Characteristics of Ma Touqin Traditional Music

Ma Touqin is a solo instrument, which can also be used for instrumental ensemble, rap, folk songs, dance accompaniment or playing in national bands. Ma Touqin has different names, shapes (including regular trapezoid, inverted trapezoid, hexagon or octagon), timbre and playing methods due to different regions. Ma Touqin's peculiar design is closely related to the Mongols' worship of horses. Ma Touqin consists of a * * * sound box, a piano stem, a piano head, a chord, a horse, strings and a bow, with a total length of about 100cm and no weight. The frame board of the piano box is hardwood, and the piano box is hollow. Both sides of the piano box are usually covered with animal skins, and the upper and lower plates of the piano box are provided with holes for loading the piano rods. The left and right side plates are provided with sound holes, a piano case cover, a front cover and a back cover. There are several Ma Touqin, both sides of which are covered with thin plates and arched.