Xiao (flute)

Xiao blowing hole (the hole faces away from the player, against the lower lip, when the instrument is played)

The xiao (simplified Chinese: 箫; traditional Chinese: 簫; pinyin: xiāo; Wade–Giles: hsiao) is a Chinese vertical end-blown flute. It is generally made of dark brown bamboo (called "purple bamboo" in Chinese). It is also sometimes called dongxiao (simplified Chinese: 洞箫; traditional Chinese: 洞簫), dong meaning "hole." An ancient name for the xiao is shùdí (豎笛, lit. "vertical bamboo flute") but the name xiao in ancient times also included the side-blown bamboo flute, dizi.

The xiao is a very ancient Chinese instrument usually thought to have developed from a simple end-blown flute used by the Qiang people of South-West China. The modern six-hole form of the instrument goes back to the Ming dynasty.

Organology

Xiao is today most often pitched in the key of G (with the D above middle C being the lowest note, with all fingers covered), although xiao in other less common keys are also available, most commonly in the key of F. More traditional xiaos have six finger holes, while most modern ones have eight; the additional holes do not extend the instrument's range but instead make it easier to play notes such as F natural. There are a further four (sometimes two or six) sound holes situated at the bottom third of the length of the xiao. The blowing hole is at the top end, usually cut into a 'U' shape. Some xiaos have the blowing end entirely cut off, so the player must use the space between their chin and lips to cover the hole fully. There may be a metal joint between the blow hole and the top finger hole for tuning purposes and sometimes also between the last finger hole and the end. The length of the xiao ranges from around 45 cm to over 1.25 m but is usually around 75-85 cm. Usually, shorter xiaos are more difficult to play because of the need to control one's breath more accurately. The angle to play the xiao is around 45 degrees from the body.

Several xiao flutes

Varieties of xiao

The qinxiao (simplified Chinese: 琴箫; traditional Chinese: 琴簫) is a version of the xiao, which is narrower and generally in the key of F with eight finger holes, used to accompany the guqin. The narrowness of the qin xiao makes the tone softer, making it more suitable to play with the qin (which is a very quiet instrument). It is also the longest of all xiao types, up to 1.25m.

The nanxiao (simplified Chinese: 南箫; traditional Chinese: 南簫), "Southern xiao"), sometimes called chiba (Chinese: 尺八, "foot-eight" an old name still used for the Japanese shakuhachi) is a short xiao with open blowing end used in the Nanyin, the local Fujianese opera from Quanzhou.

Related instruments

A separate instrument, the paixiao (simplified Chinese: 排箫; traditional Chinese: 排簫; pinyin: páixiāo) is a panpipe which was used in ancient China and which, although it remains unusual, has recently had something of a come-back.

The Japanese shakuhachi and hocchiku, and the Korean danso (also spelled tanso), are descended from earlier forms of the Chinese xiao.

External links

• Xiao page from Paul and Bernice Noll site

Video

• Dongxiao video from The Musical Instruments E-book

See also

• Chinese flutes
• End-blown flute
• Music of China
• Traditional Chinese musical instruments
• Shakuhachi
• Bamboo