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Oldest
Stringed Instrument Still Producing Music
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????A 25-stringed musical
instrument, said to be made several hundred years ago, was recently
found in Yi Autonomous County of Weishan, southwest China 's Yunnan
Province.
????This may be the oldest musical instrument
that has ever been discovered in the world which still produces
music, according to professor Cao Zheng and other experts from the
Central Conservatory of Music. Cao is an expert of Zheng, a Chinese
zither with 25 strings.
????The instrument, two meters long, is bigger
and has more strings than other similar instruments that have been
found in other parts of China, experts said.
????They explained, the instrument, called "Se"
in Chinese, produces a grand and deep sound. Playing the "Se"
began flourishing in the Spring and Autumn Period (BC770-BC476)
and the Warring States (BC475-BC221).
????Weishan, belonging to the Bai Autonomous Prefecture
of Dali, was the capital of Nanzhao State in the Tang Dynasty (618-907)
and an important cultural city on the southwest Silk Road.
????The county has more than 3,000 state-level
relics.
(Xinhua 11/17/2000)
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