Some Questions

[schoo]

Hi,

Yes!!! I had finally got my company budget and had purchased the entire set of vst from Kong audio. The download is taking awhile since it's quite big. Will be registering all of them soon.

I hope to heard more chinese instruments like Pipa, Zhong Ruan, YangQin, etc stuff to come along as vst. Have some questions:

1. Does any of you have any books or website recommendations of knowing more about Chinese Orchestration arrangements or rhythms? Hope there are written in English...I'm a Chinese but my Mandarin is terrible!!

2. I had previously asked in an email with a sample attachment about Er Hu sound. Currently, the lowest note is D but the real instruement can generate lower tones than that right?

Here's something to share.

http://www.besides-sound.com/gc/gcdown.htm

Enjoy!!

[sosayweall]

Hi Susan(right?), welcome!

There'll be more instruments to come for sure. About your questions:

1. We have been trying to find something like that in Englsih for a while without much success. It might have something to do with the systemization of Chinese orchestra isn't really ready, so there isn't a more widely accepted standardized way to present a more acceptable arrangement.

2. Yes, because musicians can fasten or loosen the strings as they see fit. Have you downloaded the updated soundbank? Shan has adjusted it so you can reach the lower B now.

Yes, we know the guy at besides-sound. His loops are pretty cool.

[Gregjazz]

Glad to hear the range of the Erhu has been increased... though is it really that common to tune the Erhu low D string any lower?

[schoo]

Hi,

Thanks for stretching the Er hu sounds lower. I could finally play the song exactly w/o substituting the low notes with something else.

As for the Chinese Orchestration, do you have any personal inputs for me? Maybe like...

1. What are percussive instruments used? Do you have photos of them and on how is it played?

2. Is there a fix physical positioning of the entire instrument arrangements?

etc....

Though there aren't any english books written on this, do you have any informative mandarin websites that can share some light? I will ask around if there are mandarin words I cant understand. :p

Maybe, you can consider publishing something on this. I will sure buy it!

[schoo]

Yes! I forgot to reply you...This is Susan here!

[sosayweall]

1. We have a list of the instruments in ChineeKong here. That's all we have for now...

2. We couldn't find any seating arrangement pictures on the net...we'll keep a note of this and see if we can either make a graphic ourselves or post a link to other reference available if we come across one.

[Ben H]

You might want to try this site. Very helpful for Chinese music info. (No chinese orchestra layout though.

http://www.chinesemusic.co.uk/main/modules/mypage/

Ben H