Dizi
The Dizi is the bamboo flute. It has about 9,000 years of history. Generally, The Dizi has 2 categories: the Bongdi with a higher pitch and the Qudi with a gentler tone quality. Dizi has a membrane hole (mo-kong) in addition to a mouth hole and 6 finger holes. The membrane helps produce a sweet and bright sound. The range the Dizi is about two and a half octaves. Traditionally players have a set of Dizi, one for each desired key.
Eddie Hsu
Dr. Hsu is an active dizi player and ethnomusicologist. Growing up in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, he began his dizi career when he was 11 years old. He received a BA in dizi performance from the Department of Chinese Music at Tainan National University of the Arts in Taiwan. In 2009, he performed a solo dizi and xiao concert in Kaohsiung City Recital Hall.
In 2012, he moved to the US to pursue his study in ethnomusicology, which exposed him to various musical traditions in the world and enriched his own musical journey. His extensive experience in cross-cultural musical performance enables him to soulfully express his own style and collaborate with various ensembles. He has performed with several world music groups in the U.S. as a featured dizi musician, including “Sangat” and “GO: Organic Orchestra.” He has performed at various major international events, such as the 2014 International Accordion Festival and the 2018 SXSW Music Festival. In 2016, 2017, and 2022, he was invited and funded by the U.S. Department of State to perform with the fusion music group “Sangat” at The National Academy of Performing Arts in Pakistan. He has recorded dizi and xiao on various productions, including the musical soundtracks from the Netflix anime series Seis Manos by Carl Theil.
He received a PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of Texas at Austin in 2019. Among his previous positions, he served as an adjunct faculty in Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University (2019-2021), where he taught the Chinese Music Ensemble and World Music and Culture courses. Currently, he serves as Curator for Asia at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ, where is responsible for the Asian collection and related exhibits.
Mark Kuo
Born in Taiwan and learned the Dizi from Tai-Sheng Bai, Kuo joined the student Chinese orchestra from junior high to college. In the college, he became the director of the Chinese Music Club and the conductor. Before studying in the U.S., he also participated the Qin-Yaun Chinese Orchestra in Taipei. During Kuo’s military service, he joined one of the Army military bands. In 1996, Kuo received M.S.E.E. from U. of Wisconsin, Madison. After settling down in the Bay Area, Mr. Kuo joined the South Bay Chinese Orchestra and played the Dizi and Sheng. In recent years, he has studied the Kunqu Opera and the Qudi from Prof. Lindy Li and the famous Dizi virtuoso Ming Zeng. Kuo also plays the Qudi in the Kunqu ensemble in the Area.