China
Chinese

Wood, horsehair, metal stings, bone, reptile skin
ca. Mid-20th century
Chordophones – Lutes

The gaohu (also called yuehu) belongs to the high-pitched huqin (spiked-fiddle bowed) family of instruments.  It evolved from the erhu in the 1920s and was developed by the musician and composer Lü Wencheng (1898–1981) to be used in Cantonese music and Cantonese opera.  The Cantonese Opera is the southern version of Chinese opera that includes music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics and acting.  Compared to the erhu, the gaohu has a slightly smaller sound box, commonly circular, and is tuned a fourth higher, to G4 and D5.  Whereas most huqin are placed on top of the left thigh, the traditional gaohu is played with the sound box held in between the knees.  This gaohu and bow are of the traditional Guangdong type, with an ivory carved dragon ruyi headpiece, round body, and no base.