Images from The Beede Gallery Sheng (Mouth Organ), China, late 19th century Click on images below to see larger images NMM 2566. Sheng, China, late 19th century. Mouth organ with bronze wind chest, seventeen bamboo pipes and metal reeds. Pipes carved to fit in a tight cluster, traditionally associated with the wings of the mythical phoenix. Only fourteen of the pipes are playable; the others are present merely to complete the symmetry of the bird’s wings. Metal reeds are attached to the lower ends of the pipes, visible only when removed from wind chest. Small drops of wax are used to tune each reed. Chinese characters, identifying each pitch, are inscribed on interior walls of speaking pipes. Historically, gourds were used for the wind chest. Like its Western counterpart, the harmonica, the sheng plays both blow and draw notes. Board of Trustees, 1979. Views of the Pipes and Wind Chest Bottom of wind chest Top of wind chest View from above of pipes in wind chest       Lower end of pipes Interior of pipe cluster Chinese numbers on pipes   Click arrow to continue Beede Gallery Tour Go to Beede Gallery Tour Index Go to Virtual Gallery Tour Index Go to Annotated Checklist of Musical Instruments From East Asia on Display at the NMM National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD   57069 ©National Music Museum, 2007 Most recent update:   December 6, 2007 You are the 442nd visitor to this page since November 28, 2007. The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page