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Xun

Xun

To order, contact us at info@imperialcityocarina.com, letting us know your location (country), postal code (zip code), xun model, and any custom requests.

 

The xun 埙 is played similar to a western flute, in the sense that air flows partly into and partly across the windway opening. Good tonal quality on the xun requires development of a proper embouchure. As with the western flute, the higher the note the tighter the required embouchure. Thus, ocarina players will find that the xun takes some getting used to early on. But with practice, the full range of this wonderful instrument can be mastered!

 

The sound quality of the xun is more mellow and distant-feeling than the ocarina with a slightly windy sensation, creating for many listeners a dreamy sense of drifting off to another place and time.

 
But now there's great news for xun players... in 2013 Song Wei developed a new windway opening design (China patent no. ZL201320566499.3) that makes the xun significantly easier to play! Check out the product photos... you'll notice that the traditionally round windway hole is now cut with a notch resembling the shape of Song Wei's ocarina fipple windows. Many here in China are discovering this new xun product and interest in the xun is growing as a result.
 
Maybe it's time you gave the xun a try!
 
Song Wei has also made some other design changes to improve the xun. His xun are now 11-hole instruments, increasing the range by two diatonic notes as compared to the traditional 9-hole xun. The fingering is now the same as an 11-Hole ocarina, smoothing the way for ocarina players to pick up the xun. Opposite the windway opening notch is now a flattened area that improves playability by providing comfortable and fixed placement of the instrument against the upper chin.
 

 

Traditionally, xun have had no fingering provision for sharps and flats, requiring the player to half-cover toneholes to achieve a fully chromatic scale. But now, Song Wei's new design offers complete chromatic fingerings.

 

These instruments have no neckcord hole and must be held solely with the hands without neckcord support while playing.

 

We now refer to our xun in C as a bass instrument, though we continue to call the D xun an alto.

 

Our bass G xun is especially low, playing an octave below an alto G ocarina.

 

Xun origins. The xun is an ancient Chinese vessel flute made of clay or ceramic. The first 3-tonehole xun were made during the Xia Dynasty (ca. 2070 to 1600 BC). Later on, at the time of the Shang Dynasty (1600 to 1046 BC), xun took on the familiar flat-bottomed egg shape, being made not only from ceramic but also stone or bone. More toneholes were added over the centuries, but basic design of the xun remains simple (excepting of course Song Wei's new innovations). Like the ocarina, pitch is determined by vessel volume and tonehole diameter.

 

How in the world do you say "Xun"?!! That's a problem for Western tongues because we don't make the sounds indicated by "xu". The closest I can render "xun" for the native Englsih speaker is shwoun, where the ou is pronounced as in "should". To hear a short sound clip of "xun" in a standard Beijing pronunciation, click HERE (accept the download and your media player should open automatically).

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Alto Xun, Key of D

Alto Xun, Key of D

$59.95

To order, contact us at info@imperialcityocarina.com

Pitch Range Plays D4 to G5, fully chromatic (see note) Basic D Major diatonic scale of 12 notes (1.5 octave) Total of 18 notes, counting all sharps and flats   All of our xun are now available as an 11-hole instruments, with a subhole added at the RH middle finger position. This 11-hole configuration provides fingerings for all accidentals and thus no half-covering of a tonehole is required (as with traditional xun). Of course, let us know if you'd prefer a 10-hole instr…

Bass Xun, Key of C

Bass Xun, Key of C

$61.95

To order, contact us at info@imperialcityocarina.com

Pitch Range Plays B3 to F5, fully chromatic Basic C major diatonic scale of 12 notes (1.5 octave) Total of 19 notes, counting all sharps and flats   The product described here is an 11-hole instrument, with a subhole added at the right-hand middle finger position. The subhole not only expands the range downward by one diatonic in the C major scale, but also provides fingerings for all accidentals within the range of the instrument. Without the subhole, the C#4 is playable …

Bass Xun, Key of G

Bass Xun, Key of G

$79.95

To order, contact us at info@imperialcityocarina.com

Pitch Range Plays G3 to C5, fully chromatic (see note) Basic G major diatonic scale of 12 notes (1.5 octave) Total of 18 notes, counting all sharps and flats   All of our xun are now available as 11-hole instruments, with a subhole added at the RH middle finger position. Despite the photos showing a 10-hole instrument, the 11-hole configuration is now our standard. This 11-hole configuration provides fingerings for all accidentals and thus no half-covering of toneholes is…

Bass Dragon Xun, Key of C

Bass Dragon Xun, Key of C

$78.95

To order, contact us at info@imperialcityocarina.com

Pitch Range Plays B3 to F5, fully chromatic Basic C major diatonic scale of 12 notes (1.5 octave) Total of 19 notes, counting all sharps and flats   This 11-hole xun features a subhole covered by right middle finger that not only extends the range down to a B3 but also affords fingerings for all half-tones. No half-covering of toneholes is required as in previous, more traditional xun models.   The Dragon xun is beautifully hand painted with irridescent green and gol…

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