Dahu (instrument)


The dahu is a large bowed string instrument from China. It has a large soundbox covered on one end with python skin. Like most other members of the huqin family of instruments, it has two strings and is held vertically. The instrument is generally pitched one octave below the erhu, and is considerably larger than the erhu. Its name derives from the Chinese word for "large", and the word hú. Its bridge is often placed somewhat above the center of the snakeskin to avoid stretching the skin.
The dahu is sometimes also called cizhonghu. It is also referred to as xiaodihu, being the same instrument as the smallest of the three sizes of dihu, the others being the zhongdihu and dadihu.

History

The dahu was developed in the 1930s as the tenor member of the erhu family to increase the pitch range of the instruments used in a Chinese orchestra and allow music with harmony to be played. However, by the late 20th century it had largely fallen into disuse. Part of the reason for this is that it is unwieldy to play. Also, that the bow passes between the instrument's two strings means that playing pizzicato is difficult; thus, the larger gehu and diyingehu, laruan are generally used in Chinese orchestras for the lower bowed string voices instead.

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