Chinese instruments

In the cottage bamboo forests of Dehong Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Lincang and other places in Yunnan, people often play a very special flute - Tuliang.

Made of Tuliang bamboo, the whole bamboo tube has no sound hole, only an oval blow hole in the middle of the tube, and the wall of the hole is trimmed sharply, thinly and evenly. Tuliang's playing method is different: blow horizontally, hold the left end of the pipe body with the left hand, open and close the two ends of the pipe mouth with the thumb of the left hand and the palm of the right hand, and play the melody with the change of the breath. Orifice, or quick opening and closing for vibrato and a variety of techniques. The sound is similar to the flute, crisp, bright and high-pitched, full of mountain flavor. In the Jingpo people, it is usually played by boys when grazing in the mountains and fields. During the season when the grain is ripe, adults or old people often play it to entertain themselves when guarding crops in the field shed. It is also often used as an accompaniment to various folk songs and dances. . The repertoires often played include "Fang Cow Tune", "Folk Song Tune" and a special piece "Duo Duo Di".

Tuliang's tones are listed as follows: low range: 1, 2, 5, 6, mid range: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, high range: 1, 2.

The reason why Tuliang can blow the pitch without pressing the sound hole is that the mouthpiece is not opened in the middle, so the sound pipes at both ends have different pitches. When the two ends of the bamboo flute are closed, the wonderful bamboo flute appears.

The Beijing Bamboo Orchestra has used Tuliang in stage performances at home and abroad.

Tu Liang playing: Young people of Jingpo ethnic group in Yunnan

The video was shot in Yunnan in May 2014.