BAWU

Chinese single free-reed wind instrument, an aerophone particularly popular in southwestern China. It is played in a manner similar to that of playing the flute except that all the air passes through a single, pointed reed at the mouth hole. The tone produced is a result of the coupling between the reed and the air column. The common F bawu has the lowest pitch and spans a compass of more than two octaves. Bawu performance is characterized by colourful tonal contrast, glissandos, various tonguing and fingering techniques, and circular breathing.