The fangxiang (also fang xiang, fang hsiang; 方响 or 方響 in Chinese, pinyin: fāngxiǎng; also known in the West as the Chinese chang[2]) is an organized-suspended (bianxuan) Chinesemetallophone that has been used for over 1,000 years. It was first used in the Liang dynasty (502—557 CE), and then standardized in the Sui and Tang dynasties mostly for court music.[3]
A fangxiang consists of 16 tuned rectangular iron, bronze, or jade tuned slabs with 16 different chromatic pitches, laid in a frame in two rows.[3] The slabs are struck with a hammer and played melodically. Unlike the metallophone today, Chinese changed the thickness of the metal plates to obtain different pitches.[4] Each of the slabs is of the same length and width but they are of graduated thickness, with the thinner slabs producing lower tones and the thicker slabs producing higher tones.[1] The method of playing is to beat with a gakteo (hangul: 각퇴, hanja: 角槌) in both hands.[5]
HistoryEdit
In ancient times, the fangxiang was a popular instrument in Chinese court music. It was introduced to Korea, where it is called banghyang (hangul: 방향; hanja: 方響) and is still used in the court music of Korea. A similar instrument used in Japan is called hōkyō (kanji: 方響).[1] The fangxiang first appeared in China in the Liang dynasty, one of the Northern and Southern dynasties (502–557). During the Sui and Tang dynasties (581–840), the instrument became a popular court instrument. There were many famous fangxiang performers at that time, including Xianqi Ma and Bing Wu. Also at that time, many poets created sets of lyrics intended to be accompanied by fangxiang.[citation needed]
Here are two Tang-era poems about the fangxiang:
《方响歌》
Fangxiang Song (Fangxiang Ge)
作者：李沇（唐）
by Li Yan (Tang dynasty)
敲金扣石声相凌，遥空冷静天正澄。
宝瓶下井辘轳急，小娃弄索伤清冰。
穿丝透管音未歇，回风绕指惊泉咽。
季伦怒击珊瑚摧，灵芸整鬓步摇折。
十六叶中侵素光，寒玲震月杂珮珰。
云和不觉罢余怨，莲峰一夜啼琴姜。
急节写商商恨促，秦愁越调逡巡足。
梦入仙楼戛残曲，飞霜棱棱上秋玉。
《方响》
Fangxiang
作者：陆龟蒙（唐）
by Lu Guimeng (Tang dynasty, ?-881)
击霜寒玉乱丁丁，花底秋风拂坐生。
王母闲看汉天子，满猗兰殿佩环声。
Music contributionEdit
In the 1980s, the fangxiang was expanded to include 51 keys. The keys were arranged based on 12-tone equal temperament and double scale arrangement. On the top lane, it is the C# scale, and on the bottom lane it is the C major scale ranging from f to C4. The shelf used for holding those keys can rise up and fall down for the convenience of performing.[citation needed] The new design of the fangxiang sounds clear and melodious, and it is really good for accompaniments in the Chinese traditional orchestra music. For example, in the music "The Great Wall Capriccio",[6] it is used to sound like a bell.
International developmentEdit
The fangxiang was used by the American composer Lou Harrison in his Music for Violin with Various Instruments: European, Asian and African (1967, revised 1969). Harrison had taken research trips to Japan and South Korea (1961) and Taiwan (1962).[1]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcd"Fangxiang (方响)." – China Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2013. <. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2013-09-17.>.
^Scholes, Percy. The Oxford Companion To Music (1956 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 481.
^ abThrasher, Alan (2000). Chinese Musical Instruments. New York: Oxford University Press Inc. p. 16. ISBN0-19--590777-9.
^. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
^Wong On-yuen,Chen Tscheng-hsiung, and China Central National Orchestra (1994). The World of Wong On-yuen's Hu Qin Music Vol.10 – Concerto for Erhu "The Great Wall Capriccio" (MP3). Linfair Records / R2G Music. ASIN B005M1DUPE.
