Composition Skill.
How to write for Chinese instruments - Yangqin
Here's a composition I have written for a yangqin duet to give you a brief idea of how the yangqin sounds. I attempted to emulate the style of the Middle East in my composition for the yangqin, drawing inspiration from its place of origin.
Introduction of Yangqin
The yangqin originated from the Central Asian instrument "Santur" and later spread to other regions. It is a hammered dulcimer consisting of tuned metal strings stretched across a trapezoidal wooden soundboard. Played with bamboo mallets, the yangqin produces a bright, shimmering sound that is both melodic and percussive. Widely used in Chinese traditional music, orchestras, and ensembles, it adds a unique timbre and texture to musical compositions. The ordinary yangqin ranges from G2 to A6, excluding G#2 and Bb2.
Writing for yangqin
When writing for the yangqin, ensure you can only play two notes at once, as you can only hold two bamboo mallets. Chords should be played as arpeggios. The yangqin can serve as both melody and accompaniment, and it can perform both roles simultaneously. You can notate the yangqin using two clef staves: one with a treble clef and the other with a bass clef.
Here are some techniques for playing the yangqin:
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Single-note
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Double notes
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Arpeggios
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Tremolo (with one mallet or two mallets)
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Staccato notes (playing one staccato note at a time, using the other hand to mute the vibration)
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Harmonics (similar to staccato notes, playing one at a time)
Use of mallets
When playing with the bamboo mallets, the sound produced is bright and round. However, you can also create various sound effects by employing different techniques:
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Striking the strings with the back of the hammers to produce a more "metal" sound.
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Plucking the strings with the hammers instead of striking them.
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Creating a messy sound by sweeping the hammers from the top string to the low string or vice versa.
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Hitting the soundboard to generate percussive sounds.
Note layout of Yang qin, refer to the image provided in the Wikimedia Commons by Ajlee2006 (original by Pio2001), under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license
Very Useful Reminder
When writing passages for the yangqin, especially fast ones, be cautious about the order of the notes. It is advisable to consult the note board of the yangqin as mentioned above. Typically, the order of using the hammers alternates between the right hand and the left hand, such as RLRL (right - left - right - left) or LRLR (left - right - left - right). If a passage requires a very specific order, like LRRLRLLR, it can be challenging for the performer to play at a fast speed. Thus, it is recommended to test the music on the note board when writing for the yangqin.
This video showcases some examples of how the special techniques of the yangqin sound: