Erhu
Chinese two-string spike fiddle; the bow hair runs between the strings.
What it means
The erhu is a Chinese two-string bowed instrument held on the knee and played upright. Its small sound box is covered on one side with snakeskin, and the long neck has no fingerboard. A distinctive feature is the bow: its hair passes between the two strings and is fixed to the bow stick, so the bow cannot be lifted away from the strings.
Musical use
The erhu is one of the most important bowed instruments of Chinese music. It is played as a solo instrument, in folk and opera ensembles, and in modern orchestras of Chinese instruments. Its tone is singing and expressive and can imitate weeping, laughter, or natural sounds.
The erhu should be distinguished from the violin, which is held differently, bowed with a freely guided bow, and has a fingerboard. Related instruments such as the gaohu or the banhu also differ from the erhu in size, tuning, and tone color.
Performance practice
Since the strings are not pressed onto a fingerboard, you touch them lightly with your fingertips while they hang free. Practise even bow strokes and secure intonation first, because the smallest finger movements change the pitch. Sliding between notes is an essential means of expression on the erhu and should be shaped deliberately.