Iu Mien Zither

The Iu Mien hoa dong dzoe tube zither is fashioned from a long tranche of large, hollow bamboo stem that is closed at both ends by a natural node. Ingeniously, the zither’s two ‘strings,’ which run lengthwise along the resonator, are finely cut from the upper layer, the ‘skin,’ of the bamboo body, thereby remaining a part of the instrument, rather than separate from it, which defines the hoa dong dzoe as an idioglottal instrument.

These strings are lifted from the surface of the bamboo body at either end by two moveable flat wooden bridges, lateral bars which, when slipped closer together or farther apart, can raise or lower the pitch.  A central bass bar touching both strings acts as a pedal tone, providing depth and fullness to the overall sound.

The strings of the Iu Mien hao dong dzoe are not plucked for melodic purposes. Rather young children strike this percussion instrument with one or two bamboo mallets creating a woody timbre in whatever rhythm, fast or slow, that inspires them.

Iu Mien fathers fashion the hoa dong dzoe bamboo tube zither for their young sons and daughters, aged three to ten years, as a toy drum so they can amuse themselves during the long rainy season and festivals.

Ethnic Group: Iu Mien

Local Name: Hao dong dzoe

Type: Struck Bamboo Tube Zither

Class: Idioglottal Struck Idiophone

Tuning:

Age: 2022

Materials: Bamboo

Dimensions: 47 x 9 dia. / 18.5” 3.5” dia.

Location:
Ban Huay Mae Sai
Chiang Rai, Thailand 

Owner / Instrument Maker:

Catalog Number: 5874