Never have I ever heard of…

Written by: Curtis Neo Kai Di (20-O4), Karenin Lee (20-A1), Poh En Xi (20-E3)

Designed by: Poh En Xi (20-E3)

Say the word “Instrument”, and what comes to mind would likely be the piano, the guitar, or the violin. Or all three and the drum. But do you know that the term “instrument” encompasses a whole lot more than that? There are a myriad of musical tools around the world that seem to have escaped our attention. So let’s wait no more and get the spotlight on them for once. 

First of all, we have the Hurdy Gurdy! 

Hurdy Gurdy

The Hurdy Gurdy is a wheeled fiddle, whose origins are rather ambiguous, with the Middle East or Europe being its birthplace. Similarly, no one knows exactly who created this wonderful work of art, but records from the 11th Century have been found referring to it! Dating back to these times, it produces a sound many of us today would recognise and classify as medieval. The instrument was extremely popular in Europe during the Renaissance, but has been out of the spotlight ever since.

To play a hurdy-gurdy, the player takes a seat and rests it on his lap, similar to a guitar. Players typically rotate the handle in a steady circular motion in accordance to the speed of the song, with changes in directions used to produce quick changes in the song. Instead of using a fretboard like what most other stringed instruments do, the hurdy-gurdy uses something akin to that of a keyboard, and is somewhat similar to what most might be familiar with.

If you look closely, you would realise that there are not one, not two, but three different sets of strings being played on the instrument by that one wheel, all at the same time. The center ones produce the melody of the song, while the strings at both sides are known as drone strings, which, throughout the course of the song, produce a singular note. These can be compared to that found on bagpipes.

Today, the Hurdy-Gurdy has made somewhat of a comeback. Typing “Hurdy-Gurdy” in Youtube will bring you to pages with videos hitting millions of views. However, its popularity is still nowhere near the levels that it enjoyed in the 16 and 17th centuries.

Moreover, due to its many complexities in its playstyle, many folk musicians regard it as among the hardest instruments to play, let alone master. The exuberant costs that come with owning one of them (prices start from a thousand quidThe starting price of this is about a thousand quid) along with its inaccessibility for most, makes it seem as though the Hurdy-Gurdy will continue as nit had  been for the past centuries. Nothing more than an exotic instrument, and merely a passing fad.

Next up, we have the Xun!

Xun

Ever heard of the ocarina? Well, the Xun is its Chinese counterpart. A wind instrument made from clay or mud, the Xun is an impressive instrument that dates back to the times of ancient China. It is so old that there was a 7000-year-old clay Xun that was unearthed in Zhejiang. Similar pieces have also been found in popular archeological sites like Xi’an, Shanxi and Henan. 

So, how exactly does the Xun look like? 

The typical Xun is shaped like an egg, though there are some that might be shaped differently. Xuns have two to seven holes on its surface to allow for the changing of notes, yet the most “modern” version possesses six holes (five on its front and one at the back). 

The sound of the Xun can be described as simple and primitive, yet long and mesmerising with its sustained notes. With proper skill, it is no wonder that the Xun was mainly used to perform court music in the past. For how could any royal resist the melodious and captivating tunes played using it? In fact, many in China would liken Xuns to dragon eggs (In Chinese, dragons are seen as powerful creatures that emperors would use to describe themselves with) due to their oval shape, thus further highlighting the prestigious nature of this instrument once more. 

Yet, the Xun is definitely not a thing of the past. With the rise of tourism, Xuns are often sold at marketplaces that foreigners often frequent as part of their tours. Those presented as souvenirs are often elaborately decorated, and the craft of the Xun can be considered an artform. 

Thus, fret not if you are pondering about the elusiveness of this particular instrument. It is easily available at tourist destinations in China at affordable prices. Perhaps, after some practice, you will be as professional a player as the musicians at Chinese Orchestras!

Last but not least, we have…the Haegeum. 

