Erhu
Erhu, a two-stringed fiddle, is one of the most popular Chinese instruments in the huqin family.
The reform of Liu Tianhua, an early 20th century musician, led to a major leap in China's stringed instruments. He invented a new instrument, erhu, and composed 45 etudes for it, elevating it from the level of folk art to musical institutions of higher learning. Erhu also became a main instrument for playing the melody of Peking opera.
The well-known music Er quan ying yue (Two Springs Reflect the Moon) was created by the blind folk artist Liu Yanjun, nicknamed A Bing. Though he could not see anything of the world, he played his erhu using his heart and imagination. This melody conjures up a poetic night scene under the moonlight and expresses the composer's desolation and hope.
