Huobosi

The Huobosi (simplified: 火不思; pinyin: Huǒbùsī; ) is a stringed musical instrument from China. The name is a transliteration into Chinese of a medieval Turkic name for the instrument.

Huobosi

A modern huobosi
String instrument
Classification	String instrument
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	(Composite chordophone)
Developed	China
Related instruments
komuz

It has four strings in four courses and is tuned E, A, D, G. Three of the strings are made of silk and the highest is steel.

It was developed through a rationalization of an earlier Turkic instrument (the kopuz), and used the Chinese name for that instrument. The models were developed, soprano alto and tenor.

History

A historical 19th century huobosi.

The Huobosi is played by the Naxi people in China, and was historically a carved lute with a shape similar to the draynen. In modern times, the huobosi is built with a flat back and bent sides (ribs) in a similar shape, but with a generally shorter neck than the historical version.

References

• The Stringed Instrument Database
• ATLAS of Plucked Instruments
• 火不思----實驗中的民族低音樂器 (An account of the development of the hubusi, in Mandarin)

External links

• A video of a duet between a tenor and soprano huobusi
• A video of a huobusi recital with introduction
• A video of a huobusi recital with synth orchestration
• A documentary on the evolution of the huobusi with footage of a concert