Bawu

The bawu (simplified Chinese: 巴乌; traditional Chinese: 巴烏; pinyin: bāwū; also ba wu) is a Chinese wind instrument.^[1] Although shaped like a flute, it is actually a free reed instrument, with a single metal reed. It is played in a transverse (horizontal) manner. It has a pure, clarinet-like timbre and its playing technique incorporates the use of much ornamentation, particularly bending tones.

The bawu likely originated in the Yunnan province of southwest China, it has become a standard instrument throughout China, used in modern Chinese compositions for traditional instrument ensembles. The instrument is also closely associated with Hmong, Yi, Hani and other minority cultures in southwestern China.^[2] It is typically used as a solo instrument, and is often featured in film scores; it is sometimes also heard in popular music recordings.

Although the bawu is still predominantly performed in China, it has in recent years been adopted by European composers and performers. Rohan Leach from England, Raphael De Cock from Belgium, Seán Mac Erlaine from Ireland and Herman Witkam from the Netherlands have all taken the instrument in new directions. The musician Guo Yue, who now resides in England, has long promoted the instrument and plays it on all of his recordings.

This type of instrument is also used during Chinese New Years by the Taiwanese people next to mainland China.

^ "Patmissin.com". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
^ Sadie, Stanley (1984). The New Grove dictionary of musical instruments (Reprinted with minor corr. ed.). London: Macmillan Press. p. 196. ISBN 0943818052.

[1] "Patmissin.com". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.

[New_Grove-2] Sadie, Stanley (1984). The New Grove dictionary of musical instruments (Reprinted with minor corr. ed.). London: Macmillan Press. p. 196. ISBN 0943818052.

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