The (p=yúnluó ; literally "cloud gongs" or "cloud of gongs"), is a traditional Chinese musical instrument.
It is made up of a set of gongs of varying sizes held within a frame. It was also called in ancient times.
Traditional
The is a set of usually ten small tuned gongs mounted in a wooden frame, with each gong being about 9-12 cm in diameter, and the height of the frame being about 52 cm. The 's gongs are generally of equal diameter but different thicknesses; the thicker gongs produce a higher pitch. It is often used in wind and percussion ensembles in
North China. Old drawings also depict a smaller with just five gongs, which was held by a handle by one hand and played with the other.
The traditional is sometimes referred to as the to distinguish it from the modern redesigned .
Modernized
A modernized has been developed from the traditional for use in the large modern Chinese orchestra. It is much larger with 29 or more gongs of different diameters. Its height may be over 2m including its two legs on which it stands on the floor (the frame itself is about half its height); its width is about 1.4 m or wider.
In other countries
A very similar instrument called the ( or 雲羅), which is derived from the , is used in the music of Korea. The was introduced from the
Qing dynasty in the late
Joseon is presumed to have been used in (행악; 行樂; royal court music played in procession).
Like the it consists of ten small, round, flat brass gongs suspended in a wooden frame, and played with a small wooden mallet.
The nhã nhạc music of Vietnam uses a similar instrument with three gongs, called the tam âm la ().
See also
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Traditional Chinese musical instruments
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Music of China
External links
Video
