Silk Road sounds: the sheng
Like a phoenix reborn, the sheng has new life in the hands of Silk Road Ensemble member Wu Tong, who plays it in his pioneering rock band Lunhui, and the musical group China Magpie. Wu also features the sheng in Nine Rivers, his composition that premiered during the Ensemble’s October residency at the Rubin Museum. |
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Legend says a goddess created the sheng after hearing a phoenix take flight. The sheng is a Chinese mouth organ that uses the same acoustic principles as the harmonica, reed organ, and concertina to produce a strikingly clear metallic sound. Its bowl is made of metal, wood, or a gourd; a blowpipe and a bundle of bamboo or metal pipes extend from its top.
