The Bru-Van Kieu residing in high mountainous areas of Quang Binhprovince have created several singing genres, dances, and musicalinstruments. Of their traditional musical instruments such as panpipes,Ta Lu mandolin, cymbals, and gongs, the flute is the most popularmusical instrument, reports radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).
Folksongs, dances, and musical instruments are indispensable parts in thecultural life of the Bru-Van Kieu in Quang Binh province. Each form ofsinging or dancing is performed in specific places and occasions.
Somemusical instruments are only used in worshiping rituals, while othersare played at festivals and call-and-response singing sessions.
HoAi patriarch in Khe Cat hamlet, Truong Son commune, is the mostknowledgeable man of Van Kieu’s culture and arts. He is also the bestartist of playing and making traditional musical instrument such asgong, Kho-lui, Sui, and Pi flutes, Po-lua and Tinh tung musicalinstrument.
“Pi flute is made of bamboo which is played atworshiping rituals, particularly the worshiping of souls. It representsthe shaman’s solemn and supernatural power. The Pi and Sui flutes,gongs, and drums, are also sacred items used at worshiping ceremonies,not festivals,” says Ho Ai.
The sound of the Pi flute echoesmelodiously through jungles, reflecting the soul of the Van Kieu. Thesound of the flute, religious belief, and other cultural values haveunited the Bru-Van Kieu community in the Truong Son Range.
TheKhui is a noteworthy flute. It reflects the Van Kieu’s thought of theworld, social relationship, clan, and hamlet. When being played atfestivals, the sound of the Khui flute conveys the inner feeling of theplayers.
Customarily, middle-age men are allowed to play the Khuiflute. Senior villager Ho Van Thuong elaborates, “In the past men hadto watch ripen rice fields. Sitting idly, they made holes on bamboosticks to blow for fun. The resounding sound could be heard from theother fields. They talked with each other by blowing flutes.”
Tomake a flute with refined-sound, it’s important to find a goodneohouzeaua, a species of bamboo which is slender and has long sections.
They often choose a full moon day, to cut the tree. Theneohouzeau tree is dried on a shelf in the kitchen for 1 or 2 months.The artisan uses a red-hot iron awl to make holes on the neohouzeaupiece.
The Van Kieu also have other kinds of flute such as Terilflute for young people blowing on dual-singing session and Kho lui flutefor wedding.-VNA
Folksongs, dances, and musical instruments are indispensable parts in thecultural life of the Bru-Van Kieu in Quang Binh province. Each form ofsinging or dancing is performed in specific places and occasions.
Somemusical instruments are only used in worshiping rituals, while othersare played at festivals and call-and-response singing sessions.
HoAi patriarch in Khe Cat hamlet, Truong Son commune, is the mostknowledgeable man of Van Kieu’s culture and arts. He is also the bestartist of playing and making traditional musical instrument such asgong, Kho-lui, Sui, and Pi flutes, Po-lua and Tinh tung musicalinstrument.
“Pi flute is made of bamboo which is played atworshiping rituals, particularly the worshiping of souls. It representsthe shaman’s solemn and supernatural power. The Pi and Sui flutes,gongs, and drums, are also sacred items used at worshiping ceremonies,not festivals,” says Ho Ai.
The sound of the Pi flute echoesmelodiously through jungles, reflecting the soul of the Van Kieu. Thesound of the flute, religious belief, and other cultural values haveunited the Bru-Van Kieu community in the Truong Son Range.
TheKhui is a noteworthy flute. It reflects the Van Kieu’s thought of theworld, social relationship, clan, and hamlet. When being played atfestivals, the sound of the Khui flute conveys the inner feeling of theplayers.
Customarily, middle-age men are allowed to play the Khuiflute. Senior villager Ho Van Thuong elaborates, “In the past men hadto watch ripen rice fields. Sitting idly, they made holes on bamboosticks to blow for fun. The resounding sound could be heard from theother fields. They talked with each other by blowing flutes.”
Tomake a flute with refined-sound, it’s important to find a goodneohouzeaua, a species of bamboo which is slender and has long sections.
They often choose a full moon day, to cut the tree. Theneohouzeau tree is dried on a shelf in the kitchen for 1 or 2 months.The artisan uses a red-hot iron awl to make holes on the neohouzeaupiece.
The Van Kieu also have other kinds of flute such as Terilflute for young people blowing on dual-singing session and Kho lui flutefor wedding.-VNA
