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Echoing the Better City, Better Life slogan of World Expo 2010 Shanghai, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will play enchanting music with 40 snake-friendly "eco-huqins" at its Shanghai performance this Saturday.
Traditionally, the skin-covered sound box of the huqin, a stringed instrument, has been made of python skin. But pythons have been on the endangered species list since the 1970s, so products made with python skin have been banned in many countries.
The orchestra's research and development officer Yuen Shi-chun said the orchestra had been trying to find a substitute snake skin for huqins and a suitable man-made material was finally found.
Durable, versatile material
"The huqins we now play are made with environmentally friendly polyethylene terephthalate, instead of snake skin," said Mr Yuen.
"Python skin is not a very stable material. It gets softer and loses its tension when it's hot and humid, while in winter it contracts and gets harder and brittle, or sometimes cracks. All of this has an effect on the sound quality of the instrument, and the lifespan of the materials.
"Polyethylene terephthalate, however, can handle a variation of temperatures and retains its tension and sound quality whether it is humid, warm or cold. It is much more versatile.
"We have also taken the opportunity to improve the design of the sound-box so we can keep the original quality of the musical instrument. The new material works perfectly.
"Using the new material has not only helped preserve snakes, but has also solved the problem of musicians not being able to use their own instruments for overseas concerts because their snake-skin instruments were stopped and retained at customs checkpoints."
Numerous trials
Mr Yuen, who makes the instruments by hand, said he had experimented unsuccessfully with pigskin and sheepskin before trying out the man-made polyethylene terephthalate.
He estimated more than 500,000 huqins are produced in China each year. As the skin from a four-metre python would make about 12 huqins, that means up to 60,000 pythons would need to be killed annually to meet requirements.
Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Yan Huichang said the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra is the only orchestra in the world that produces its own bowed-stringed instruments.
"This helps strengthen our status in Chinese music, unifying the sound quality of our instruments as well as enhancing their adaptability in cold weather and climatic changes. Some even say our eco-huqin provides us with a global pass."
Care to listen to the music made with these eco-friendly, snake-saving instruments? Then do not miss the group's performance at the Shanghai Concert Hall at 7.30pm Saturday.
Call 3185 1600 for enquiries and click here for online bookings.
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