Maestros enhance erhu's allure

Reputed as the capital of erhu (a two-stringed Chinese fiddle), Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province has given rise to a multitude of outstanding musicians who have been dedicated to enhancing the appeal of this Chinese folk musical instrument.

Some have made innovative modifications to the instrument. For example, Zhou Shaomei (1885-1938) increased the length of the erhu neck to 90 centimeters, while Liu Tianhua (1895-1932) further revamped its manufacturing specifications and notation systems, expanding its range from nine degrees to nearly three octaves. What's more, Jiang Fengzhi (1908-86) changed the traditional erhu's shape in pursuit of better playing affections and Chu Shizhu (1903-54) crafted the instrument using kraft papers.

Others like Jiang Xunfeng (1935-2020) and Min Jiqian (1923-2020) have also explored a diverse array of erhu performance styles and technique. Deng Jiandong, music director of the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra, incorporated elements of Western instruments and Chinese local operas into his erhu performance style. In January 2008, he collaborated with conductor Peng Jiapeng and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra to hold an erhu solo concert in the Vienna Golden Hall.

Thanks to the unmatched prowess of these musicians, a rich repertoire of erhu music has emerged. Zheng Jinwen (1872-1935) founded the Great Unity Music Society in Shanghai in 1920, where he curated a 32-member folk music orchestra. This ensemble adapted and created numerous popular works, with their standout piece being Spring Moonlight on the Flowers by the River. Hua Yanjun (1893-1950), more commonly known as Ah Bing, composed Moon Reflected on the Er-quan Spring, considered one of the greatest Chinese musical compositions of all time.

Min Huifen (1945-2014) premiered an erhu concerto called Great Wall Capriccio, propelling this distinctive Chinese instrument into the global spotlight. Erhu Rhapsody, composed by Wang Jianmin, was praised as a phenomenal musical creation and has become a designated music piece for erhu competitions at the Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music.