Lars Fredriksson & 108 Crickets

Lars Fredriksson & The Chinese Crickets Rosary Ensemble of 108 chinese crickets of various species:

The crickets in these recordings are mostly from Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Only a few, but very significant ones, are from the Beijing region.

The most prominent are the Bamboo Bells 竹鈴 (Oecanthus sinensis) and the Purple Bamboo Bells 紫竹鈴 (Oecanthus longicauda), heard here in many different constellations and in various numbers. They synchronize their singing, and it is very impressive to hear a large group of Bamboo Bells come in and out of perfectly joined stridulation.

The Ink Bells 墨鈴 (Homeoxipha lycoides) are more discreet, but also the most versatile. They have a larger repertoire than most other crickets and they also play differently depend- ing on the environment and time of day.

The Large Yellow Bells 大黃鈴 (Anaxipha sp. n) are probably the most indefatiguable of all cricket musicians, singing no matter if it is dusk or dawn, night or broad daylight. Its only requirements seem to be peaceful sur- roundings and some moist fruit to nibble at.

The Small Yellow Bells 小黃鈴 (Anaxipha pallidula) has a softer sound and does not sing for such long continuous periods as the Large Yellow Bell, but shows some more variety in its stridulations.

The Gold Bell 金鈴 (Svistella bifasciata) has a very high pitch, and is a distinct and clear addition to the overall soundshape of the group. It adds a certain crispness and struck crystal-glass tone quality.

Probably the most powerful singer of all, the Heavenly Bell 天鈴 (Trujalia hibinonis – known as the Green Lute 綠琵琶 in Northern China) is unsurpassed in volume. There are two main kinds on these recordings, the “single mouth” and the “paired mouth”, with distinct differences in singing.

Finally, at least among those recorded here, we have the wonderful brilliance of the Horse Bell 馬鈴 (Homeogryllus japonica – in Northern China known as the Golden Bell 金鐘), a most amicable and peaceful cricket that prefers to sing with the female present.