A relatively unknown instrument, the guanzi is without a doubt one of the most difficult and expressive wind instruments. Seldom used in Chinese orchestral pieces till recently, this reed instrument’s husky yet refined sounds are a paradox to the ears.

In ancient times, the guanzi was known as bili, and was believed to have progressed to China from Xi Yu (the Western plains as defined by the Han dynasty).  It dates back as early as between AD 386 – AD 581, where the instrument was carved on sculptures found in the ancient caves of Shanxi.

By the Sui dynasty (AD 581), the guanzi was used in court orchestras and was becoming popular in the regional stretch of Huabei, Dongbei, Shandong and Shanxi.  It was also during the period of the Sui and Tang dynasties that the bili developed greatly in variety. The instrument was also becoming widely used in percussion and wind music and other forms of folk music from different regions.

The guanzi has been widely used in instrumental ensembles and has gained importance in the areas of opera and folk musicals today.  However, it only established a considerable footing in northern folk, Buddhist and Taoist music where the instrument was considered principal.

There are different shapes and sizes of guanzi, and similar to the dizi, suona and sheng, the guanzi comes in different keys to accommodate the different keys that are used in a Chinese orchestra.

The guanzi’s body is made of wood and it is played using a l arge double reed mouthpiece. Due to the great effort required to play the guanzi (a greater effort required than of the suona), the instrument is difficult for beginners to grasp.  The reed of the guanzi is especially important, requiring a specific reed corresponding to a specific guanzi.  Reeds cannot be interchanged easily as guanzi makers usually make their own specialised reeds for their instruments.

The volume range of the guanzi is similar to that of the suona.  When blowing the guanzi softly, it can achieve a gentle sound that has been likened to that of the xiao.  The low range of notes sound soft, nasal and rough while the middle range of notes are bright and rounded.  The middle range of notes are easier to control and hence are most commonly used.