Cai ñi

Cai ñi *spike fiddle of Vietnam, with ivory body, 4-sided neck and 2 silk strings tuned a 5th apart, secured by large rear pegs. The nut consists of a cord loop that passes over the strings and holds them taut against the neck. The bottom is open. A bow is permanently inserted between the 2 strings, 1 being touched from above when played, the other from below. It corresponds to the t'i ch'in of China, so-i of Laos, sa dueng of Thailand, and amrita of India (47, 132, 173). Sort…