What is the Sheng?

The sheng is an ancient traditional Chinese wind instrument, which is the earliest instrument in the world to use a free reed, and has played an active role in promoting the development of Western musical instruments.

In the past, the sheng did not have a wide range of tones, and was generally used only for ensemble playing or accompaniment, rarely for solo performance. When playing a piece of music with insufficient sound, the sheng was often used to play with a borrowed sound. Nowadays, the reformed sheng has become a solo instrument with rich expressive power, capable of playing robust tunes as well as beautiful and lyrical melodies, represented by "The Peacock Opens Its Screen" and "The Phoenix Spreads Its Wings".

Sheng outreach and influence:

China's sheng on the development of Western musical instruments, once played a positive role in promoting. The sheng was first introduced to Persia through the Silk Road, and in 1777 the French missionary Amio introduced the sheng to Europe.

In 1780, the Danish organ maker Korsnik, who lived in Russia, firstly made the reed puller of the organ according to the reed principle of the sheng in China, and since then the organ began to use the free reed with a soft and pleasant tone.

Towards the end of the 18th century, the sheng was praised by the academician of Russian Academy of Sciences Ya Shtarim as the "most popular Chinese pipe organ". In the late 18th century, Ya Shtilin, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, wrote an article praising the sheng as "the most popular Chinese organ. Later on, it promoted the creation of other free-reed instruments.

In 1810, the French instrument maker Grenier made the organ; in 1821, the German Bushman invented the harmonica, and the following year invented the accordion.