Sheng

The sheng is the Chinese free-reed bamboo mouth organ. The keyed sheng is a modern adaptation to extend the note range for use in modern orchaestral music. 24 pipe models were popular for a short period, but now 36 pipe models are the most common. These instruments are usually not fully chromatic. Newer more compact configurations are invented regularly, making the instruments lighter with the fingering easier and more logical.

Amongst the variations of keyed sheng, the largest are an orchestral version that stands over 6 feet or two metres high. The 36 pipe version shown stands approximately 30 inches or 75 cms. tall, and has metal resonators on some pipes and access to interior pipes on both the right and left sides.

Country: China
Region: Asia