A symbol of nobility of the Western Zhou Dynasty bronze - bells(2)

Ancient bells to play foreign songs

Bell is bronze weapons musical instrument "family" the most important member of the bell is divided into Ningbo, New York Bell and Bo. Yong bell is cylindrical handle, after the bell hung the body tilt. New York minute is spent flake hand, after the bell hung the body vertical. Bo is a flat bell, large body, which is generally the core of bells weighing equipment to play the role of stress and rhythm.

Some bells unearthed shape stable, mature, rich sound grouping sequence, not only a complete sound stage seven, but also changes in the performance of seven acoustic sound outside. The famous figurine bronze musical instruments, currently the largest unearthed bells - Marquis Yi of Zeng bells, for example, can make people feel deeply the height of ancient wisdom.

1978 tomb unearthed in Hubei huge bells grand total length of 10.79 meters, 2.73 meters high, with a total weight of 3,500 kilograms, consists of six china bronze sculpture samurai sword and a few supporting columns, divided into upper and lower three layer. Including buttons clock 19, 45, and Yong-Zhong Chu Hui Wang presented to him Bo Zhong 1.

Zenghouyi wide range bells, five octaves, only one less than the modern piano octave. Each bronze musical instruments bell has two different phonemes, and interference from each other (only the bell is struck each side can play the up, down two tones). Just think, by a different bell sizes, thickness varies, the size of the depth of groove width-minute ways to show "1234567" seven basic scales, but also turned up just right, how high technology need.

The deeply buried two thousand four hundred years of nude statues bells, still able to play music, temperament is accurate, ponderous. Archaeologists have been exploring cooperation with the artists will Zenghouyi bells to copy, use the clock to play the "Plum Blossom", "Liuyang River", "Christmas Eve" and other foreign songs.

Xu Qingsong emphasized that the Western Zhou Dynasty to make Bo and more advanced bronze sculpture wildlife bell of the people are noble, their production and the owner's identity, status and power are inseparable. In addition, the smelting of copper itself is also very particular about, "scrap metal can make a musical instrument."