Arts Midwest World Fest Study Guide

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Manhu from CHINA

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Manhu presents a fascinating reinvention of Yi music, most specifically from the Sani region of the Stone Forest in China’s Yunnan Province, an area geographically cut off from other Yi populations which has developed its own unique musical and cultural identity. Although often viewed as newcomers, Manhu have been playing together since 2003.All the members can be officially considered Yi people. Yi are a very broad ethnic group encompassing at least 6 different languages, so to be more specific, Manhu belong to the Sani people, one of the most distinctive subgroups of the Yi, possessing unique language, writing, and musical culture. Though they are Sani, Manhu have studied the music of some of the other Yi groups, so they have the knowledge and skills to perform music and dance traditions that represent the broad spectrum of Yi culture.Manhu are multi-instrumentalists, proficient in a range of Yi instruments. However, Manhu have chosen to present an upbeat imagining of how these often inaccessible traditions can be made adapted to a band situation. Featuring many locally iconic but internationally never-before-seen instruments, their sound is bewitching, leaving one puzzled that this kind of music should never have been exposed before. Truly authentic but highly creative, Manhu have performed at prestigious venues such as the National Centre for the performing arts in Beijing and Shanghai Music Hall.

Wang Tao Lead Vocals, Sani Bamboo Flute, Leaf, Moon Lute, XianziJin Hongmei Lead Vocals, Leaf, Moon LuteAwa Percussion, Leaf, Backing VocalsEr Sheng Bass, Big Three String, Backing VocalsLao Gao Small Three String, Xianzi, Backing Vocals

Check out a video of Manhu on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6xo_lnl7QA

Photo of Manhu

Photo of Manhu

Video of Manhu

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Arts Midwest World Fest Study Guide

Learn more at www.artsmidwestworldfest.org

Manhu from CHINA

The leaves of trees and shrubs are also very important traditional instruments in Sani culture. In Yunnan, it’s very mountainous. Sometimes it’s boring to walk by yourself, so one might grab a leaf and blow on it and copy the birds. Sometimes one might use leaves to call to people, to talk to them, since with leaves the sound goes farther. You’ll see when you meet Manhu!

The Sani flute is one of many traditional Chinese flutes. It is made of bamboo, and the player holds it horizontally (called a transverse or side-blown flute) as opposed to a flute played vertically (called an end-blown flute). The Sani flute has a thin, high-pitched sound that is characteristic of traditional music throughout China.

The small three string, also called sanxian, is a Chinese lute: a three stringed fretless plucked musical instrument. It has a long fingerboard, and the body is traditionally made from snake skin stretched over a rounded rectangular resonator. It is made in several sizes for different purposes and in the late 20th century a four-stringed version was also developed. It is considered the most revered of Sani instruments.

The moon lute is a four-stringed instrument that is either round or octagonal, with strings grouped in sets of two. The moon lute has a shorter neck than the sanxian and a larger, hollow body, with a wooden face. The moon lute is a traditional instrument of the Yi ethnic group from Yunnan Province.

Ask the musicians!Where do the stories in your

songs come from?

Ask the musicians!How many instruments can

you play?

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