China
Chinese

Wood, bamboo, bone
Early-Mid 20th century
Length: 19 in; Width including MPC: 7 in.
Aerophone – Free Aerophones – Free Reeds

The sheng is a mouth organ (free reed) of the Hans Chinese dynasty (106 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.). This sheng consists of a cup-shaped wooden wind chest with 17 bamboo pipes each with a small finger hole.  These pipes are inserted in individual holes of the wind chest in an incomplete circle, leaving an opening.  Each pipe has a free reed, made of bamboo that vibrates to produce sound when a finger hole on the pipe is covered.  A short windpipe extends out from the front where air is alternately exhaled and inhaled to play the sheng.  This sheng plays melodies with occasional fourth or fifth harmonies, whereas the Japanese sho (also found in this collection) normally plays 11-note chords.