Little Introduction of Our Instruments
For the public who are curious what instruments make up our Chinese string quintet and composers who are thinking of writing for these instruments, here's a basic introduction to our instruments.
Gaohu
Highest pitched out of the 3 kinds of huqins currently used in StringWerkz. The 2 strings are tuned perfect 5th apart at G,D (G4,D5). It has a nice sounding range of slightly more than 2 octaves.
Erhu
Tuned at D,A, the Erhu is a 5th lower than Gaohu, It is the most widely used type of huqin. Recognised for its melancholic quality, the Erhu can also be used to play fast and technically challenging pieces such as the Zigeurneweisen and Carmen Fantasy transcribed from the violin repertoire.
Zhonghu
Taking the role of viola in a string quartet, the zhonghu is the 2nd lowest sounding instrument in StringWerkz. Tuned at an octave lower than the Gaohu, it has a mellow quality but is also able to produce robust and strong sound.
Cello
The lowest sounding instrument in the StringWerkz, it is the only instrument with 4 strings. It provides the bass support for the quintet. Its versatility and wider range allows it to express itself in many different ways in the music.