Hulusi

A hulusi

The free reed of a hulusi

The Template:Tlit (Template:Zh), 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 Tai Ahom and other Tai of Northeast India. 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 Template:Tlit 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 Template:Tlit to several octaves.

The Template:Tlit was originally used primarily in the Shan State of Myanmar, Yunnan province in southwest China, and Assam in northeastern India by Tai Ahom and other Tai Ethnic minorities , in particular the Dai people who call the instrument "pi lamtao" (Chinese: or ); the word Template:Tlit means "woodwind instrument," and the word Template:Tlit comes from Template:Tlit, meaning "gourd." Additionally, the Achang call it Template:Tlit (), the De'ang call it 'Template:Tlit (), and the Wa call it Template:Tlit ().

The Template:Tlit has gained nationwide popularity throughout China and is also used by various indigenous Tai 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 , which means "gourd flute." Like the related free reed pipe called Template:Tlit, the Template:Tlit has a very pure, mellow clarinet-like sound.

A similar instrument called Template:Tlit is a mouth organ with a gourd wind chest.

Etymology

The instrument's name comes from the Mandarin Chinese word Template:Tlit (葫蘆絲/葫芦丝), meaning "Calabash gourd," and Template:Tlit, meaning "silk" (referring to the instrument's smooth tone). The instrument is called Template:Tlit 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.

Performers

A member of NENU Folklorical Orchestra performing in Torrent, Valencia.

Although the Template:Tlit 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.

External links

• Hulusi page from Pat Missin site
• Hulusi page from ASZA.com site

See also

• Bawu
• Traditional Squares
• Pungi, a similar Indian instrument