The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

Moon Lute (Yueqin)

Moon Lute (Yueqin)

1800s
(1644-1911)
Rosewood, wutong (paulownia) wood, and gut
58.4 x 35.6 cm (23 x 14 in.)
The Charles G. King, Jr. Collection. Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King, Jr. 1918.382
Location: not on view

Description

Its resemblance to the full moon (yue ĉœˆ) gives the yueqin its name. Found in popular ensembles, the Beijing and folk (jingxi) operas and used to accompany song, the yueqin has only recently been embraced by the modern Chinese orchestra. The player presses the strings between the frets making chord playing difficult but giving increased control over the timbre and intonation. Strings are plucked with fingernails or a pick using up-and-down strokes and tremolo techniques that sustain and provide color to a tone. It is known as gekkin in Japan.
  • ?-1918
    Ralph King [1855-1926], Cleveland Heights, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1918-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • "Accessions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 5, no. 8/9 (1918): 82-85. Mentioned: p. 82 www.jstor.org
    D. S. M. "Exhibition of Musical Instruments." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 8, no. 9 (1921): 134-43. Mentioned: pp. 134-137 www.jstor.org
  • Exhibition of the Month: Music in Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 2, 1945-February 4, 1946).
  • {{cite web|title=Moon Lute (Yueqin)|url=false|author=|year=1800s|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1918.382