Lark in the Morning

Lusheng (蘆笙)

Name: Lusheng (蘆笙)
Brand: Lark in the Morning
SKU: WIN256
Price: 89.0 USD
Availability: InStock

SKU:WIN256

$89.00

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The Lusheng (蘆笙) is a traditional mouth organ made of bamboo pipes set into a wooden windchest, played mainly by the Miao, Dong, and other ethnic groups in southern China. It’s not just an instrument—it’s the heartbeat of festivals, dances, and village celebrations.

The Lusheng has a lot in common with the Kaen, a mouth organ played in Laos and northeastern Thailand. Both use free reeds and bamboo pipes, and both can produce layered melodies and drones. The Lusheng can be huge—some versions have pipes taller than the player and are held upright, supported with a strap or even played while dancing. The Lusheng’s sound is bold and rhythmic, perfect for outdoor settings and big group performances.

If you're familiar with the Sheng—China’s classical mouth organ—you’ll notice some shared DNA. Both the Lusheng and the Sheng use vertical bamboo pipes and free reeds, and both can produce chords and melodies at the same time. But the Sheng is more at home in refined concert settings, with complex fingerwork and precise tuning. The Lusheng, on the other hand, is rawer, earthier, and deeply tied to folk traditions. It's not about sitting still and listening—it’s about moving, celebrating, and connecting with community.

So while the Lusheng might look like a cousin to the Kaen and the Sheng, it has a personality all its own—loud, proud, and full of life.