His whole life was dedicated to Cha-pay doong-veng.

In a small house in Kiet Lap A hamlet, Lam Tan commune, the sound of the Cha-pay doong-veng instrument still resonates regularly every afternoon. The person who holds that instrument is Khmer artisan Danh Yen. He has dedicated almost his entire life to preserving this unique folk art form of his people.

The sound of Mr. Danh Yen's Cha-pay doong-veng instrument still resonates regularly every afternoon.

Born into a family with a tradition of performing arts in My Thuan commune, My Tu district (formerly Soc Trang province), now My Tu commune (Can Tho city), Mr. Yen developed an early passion for traditional music . His father was a musician in the Tum Pok Sok traditional wedding music ensemble. Despite being visually impaired, his father remained dedicated to the sound of wedding drums, nurturing Danh Yen's passion for art.

Mr. Yen recalled: "Since I was little, I loved watching the members of the troupe perform with my father. At the age of 12, I asked to learn to play the Sro-lay, and later I learned to play the Cha-pay doong-veng. Because I was so young and couldn't hold the instrument, I just stood and watched, gradually learning from the uncles and older members of the troupe."

In Khmer, "Chom rieng" means singing, while "Cha-pay doong veng" refers to a type of long-necked instrument characteristic of the Khmer people. This is a solo art form where the artist sings while being accompanied by the instrument. The unique aspect is that the artist doesn't sing and play the instrument continuously, but rather sings a section, then pauses to play the instrument before continuing.

According to Mr. Danh Yen, to perform the unique Chom Cha-pay style well, the artist not only needs to know how to play the instrument but also must understand Khmer culture, language, and literature to improvise lyrics that are appropriate. The content usually tells stories of daily life, advising people to live virtuously and avoid evil.

He said that the specific chom Cha-pay Doong Veng has many songs such as Angkor Reach, Sa Rom-mi, Ong Kom Ca-ek… Each ritual and each setting requires a suitable song. In wedding ceremonies, there are songs for opening the gate, cutting the betel nut bunch, and tying hands… all deeply rooted in the Khmer culture of Southern Vietnam.

After getting married and settling in Lam Tan commune, Mr. Yen never gave up playing the Cha-pay instrument. His wife, Mrs. Son Thi Chau, smiled gently and said, "Seeing him sing and play the Cha-pay instrument made me passionate about it too."

Not only is he proficient in playing the Cha-pay doong-veng, but he can also play many other Khmer musical instruments such as the tro-so, tro-u, flute, and pay-o… In the Tum Pok Sok traditional wedding music troupe, he is considered a "veteran." Ly Quyen, a veteran member of the troupe, said: "Currently, Danh Yen is like a master of the troupe. He can sing and play many different musical instruments."

With a passion for Khmer folk art, Mr. Danh Yen was repeatedly selected by the local authorities to participate in competitions, performances, and folk art festivals in the former Soc Trang province and the Mekong Delta region. He participated in the Southern Khmer Television Singing Festival and won many awards for outstanding chom rieng Cha-pay artisans.

However, what has troubled him for over 50 years is the gradual decline of this art form. He confided: "Nowadays, many young people no longer have a passion for Cha-pay. Every time I participate in a festival, I try to introduce the essence of Khmer folk music so that people will care about preserving it."

His greatest joy now is passing on his love of the Cha-pay instrument to a nephew in his family. The boy enjoys the music and has even won prizes in school competitions. For him, this is the hope that the sound of the Cha-pay Doong Veng will continue to resonate in the cultural life of the Khmer people in Southern Vietnam.

In 2013, the Khmer folk music of Chom Rieng Cha-pay was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage under the category of folk performing arts. But for artisan Danh Yen, the greatest value lies in the fact that the sounds of his homeland's musical instruments are still heard in Khmer weddings, festivals, and villages today.

Text and photos: THACH PICH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/ca-doi-vi-chom-rieng-cha-pay-doong-veng-a205509.html