The flute problem

Introduction and classification of flute

-Suzhou Zhou Wanchun Musical Instrument Store plays wind instruments.

Brief introduction of flute

For a long time, there are different opinions about when China bamboo flute was produced. Among the cultural relics unearthed in Hemudu, Yuyao, Zhejiang Province in recent years, there is a kind of bone flute which is very similar to our six-hole flute today. It has a history of 7000 years. It should be said that this is the oldest musical instrument ever discovered. In addition, there are seven bronze flutes of Warring States collected by overseas Chinese in the United States. Two flutes blown horizontally in the tomb of Zeng Houyi in the early Warring States period unearthed in Suixian County, Hubei Province; Two transverse flutes unearthed from Mawangdui No.3 Han Tomb in Changsha, Hunan Province (BC 168); Luobowan, Guixian County, Guangxi

Seven flutes, made of two pieces of bamboo and blown horizontally according to the sound holes, unearthed in Tomb No.1 prove that flutes are the most primitive musical instruments, several generations earlier than any other musical instruments.

According to the legend recorded in Lu Chunqiu, Yuhai and other documents, and two bamboo flutes unearthed in Suixian County, it is inferred that bamboo flutes existed in China at the latest in the Yellow Emperor's era (2400 BC), while in the Han and Jin Dynasties, flutes of different lengths were made according to the theory of temperament. "Book of Jin" contains a passage by the flute player Liehe: "Where music is played in an ensemble, the sound is clear and muddy, and the duration of the flute is short. Those who pretend to be dumb use three feet and two flutes, so they are called two feet and nine tones. Legend has it that during the Han and Wei Dynasties. This is all natural ... ". At the same time, Cai Xun, Liang Wudi and others all made twelve-tone flutes. The flute is rhythmic, so it is "eight tones, seven tones and no harmony". In the Jin Dynasty, there were already "Shun Di" (vertical blowing, with slotted wood blocks in the pipe, which made a sound when blown) and "Handflute" (nine inches long, similar to today's high-pitched flute). After the Sui Dynasty, in order to solve the problem that the twelve-tone flute is too complicated, a kind of flute that can play chromatic scales appeared. In the Tang Dynasty, it was made into "shakuhachi" vertical blowing, which was very popular at that time. It spread to Japan with the elegant music of the Tang Dynasty. At the same time, Liu made a seven-star tube with a flute membrane on it to help make sound. He was also the first person to talk about flute movies. In the Song Dynasty, there appeared a "fork flute" with a blowhole in the middle and two hands crossed. According to the Records of the History of Song Dynasty, this flute can be used as a twelve-rotation palace or a eighty-four tone. Its system is as small as an elegant flute and 9 inches long as a yellow bell tube. It has six tricks, four left and two right, which are performed by musicians. It has an arch when two hands are hung cross. Please call it Chen Gong subway. "This kind of flute is similar to today's big mouth flute. After the Song Dynasty, the shape of the bamboo flute was exactly the same as that of the present six-hole bamboo flute. Due to the prevalence of traditional Chinese opera, bamboo flute has become an important instrument to accompany traditional Chinese opera.

Structure of bamboo flute

Bamboo flute is made of bamboo tube, which is hollow inside and cylindrical outside. There are 1 blowhole, 1 membrane hole, 6 sound holes, 2 sound holes and 2 auxiliary sound holes on the pipe body. The flute body is made of bamboo tube, and the interior is hollow to form an inner chamber. A plug made of cork is installed in the pipe at the upper end of the water spray hole to a certain depth. Blow hole: it is the first hole at the left end of the flute body. The flute can make sound, that is, air is injected into the flute tube through the blowing hole, which makes the bamboo spring in the flute membrane and bamboo tube vibrate. Membrane hole: it is the second hole at the left end of the flute body. Mainly used for sticking flute membranes. The flute membrane plays a role in changing the timbre here. The flute can be played without a membrane hole, but it can't get a unique tone with a membrane. Flute film: It is usually made of reed film, and then it is rubbed with small squares. After the airflow vibrates the flute membrane, it can make a crisp and bright sound. Sound hole: (press the finger hole) * * * There are six sound holes in all. If these sound holes are opened and closed separately, different sounds can be made.