External linksEdit
October 17, 2023
fangxiang, this, article, about, chinese, metallophone, other, topics, disambiguation, fangxiang, also, fang, xiang, fang, hsiang, 方响, 方響, chinese, pinyin, fāngxiǎng, also, known, west, chinese, chang, organized, suspended, bianxuan, chinese, metallophone, tha. This article is about the Chinese metallophone For other topics see Fangxiang disambiguation The fangxiang also fang xiang fang hsiang 方响 or 方響 in Chinese pinyin fangxiǎng also known in the West as the Chinese chang 2 is an organized suspended bianxuan Chinese metallophone that has been used for over 1 000 years It was first used in the Liang dynasty 502 557 CE and then standardized in the Sui and Tang dynasties mostly for court music 3 FangxiangDraw of Chinese fangxiangMetalClassificationmetallophoneHornbostel Sachs classification111 222 Percussion Developed502 557 Liang dynasty Related instrumentsbanghyang hōkyō kanji 方響 1 Contents 1 Construction and design 2 History 3 Music contribution 4 International development 5 References 6 External linksConstruction and design EditA fangxiang consists of 16 tuned rectangular iron bronze or jade tuned slabs with 16 different chromatic pitches laid in a frame in two rows 3 The slabs are struck with a hammer and played melodically Unlike the metallophone today Chinese changed the thickness of the metal plates to obtain different pitches 4 Each of the slabs is of the same length and width but they are of graduated thickness with the thinner slabs producing lower tones and the thicker slabs producing higher tones 1 The method of playing is to beat with a gakteo hangul 각퇴 hanja 角槌 in both hands 5 History EditIn ancient times the fangxiang was a popular instrument in Chinese court music It was introduced to Korea where it is called banghyang hangul 방향 hanja 方響 and is still used in the court music of Korea A similar instrument used in Japan is called hōkyō kanji 方響 1 The fangxiang first appeared in China in the Liang dynasty one of the Northern and Southern dynasties 502 557 During the Sui and Tang dynasties 581 840 the instrument became a popular court instrument There were many famous fangxiang performers at that time including Xianqi Ma and Bing Wu Also at that time many poets created sets of lyrics intended to be accompanied by fangxiang citation needed Here are two Tang era poems about the fangxiang 方响歌 Fangxiang Song Fangxiang Ge 作者 李沇 唐 by Li Yan Tang dynasty 敲金扣石声相凌 遥空冷静天正澄 宝瓶下井辘轳急 小娃弄索伤清冰 穿丝透管音未歇 回风绕指惊泉咽 季伦怒击珊瑚摧 灵芸整鬓步摇折 十六叶中侵素光 寒玲震月杂珮珰 云和不觉罢余怨 莲峰一夜啼琴姜 急节写商商恨促 秦愁越调逡巡足 梦入仙楼戛残曲 飞霜棱棱上秋玉 方响 Fangxiang 作者 陆龟蒙 唐 by Lu Guimeng Tang dynasty 881 击霜寒玉乱丁丁 花底秋风拂坐生 王母闲看汉天子 满猗兰殿佩环声 Music contribution EditIn the 1980s the fangxiang was expanded to include 51 keys The keys were arranged based on 12 tone equal temperament and double scale arrangement On the top lane it is the C scale and on the bottom lane it is the C major scale ranging from f to C4 The shelf used for holding those keys can rise up and fall down for the convenience of performing citation needed The new design of the fangxiang sounds clear and melodious and it is really good for accompaniments in the Chinese traditional orchestra music For example in the music The Great Wall Capriccio 6 it is used to sound like a bell International development EditThe fangxiang was used by the American composer Lou Harrison in his Music for Violin with Various Instruments European Asian and African 1967 revised 1969 Harrison had taken research trips to Japan and South Korea 1961 and Taiwan 1962 1 References Edit a b c d Fangxiang 方响 China Culture N p n d Web 17 Sept 2013 lt Fangxiang 方响 China culture Archived from the original on 2014 01 03 Retrieved 2013 09 17 gt Scholes Percy The Oxford Companion To Music 1956 ed Oxford University Press p 481 a b Thrasher Alan 2000 Chinese Musical Instruments New York Oxford University Press Inc p 16 ISBN 0 19 590777 9 Marching to the beat of a Chinese drum Archived from the original on 27 September 2013 Retrieved 23 September 2013 방향 方響 한국민족문화대백과사전 encykorea aks ac kr Retrieved 2021 05 21 Wong On yuen Chen Tscheng hsiung and China Central National Orchestra 1994 The World of Wong On yuen s Hu Qin Music Vol 10 Concerto for Erhu The Great Wall Capriccio MP3 Linfair Records R2G Music ASIN B005M1DUPE External links Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fangxiang amp oldid 1162050711, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
