How the bianzhong makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the bianzhong belongs to the struck idiophones: the body is struck directly – bells, gongs, xylophones and cymbals.
More broadly it is one of the idiophones, where the solid body of the instrument itself vibrates, without strings or a stretched membrane.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
Bianzhong (Chinese: 編鐘; pinyin: biānzhōng; ) is an ancient Chinese musical instrument consisting of a set of bronze bells, played melodically. China is the earliest country to manufacture and use musical chimes. They are also called chime bells. These sets of chime bells were used as polyphonic musical instruments and some of these bells have been dated at between 2,000 and 3,600 years old. They were hung in a wooden frame and struck with a mallet. Using a wooden hammer and a rod to beat the bronze bell can make different pitch. Along with the stone chimes called bianqing, they were an important instrument in China's ritual and court music going back to ancient times.
Other struck idiophones
More instruments from China
Frequently asked questions
What does a bianzhong sound like?
As one of the struck idiophones, its sound comes from the way the body is struck directly.
What type of instrument is the bianzhong?
It is classified as struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.242.221).
Where does the bianzhong come from?
The bianzhong originates from China.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q133722 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Bianzhong – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by The original uploader was Zzjgbc at Chinese Wikipedia . – CC BY-SA 3.0