Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional stories - Horse head qin is a unique traditional musical instrument of what ethnic group

Horse head qin is a unique traditional musical instrument of what ethnic group

The horse-head qin is a traditional instrument of the Mongolian people. Specific reasons are as follows:

The horse-head qin has a long history, evolved from the Tang and Song dynasty stringed instrument Xiqin, when Genghis Khan has been spread to the folk. But Genghis Khan to Kublai period, still mainly plucked instruments, Mongolian soldiers and herdsmen like to dance collective song.

Later, after the rapid development of nomadic music on the steppe, the horse-head qin, a stringed instrument, stood out and gained wide popularity, and eventually replaced the status of plucked instruments, becoming the Mongolian nation's most grassland characteristics of folk instruments.

The origin of the name of the horse-head qin:

The horse-head qin is named after the horse's head that is carved and decorated on the head of the qin. The Qing Historical Manuscript reads: "The huqin is made of routered tung, with two strings, a dragon's head, and a square handle. Groove ellipse and the next sharp, bubbling with leather, groove outside the wood such as hairpins like buckle string, dragon head under the mouth of the mountain, chiseled string, ò to two shafts, one each on the left and right, to the wooden system horse tail 81 stems tied". It is known that the horse head qin originally also has a dragon head.

Horse head qin playing method:

Playing the horse head qin, usually in a sitting position, the qin box clamped in the middle of the two legs, the horse head qin player's left hand holding the qin, the qin placed on the left side, with the left hand to hold down the handle (string beams), with the thumb to hold the body of the qin underneath the "belly of the horse", the left hand, thumb and forefinger clamping the strings of the beams, through the The left thumb and forefinger hold the string beam, and the sound is adjusted by changing the position and strength of the left hand's pressure on the strings.

Characteristics of the Horsehead Harp:

1. Unique Tone

The sound of the Horsehead Harp is high and melodious, and expresses the bold and brave emotions of the Mongolian people. Its special sound effects are often used to express themes such as grassland flavor and heroic ambition.

2, wide range

The Ma Touqin has a wide range, and many Ma Touqin players are able to play very high pitches, which makes the music performance more realistic.

3. Various playing techniques

The Ma Touqin has a variety of playing techniques, such as focusing on the left hand's stringing technique, the right hand's bowing technique, and bowing technique, etc. These techniques, together with the player's rich emotion, are the most important elements of the Ma Touqin. These techniques, together with the rich emotions of the players, make the music very full and vivid.

4. Rich forms of expression

The horse-head qin can be used for playing and vocal combination, instrumental solo, repertoire, ensemble and other forms, such as the famous "horse-head qin repertoire". As one of the indispensable instruments in Mongolian traditional music, the horse-head qin not only has a unique charm in instrumental solo performance, but also can interpret colorful musical expressions in various forms of ensemble and repertoire.

5, with cultural connotations

The horse-head fiddle has an important position in Mongolian culture, and is regarded as one of the important elements representing Mongolian traditional culture, reflecting the unique aesthetic characteristics and cultural qualities of Mongolian folk art.