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 Gaohu, traditional Guangdong type, with dragon head, round body, no base, and played with the body held between the knees | |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | chrodophone |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 321.312 (spiked bowed lute) |
| Inventor(s) | Lü Wencheng |
Thegaohu (高胡;pinyin:gāohú,pronounced[kɑ́ʊ̯xǔ]; Cantonese: gou1 wu4; also calledyuehu粤胡) is aChinesebowedstring instrument developed from theerhu in the 1920s by the musician and composerLü Wencheng (1898–1981) and used inCantonese music andCantonese opera. It belongs to thehuqin family of instruments, together with thezhonghu,erhu,banhu,jinghu, andsihu; its name means "high-pitchedhuqin". It is the leading instrument of Cantonese music and opera ensembles. Well known pieces for thegaohu includeBu Bu Gao (步步高, Higher Step By Step) andPing Hu Qiu Yue (平湖秋月, Autumn Moon on Calm Lake).
Thegaohu is similar in construction to theerhu but has a slightly smaller soundbox, commonly circular, and is tuned afourth higher, to G4 and D5. Whereas mosthuqin are placed on top of the left thigh, the traditionalgaohu is played with the soundbox held in between the knees. It has a brighter and lighter tone as compared to theerhu. It has two strings and its soundbox is covered on the front (playing) end with snakeskin (from apython). Since the soundbox is so small, the overall sound of the "gaohu" is quiet
Although originally a regional instrument used only in Cantonese music, thegaohu (in different forms and played placed on the leg, as the erhu) is used in the modern largeChinese orchestra, as part of the string family, along with the erhu, zhonghu, banhu, cello, and double bass.
Notablegaohu players include:
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