Bo (instrument)

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Bo

The bo (simplified Chinese: 钹; traditional Chinese: 鈸; pinyin: bó; Wade–Giles: po) is a percussion instrument originating in China, a type of cymbal. It consists of two plates that are clashed together. It is a concussion idiophone.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one from nineteenth century China. Both parts have a diameter of 56.5 centimeters.[1]

China cymbals used by rock and jazz drummers are similar to the bo, but are mounted on stands and played with drumsticks. Bo are usually realized in bronze.[2] In the Sichuan opera they are used to emphasize the movements of actors.[2]

Xiaobo is a variant of cymbals whose diameter ranges from 12 cm to 14 cm.[3] Other variants are zhongbo (medium cymbals), shuibo (water cymbals) and dabo (large cymbals).[4]

  1. ^ "Po". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 21 May 2009. .
  2. ^ a b Garritan, Gary. Garritan World Instrument Collection (PDF). ARIA Engine. p. 105. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 16, 2021. (cf. also OCLC 910176286).
  3. ^ "Traditional STOMP Instruments". January 11, 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Chinese Cymbal - Chinese Percussion Instrument". Archived from the original on 2016-01-26.