Free reed wind instrument
The hulusi (), also known as the cucurbit flute and the gourd flute, is a free reed wind instrument from China, Vietnam, and the Shan State, played also by the indigenous people of Assam. It is held vertically and has three bamboo pipes that pass through a Calabash gourd wind chest; the center pipe has finger holes and the outer two are typically drone pipes. It is not uncommon for a "hulusi" to have only one drone pipe while the second outer pipe is merely ornamental. The drone pipe has a finger hole which allows it to be stopped. Advanced configurations have keyed finger holes similar to a clarinet or oboe, which can greatly extend the range of the "hulusi" to several octaves.
The "hulusi" was originally used primarily in the Shan State of Myanmar, Yunnan province in southwest China, and Assam in northeastern India by a number of ethnic-minority groups, in particular the Dai people who call the instrument "pi lamtao" (Chinese: 筚朗叨 or 筚郎叨); the word "pi" means "woodwind instrument," and the word "lamtao" comes from "namtao", meaning "gourd." Additionally, the Achang call it "paileweng" (拍勒翁), the De'ang call it "wogebao" (渥格宝), and the Wa call it "baihongliao" (拜洪廖).
The "hulusi" has gained nationwide popularity throughout China and is also used by various indigenous ethnic groups of Assam; similar to the popularity of the harmonica in the West, and "improved" versions have been produced outside the indigenous realms. In Vietnam, the instrument is referred to as the "sáo bầu", which means "gourd flute." Like the related free reed pipe called "bawu", the "hulusi" has a very pure, mellow clarinet-like sound.
A similar instrument called "hulusheng" is a mouth organ with a gourd wind chest.
Etymology.
The instrument's name comes from the "Mandarin Chinese" word "húlu" (葫蘆絲/葫芦丝), meaning "Calabash gourd," and "si", meaning "silk" (referring to the instrument's smooth tone).HULUSI The instrument is called "pi lamtao" in the Dai (Tai Nuea) language of Dehong and "pi namtao" in Lue language (Sipsong Panna), Khun language (Kengtung), Yuan language (Northern Thailand), Lao language and Thai language. It is also called Huluxi in Assam.hulusi
Performers.
Although the "hulusi" is still predominantly performed in Yunnan (China), Shan State (Myanmar) and Assam it has in recent years been adopted by European composers and performers. Rohan Leach and Jack Reddick from England, Raphaël De Cock from Belgium, Sara Bentes from Brazil, Nadishana from Russia and Herman Witkam from the Netherlands have all taken the instrument in new directions.
References.
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