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Hulusi chinese flute
The name of the instrument southestern China traditional instrument Hulusi comes The instrument's name comes from the Chinese words hulu, meaning "gourd," and si, meaning "silk" (because of the smooth pure and very like clarinet or oboe sound it makes). Though obviusly related to chinese music it's become a very popular instrument in many countries.
It's an end blown free reed wind instrument. It is held vertically and has three bamboo pipes which pass through a gourd (wind chest; the center pipe has finger holes and the outer two are drone-. Sometimes one of the pipes is ornamental and has only one drone. . The drone pipe has a finger hole, which allows it to be stopped. HuluSi is especially known for its unrelenting, yet soft, moody tone.
The hulusi was originally used primarily in the Yunnan (means "south of the clouds") province by the Dai and other non-Han ethnic groups but is now played throughout China, and hulusi are manufactured in such northern cities as Tianjin.
The Hulusi or Gourd flute is one of the intruments with a more distinct "chinese" sound. Link to Melody of China with a streamable mp3 here
Above: Hulusi fingering chart as shown in Melody of China website. Click on image to see bigger.
Below a performance with an hulusi highlighted as solo instrument so you can see how this simple flute can convey the feelings of a trained player.
Don't know if you might be able to play it?
Here you can see a video of some fast tips to start to learn to play the hulusi
Where to buy one:
There are a lot of inexpensive hulusis from all sort of chinese importers... Wether if they're of high quality or playable I really don't know till I grab one, and I will come and edit information as soon as I can guess that. My experience when buying instruments you don't know is that look for an actual sample or avoid to go for the cheaper option.
Above: example of hulusi found in ebay
You can surf yourself hulusi in ebay and find a lot of hulusis chinese flutes available there. Some are really professional looking, and I'd recommend to sort out by price and not go for the cheaper one as you risk to get a not tuned or playable but a beautiful souvenir. I found some stores like interactchina and others that seemed to have rather good ones. Hope to be able to update when I have more information.
Above: Hulusi from Melody of China
Melody of china is a rather complete store for all sorts of chinese instruments, it features a long section of wind instruments including some nice looking Hulusis with samples of how they sound.
Have a look to Shopping china now, they have a selection of chinese musical instruments.
Nadishana folk instruments store also list one on sale. As he´s a player, I'd say this is a rather reliable source and shipping from Europe and good thing that you can see the actual instrument plyaed.
Some other interesting links
Hulusi in VST (virtual instrument)
For those making music with the computer and still interesting in the sound of the hulusi you can purchase for 60$ ChineHulusi from the company Kong Audio
Vladiswar Nadishana Playing various exotic instruments.
Playing the laser harp connected to a synth. The harp is driven by an Arduino (Boarduino varation) and connected to the impOSCar VSTi software synthesizer, the TAOS sensor array sits on the floor in it's own stand.
I introduce the vegetable musical instruments made this time.
There are eight kinds of vegetable musical instruments.
Please enjoy various sounds.
subtitles
Then, let's introduce the vegetable musical instruments that can have been done this time.
It is a carrot ocarina first.
And, it is an ocarina of a white radish in Japan that can have done this time.
The octave is geted down from the carrot ocarina.
The broccoli ocarina was made.
A good sound is not heard because only such a broccoli was obtained this time. And, a carrot ocarina of the slide type and this carrot ocarina is different the sound hole. When the breath is put here, something is heard. It shaped ..so...
The paprika was punctured. When the breath is put here, such a sound is heard. It is an owl. Carrot panpipe. When the breath is put in this, such a sound is heard. Similary asparagus panpipe was made. However, a good sound is not heard. It is a trumpet of the cucumber and the paprika in the end. There were musical instruments that looked alike also in the vegetable orchestra. Moreover, when musical instruments can be done, I introduces it. Thank you.
Playing various home made instruments: 3 string cookie-tin banjo with weed, Tambiro, Fiddle-Gurdy, 4 string wash-tub bass, Fiddle, Low D Tin-Whistle, Octave Mandolin
Luna Guitars is a company specializing in guitars and other stringed instruments such us banjos, mandolins, bass, ukeleles...The company was founded in 2005 by designer Yvonne de Villiers and is based in Florida.Luna's mission statement is: "To craft fine stringed instruments with artistic sensibility that are comfortable, affordable, and inspire people of all ages and walks of life on their musical journey."
See for yourself... they are probably the prettiest guitars in the world... and actually. and actually they have indeed some of the prettiest designs I've seen! The look is stunning, the colors sometimes vibrant and daring... even having a "Fantasie" series portraying preraphaelite paintings printed in the body of the guitar. Definitely eye-catchy, they deserve a look, but they are also high quality instruments at reasonable price.
Luna´s product line is definitely eye-catching, but they are also high quality instruments at reasonable price. With a design that maximizes playing comfort, they're very light instruments with slim necks that sound great (it looks like a must option for me that I have little hands!), making it the most preferred option for many well known artists. Many of the designs look organic and inspired by nature and it's precisely in the looks where Luna guitars have one of their most solid and biggest assets. Not only they sound pretty... they are pretty!
Above: Inspiration and story about Luna guitars. You can see a selection of videos at their youtube channel. Also feel free to network with them at their facebook profile.
Above: My favorite looking (sigh) maybe because I have an obsession for dragonflies and it features a trio of inlaid dragonflies gathered around the sound hole on a solid spruce top to make the Oracle Dragonfly among Luna Guitars' most distinctive models. Simply magical! I'd love to grab one of these!! Isn´t it pretty?
Some of the models feature 12 strings like this Trinity 12 stringed, also with a lovely sound hole in the shape of a Celtic knot. Great looking for Celtic and folk bands! The Trinity series is somehow one of the classic images you relate with Luna guitars. Below: bouzouki with the trinity symbol, I have a fellow band member that would love this one! :)
Also they feature "smaller" models of guitars acoustic and electric making it more easy to travel with for those with a wandering soul.
They also make bass (both acoustic and electric) and electric guitars for those with a more rocking heart!
Above: Raven bass, dark, elegant, great looking for Goth bands! gorgeous!
