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Which instruments were central to kunqu opera?
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Chinese music
Twelve pitches of Chinese music as produced by overblowing the lü, bamboo tuning pipes (starting for ease of comparison from Western C).
The musical ensemble of kunqu opera is primarily composed of wind, stringed, and percussion instruments, which create a mild, melodious sound often described as "water-polished music" (shuimodiao).1
The lead instrument of the wind section and the entire ensemble is the di, a side-blown bamboo flute. It is supported by a variety of other instruments:12
- Wind instruments: The xiao (vertical, end-blown bamboo flute), the sheng (reed pipe), the suona (horn), and the guan (a reed pipe).12
- Stringed instruments: The pipa (fretted lute), the sanxian (fretless lute), and the yueqin (flat, round-bodied lute).12
- Percussion instruments: The guban (clappers), the luo (gong), and the bo (cymbals).1
Because the bamboo flute provides the primary accompaniment, the music of kunqu is characterized by its smooth and mellifluous quality.1