now constructed as a family of soprano, alto, tenor and bass, a development
intended to increases its range and effectiveness in the modern Chinese
orchestra. The alto and the tenor are commonly used. A plectrum is needed in
performance. Mellow in tone quality, it is often seen in ensembles or in
accompaniments, and as a solo instrument in recent years. The ruan hs a
history of over 2,000 years,
|