Đàn tính

The đàn tính, or tính tẩu (gourd lute), is a stringed musical instrument from tianqin (Chinese:天琴; pinyin:Tiān qín of Zhuang people in China), imported to Vietnam by the Tày people of Lạng Sơn Province in Vietnam.^[1] Although "tính tẩu" originated as a Tày word, both names are used in Vietnamese.^[2]

The instrument has from two to four strings in from two to four courses. The strings are made of silk, nylon or fishing wire.^[3] It is used by shamans in séances in the hope that it will be animated by spirits.^[1]

In 2007, Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ^[4]submitted a plan to promote the instrument, as well as the "Then" style of singing that it often accompanies.^[5] A seminar recommended that traditional songs be transcribed and recordings made, and that local art schools provide instruction in this type of music.^[5]

It spread among the Pian and Tày people of the Zhuang nationality. It was originally used by Tianpo (witches) to cure disasters and diseases.

Later, this witchcraft-like singing and dancing evolved into a mass entertainment activity, but it is still called singing, playing and dancing.

The instrument used is called Tianqin. The traditional tianqin is about 120 cm long. The long vertical stick-like neck is made of wood, carved with dragon patterns. The head of the lute is carved into the shape of a phoenix, handsome seal, sun or moon, and a wooden peg is placed on the left and right. The lute tube is made of gourd or hemp bamboo tube. It is hemispherical, 10 cm thick, with 11 rubber hemp bamboo shells or thin paulownia wood boards at the front, with a surface diameter of 11 cm, and the engraved pattern at the back end is a sound window. Bamboo piano bridge, silk strings. The various parts of the lute body can be disassembled and assembled for easy portability.

Un tianqin moderno, el mástil mide 90 cm de largo y es semicilíndrico, sin decoración. La cabeza es plana, el tubo es redondo, de bambú Gastrodia elata o hierro, de 10 cm de diámetro, con cuerdas de seda o nailon. Afinación do1, sol o re1, sol. La cuerda interior establece los agudos y la exterior los graves. Rango sol-sol3. En la larga sociedad feudal, el tianqin era considerado un objeto sagrado, y solo Tianpo podía usarlo cuando "saltaba al cielo". "Tiaotian" era originalmente una actuación extraña y supersticiosa realizada por la gente.

Una mujer llamada Tianpo, vestida con una falda larga y un gorro adornado con cuentas, tocaba y cantaba con una lira en la mano. Afirmaba ser un hada celestial que había descendido a la Tierra para divertirse, resolver problemas y otorgar bendiciones. La lira de Tianpo era considerada una reliquia divina y no se le permitía moverla en momentos ordinarios. Antes de tocarla, debía ser incensada.

• Instrumentos musicales tradicionales chinos

• Base de datos de instrumentos de cuerda
• ATLAS de instrumentos de cuerda pulsada