Music from Bronze Bells — Chime Bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng 青铜上的音乐：曾侯乙编钟

曾侯乙编钟为战国早期文物，1978年在湖北随州成功发掘。
Chime bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng, cultural relic of the Warring States, were successfully excavated in Suizhou, Hubei in 1978.

出土的编钟是由六十五件青铜编钟组成的庞大乐器，其音域跨五个半八度，十二个半音齐备。它高超的铸造技术和良好的音乐性能，改写了世界音乐史，被中外专家、学者称之为“稀世珍宝”。
The excavated chime bells are a complete grand musical instruments consisting of a ceremonial set of 65 bronze bells, covering from five and a half octaves to twelve semitones of the chromatic scale. With excellent casting technique and good musical performance, they have changed the history of music in the world; and they have been hailed as “rare treasures” by experts and scholars at home and abroad.
曾侯乙编钟是中国迄今发现数量最多、保存最好、音律最全、气势最宏伟的一套编钟。
Up to now, the Chime Bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng have been discovered to be the set with the largest quantity, best preservation, most complete melody, and the most magnificence.

钟架为铜木结构，呈曲尺形，木质横梁两端有雕饰龙纹的青铜套。中下层横梁各有三个佩剑铜人，以头、手托顶梁架，中部还有铜柱加固。铜人着长袍，腰束带，神情肃穆，是青铜人像中难得的佳作。
The bell rack is of cooper - wood structure that is in the shape of a trisquare. Bronze bushings engraved with dragon patterns are arranged at the two ends of wooden beams. Three bronze human figures wearing swords are respectively arranged on the beams in the middle and lower layers, supporting the beams with their heads and hands. Bronze columns are fixed in the middles of the beams, reinforcing the beams. In long gowns and with belts laced in their waists, the bronze human figures with solemn expressions are masterpieces that are extremely valuable.
钟是一种打击乐器，用于祭祀或宴饮时。最初的钟是由商代的铜铙演变而来，按其形制和悬挂方式又有甬钟、钮钟、镈钟等不同称呼。频率不同的钟依大小次序成组悬挂在钟架上，形成合律合奏的音阶，称之为编钟。
The bells are percussion instruments that were used for sacrifice or drinking. Those made in the beginning came from copper cymbals in Shang dynasty. In terms of shape, type and hanging mode, they can be called Yongzhong, Niuzhong, Bozhong, etc. These bells with different frequencies can be hung on a frame in groups in turn from large to small frequencies, forming a polyphonic scale. They are called chime bells (Bianzhong in Chinese pinyin).