Haegeum

The Haegeum is a two-stringed fiddle introduced to Korea from China during the Koryŏ period (918–1392) but it may have originated from Mongolia. With a bow strung with horsehair, a long bamboo neck, and a sound box, the Haegeum may look like an erhu to the untrained eye, but do not be fooled. 

As Bomi Kim and Ilwoo Lee from Jambinai (a band looking to revive traditional korean music) put it, "the method of playing is similar, but it is a far cry from the erhu of China, which resonates through the skin of snakes. The charm of the haegeum I think begins with this different tone."

Aside from the differences it has with its Chinese counterpart in terms of the melody it produces, tThe Haegeum is also played in a different manner from its Chinese counterpartas well. To play this instrument, one has to sit cross-legged, whereas the erhu can be played while sitting down. Your left hand would then be able to change the pitch and vibrato by tugging on the strings while your right hand changes the amount of tension experienced by it.

The Haegeum is often preferred (by many current Haegeum players) played to produce its signature clear, clean and rich tune, that sounds deceptively much like the erhu. However, to represent more powerful emotions, it can also be played to sound more unrefined and rough which is an amazing way to represent more powerful emotions. Altogether, the Hageum produces a melody that is so enrapturing that it is near indescribable - a blend of  "sad and sorrowful but sometimes humorous", as Cevzet Tam, a Haegeum musician, said.

Aside from Cevzet who dreams of seeing traditional korean music in the spotlight again, Jambinai also holds similar aspirationsJambinai, like Cevzet, aspires to see traditional korean music in the spotlight again. They are a band that utilises the versatility of the Haegeum to their advantage in their creation of fusions between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’. By breathing in new life into traditional korean music, Jambinai is able to create the unconventional into appealing artwork out of the unconventional, which probably is notis - not what most expect from Asian traditional music like “something smooth for yoga or meditation”. Fortunately, Jambinai and Cevzet are not the only ones out there trying to revive kKorea's musical roots and their instruments. There are individuals that have successfully incorporated the Haegum into modern day culture byculturefused modern day culture with the Haegeum ,by creating new fusion songs on platforms like Youtube or remastering the latest pop songs on the traditional Haegeum. 

While some traditional instruments have had more screen time now, not all of them share the same luxury. Some are greatly entrenched in our cultures and it would just be a shame if we stop appreciating how they have added colour to our vibrant music industry.  The instruments we have talked about are merely a scratch on the tip of this iceberg, and there are so many more intriguing yet forgotten instruments waiting to be discovered. Do you also know an instrument that not many people know about? Consider spreading the news! Who knows, it might be music to someone's ears.

References:

1. Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2007, April 19). Haegŭm. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/haegum

2. Clash. (2019, June 11). Jambinai are overhauling traditional korean culture for a future setting. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://clashmusic.com/features/jambinai-are-overhauling-traditional-korean-culture-for-a-future-setting

3. Korea Foundation. (n.d.). A young turk's answer to the cry of haegeum. Retrieved April 08, 2021, from https://koreana.or.kr/user/0013/nd60807.do?boardNo=00002187&zineInfoNo=0013&pubYear=2019&pubMonth=SPRING&pubLang=English

4. Rech, A. (n.d.). Music in the daily life of vermeer: The hurdy-gurdy. Retrieved from http://www.essentialvermeer.com/folk_music/hurdygurdy.html

5. Thor, A. (2017, April 27). Hurdy gurdy history: History of the hurdy gurdy. Retrieved from https://larkinthemorning.com/blogs/articles/hurdy-gurdy-history

6. Xun instrument: Chinese Ocarina. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2021, from https://www.easonmusicschool.com/chinese-orchestra-instruments/chinese-woodwind-instruments/xun/

7. “Xun.” Xun: Ancient Traditional Chinese Musical Instrument, www.topchinatravel.com/china-guide/xun.htm. 

8. 6 traditional Chinese Wind Instrument (History and Facts) https://chinamarketadvisor.com/traditional-chinese-wind-instruments/