Sound holes can be used for tuning and play a role in defining the lowest range of the flute.

The two holes at the lower end of the sound hole can be used to adjust the treble, beautify the timbre and increase the volume, and can also be used to float the ears.

The seabed, also known as the flute brain, is a section of the flute body cavity from the inner edge of the flute plug to the center of the blowing hole, which prevents the airflow from flowing upward, makes the breeze flow downward, and concentrates on pronunciation.

Silk strings are used to wind silk around the flute body, and there are 2 1 to 24 channels to protect the flute body from breakage.

Floating ear: an ornament tied to a sound hole, usually woven with ribbon.

Entrance: Usually the left end (or both ends) of the flute body is inlaid with ox bone, ox horn, jade or ivory, which is called inlay.

Varieties and specifications of bamboo flute

Bamboo flutes are widely spread and varied. Qu Di, Band-Aid and Dingdi are the most widely used. There are Yuping flute, Seven-hole flute, Piccolo and Shun Di.

Qu Di: It is named for its accompaniment to Kunqu Opera, also known as Bandi, City Di or Silk-wrapped Di. Because it is abundant in Suzhou, it is also called "Su Causeway". This kind of flute is mostly in the key of C or D, and the pipe is thick and long, which may be the legacy of the big cross-blowing. The timbre is rich and soft, fresh and round. Widely popular in southern China, it is most suitable for solo or ensemble. It is one of the most distinctive and important musical instruments in local music, such as bamboo and silk in the south of the Yangtze River, percussion in the south of Jiangsu Province, flute sets and gongs and drums in Chaozhou, and Kunqu music.

Bangzi: named after the accompaniment of Bangzi opera. This kind of flute is usually called: F-key bangdi, G-key bangdi and A-key bangdi. The pipe body is thinner and shorter than that of Qu Di, which may be the legacy of small side blowing. High-pitched and bright timbre is a kind of flute playing high notes, which is mainly popular in the north. It is mostly used to accompany concerts, Pingju and Bangzi (Shaanxi Opera, Hebei Bangzi, Pu Opera, etc.). ) in the north, it can also be used for solo, with strong local flavor and local color.

Tuning flute: Each flute has a fixed tune, and each set has 6, 7 or 12 flutes. Suitable for playing different tunes, most suitable for solo or band performance. It brings convenience to the player, and can keep the fingering unchanged and only play the flute corresponding to the music. A copper socket is installed between the blowing hole and the sound hole of the tuning flute body to adjust the distance between the blowing hole and the sound hole. This improved tuning flute can control the pitch by adjusting the length of the pipe under different climatic conditions. The fixed pitch flute will play a positive role in unifying the names of bamboo flutes in China, because it is no longer divided into Qu Di and Bangdi, but named after the pitch of three holes, which not only conforms to the traditional folk playing habits, but also solves the confusion of flute height adjustment, and brings great convenience for notation and performance. It is completely suitable for traditional six-hole flutes and various reform flutes.

Yuping flute: produced in Yuping County, Guizhou Province. Made of local bamboo. The flute body is oval, and the outside is engraved with landscapes, flowers and birds, animals, insects, fish or poems. , the craft is fine. Pairs of male and female flutes are more famous. The male flute tube is slightly thicker and engraved with "Longteng". The female flute tube is slightly thinner, with bright pronunciation and engraved with "colorful wind". This kind of dragon flute is quite unique in technology.

Piccolo: Also called student flute, the flute is very short and generally has no sound hole. There are two kinds of holes with and without membrane, which are used for practice or ensemble.

Bass flute: In recent years, with the improvement of musical instruments and the diversified development of music. There are more and more kinds of flutes. For example: long bassoon, bent bass flute and so on. The pitch of the third hole is lower than b 1, which is called "bass flute", such as big A, big G, big F, big C and so on.

Shiatsu

The finger pressing method is as follows: press the first, second and third sound holes at the fingertips of the ring finger, middle finger and index finger of the right hand respectively; The thumb is clamped between the second hole and the third hole below the flute body; The little finger is gently attached to the flute body or placed naturally. Press the fourth, fifth and sixth sound holes at the fingertips of the ring finger, middle finger and index finger of the left hand respectively; Hold the thumb under the six-hole membrane hole; The little finger is naturally placed outside the third and fourth holes.

