Bilu


Bilu is a wind instrument of Yi minority group. Popular in Chuxiong Yi Group Autonomous Perfecture.

Bilu is a free reed vertical instrument. The flute is made of bamboo or reed tube.

There are 7 retangular finger holes, 6 in the front and 1 at the back.

Tone range: from E to F, more than one octave.

Bright high pitches, deep low tones, with some nasal sound. Very large volume, suitable for outdoor playing. Shepherds like to play it for self enjoyment. Recently it has been used in folk ensembles.