MOCA CMTA Collection 龙头及琴筒上有中文字的二弦
美国华人博物馆（MOCA）中国音乐剧社（CMTA）馆藏
The erxian – literally “two strings” – is a Chinese bowed string instrument used primarily in Cantonese music. It has two strings running along a hardwood neck which are traditionally bowed with a hard bow made of thick bamboo. Some erxian are topped with ornately carved dragon heads. After the development of the lighter, more approachable gaohu in the 1920s, the erxian became less popular and has since been played almost exclusively in Cantonese operas, where it usually accompanies singing. While still a staple instrument of Cantonese opera ensembles, modern erxian players have adapted the instrument with steel strings and lighter erhu bows instead of using the traditional heavy silk strings and unwieldy hardwood bows. MOCA’s Chinese Musical Theatrical Association (CMTA) Collection includes a number of rare musical instruments such as this one, among other costumes, photographs, props, and related documents.
二弦——字面上的意思是“两根弦”——是一种主要用于粤语音乐的中国弓弦乐器。它有两条沿着硬木颈的琴弦，由一条用粗竹子弯成的硬弓拉出传统的音乐。一些二弦顶部雕刻着华丽的龙头。在二十世纪二十年代开发出更轻的更受欢迎的高胡之后，二弦渐渐不再流行，并从此发展成为几乎只在粤剧中使用的乐器，通常为粤剧演唱伴奏。尽管二弦仍是粤剧演出中的主要乐器，现代二弦演奏者已经使用钢弦和较轻的二胡弓，来代替传统的重丝弦和笨重的硬木弓。MOCA的中国音乐剧社（CMTA）馆藏包括许多罕见的乐器，包括这件二弦，另外还有戏服、照片、舞台道具和其他相关文件等。
Countdown to the TCS NYC Marathon on November 3, 2019: 216 Days.
2019年是美国第一条横贯大陆铁路建成150周年，为了纪念第一批华人来美建设这条铁路所做出的巨大贡献， MOCA将其2019 TCS NYC Marathon的活动命名为 MOCA Spike 150 – Running Forward With Our Stories！ 鼓励大家通过马拉松公益跑，全国线上接力，以及一天一个故事的方式讲述150个华人的历史故事，敬请大家持续关注， 讲出华人自己的故事，回顾过去，立足现在，展望未来，共同书写美国历史，使之更加充实完整。