Correct mouth shape

When playing, the upper and lower lips are slightly open to both sides, just like when smiling. Lips should be neither too tight nor too loose. Before playing, aim your mouth at the nozzle and make it at right angles to the nozzle. In order to help beginners master the correct posture, the following is a quote from the famous flute player Mr. Zhao Songting, based on years of bamboo flute teaching experience, as follows:

The air door should be straight, the flute body should be flat, the head should be straight and the chest should be straight.

Thumb and little finger support each other, don't let the flute sway gold.

There is room for eggs between the tiger's jaws, comfortable joints and dexterous hands.

Six fingers should be pressed tightly and the fingers should be relaxed into an arc.

There are specifications for high and low landings, and redundant actions are thrown away.

Jinsong followed me closely, and his tone was determined by his heart.

Forty-five with open arms, dragon, tiger and white tiger will do.

Avoid posturing and melodramatic, and look at the truth seriously.

The meaning and key points of throttle, mouth force, tone and position

(1) damper

Refers to the small hole between the upper and lower lips. When playing bass, the damper should be large, and when playing treble, the damper should be small; When blowing strong sound, the damper should be large; When the sound is weak, the throttle should be small.

(2) Oral strength

Refers to the muscle stretching force that controls the tightness of lips. Control the volume, timbre and pitch by relaxing or tightening the mouth strength. Beginners can gradually improve their control ability with the progress of practice when using general oral power.

(3) tune

Refers to the strength of blowing and the flow of gas.

(4) Settings

Refers to the angle formed between the air door and the air blowing hole.

Playing methods of various scales

Normally at right angles to the borehole. The sound made by closing all six sound holes of the flute is the drum sound of this kind of flute. There are many kinds of flutes, such as the flute of C.D.E.F.G.A.B. Now, take a flute with barrel sound as an example to explain how to play scales. If the drum sound A is "5'", the scale of 1: d can be played. Play the sound on time When you open the first sound hole, you can make a sound of "6"1. The first and second holes (that is, opening the second hole) are "7" sounds. The third hole is "1" sound; Opening four holes is a "2" sound; The fifth hole is the "3" sound; Opening six holes is convenient for blowing. We can open all six sound holes first, and the sound is "4". Then press "3" on the last hole and do the exercise of "3 217" down.

Breathing and ventilation methods

Breathing, first of all, must have the correct posture, so that the respiratory organs are in a natural state. At present, thoracoabdominal breathing is widely used, that is, breathing is controlled through the activities of pleura and abdominal muscles. This breathing method requires a straight waist, a straight chest and flat shoulders. Take a deep breath, the muscles and ribs around the chest gradually expand, control breathing with the lower abdomen and diaphragm, and then breathe evenly. At this time, you can feel the muscles and chest ribs gradually contracting. For example, there are two common situations in daily life:

(a) Light a candle at a distance of 1 m and blow it out. Usually, you will take a deep breath subconsciously. At this time, inhalation is often very hard, and the chest and abdomen must be combined.

You can try to run 500 meters and then stop suddenly. At this time, your exhalation is quite rapid, the frequency is accelerated, and the inhalation position will be deeper than usual. This is a combination of chest and abdomen, not just chest exercise. These inspiratory and expiratory movements in daily life are very similar to the breathing movements when playing the flute. Different feet should inhale quickly and exhale with control. Here, I quote the breathing essentials summarized by Mr. Zhao Songting as follows:

Don't move your shoulders up and down, but expand your chest and abdomen at the same time.

Slowly suck and blow flat to relax the whole body, and the abdominal muscles don't have to be busy.

The sudden suction and blowing force are downward, and the force of Tian Dan drum is very strong.

Use your nose and mouth as needed, and don't breathe loudly.

Don't inhale until there is no air, and exhale evenly.

Adopt the method of acute inhalation, that is, inhale air through the nose and mouth at the same time, inhale quickly, and concentrate the airflow when exhaling; The other is circulating ventilation. You can start practicing without musical instruments, but you must ensure the correct mouth shape. After inhaling, you can use the contraction of your mouth to squeeze out the air, while inhaling through your nose to keep the air flowing, and then practice with a flute.