The resounding sound of the stone xylophone
We arrived at the stone xylophone class where the teacher and students were enthusiastically teaching and learning each note in songs like "Continuing the Story of Peace," "The Girl from Khanh Son," etc. Each hammer blow against the stone slab created a clear, resonant sound that echoed far through the mountain forest. Although the sound of the instrument was still clumsy and uneven, it filled us with joy knowing that the traditional culture, music , and folk instruments of the Raglai people here are being cared for and preserved by young people, opening up new hopes for promoting, practicing, and spreading the unique value of the stone xylophone in artistic performances, cultural activities, and tourism. Witnessing the young people of Dong Khanh Son commune attentively learning how to use the stone xylophone also showed the interest of today's youth in traditional culture. Student Mau Thi Bich Hy said: “Before attending the class, I only knew about the stone xylophone through television programs. The sound of the stone xylophone resonates like the sound of the mountains and forests. I really wanted to have the opportunity to learn to play the stone xylophone, so when I heard that Dong Khanh Son commune was opening a class to teach the instrument, I registered to participate. Through the class, from initial curiosity, I have truly fallen in love with my ethnic group's musical instrument and want to contribute a small part in preserving and introducing the stone xylophone.”
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| Teacher Nguyen Ngoc Kieu Ngan instructs students on playing the stone xylophone. |
Like Mau Thi Bich Hy, the other students in the stone xylophone class in Dong Khanh Son commune are young people who have never directly touched a stone xylophone. Each of them only knows and has heard the sound of the stone xylophone through media and cultural performances. None of them imagined that one day they would directly learn how to use the stone xylophone, holding a wooden hammer to strike the lifeless stone slabs to create beautiful sounds and melodies. Student Cao Thi Diem Quynh shared: “Through the class, I can now play the song “Continuing the Story of Peace” at a basic level. The things I learned from the class are very meaningful to me. After the class, I hope to have the opportunity to continue practicing and participate in local cultural and artistic activities. I also hope that in the future, Dong Khanh Son commune will open more classes teaching other traditional Raglai musical instruments such as the ma la, gourd trumpet, and Chapi instrument...”
Bringing much hope
According to Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Kieu Ngan, the class instructor, gathering nearly 30 students was a significant effort by the Dong Khanh Son commune government, demonstrating the commune's concern for preserving and promoting national cultural values. The students also made efforts to arrange their family affairs and overcome personal difficulties to participate in the class. The commune carefully considered each student to develop the most effective teaching plan, from providing specific and visual guidance on music theory using the stone xylophone to emphasizing practical application so that all students could master and learn how to play basic pieces on the stone xylophone.
The stone xylophone is identified as one of the oldest musical instruments of the Raglai people. Two sets of stone xylophones, discovered by Mr. Bo Bo Ren's family in the Doc Gao area (Khanh Son commune) 65 years ago and currently preserved at the Khanh Hoa Provincial Museum, have been recognized as National Treasures by the Prime Minister. Therefore, the Raglai people are always proud of their stone xylophone. The stones, arranged in a specific order with different scales, produce clear, melodious, and rustic sounds when struck, reflecting the very soul of the Raglai people. However, with the impacts of modern life, traditional musical instruments in general, and the stone xylophone in particular, face challenges in preservation and promotion. Therefore, opening a stone xylophone class for young people in Dong Khanh Son commune is of great importance.
According to Mr. Cao Van Han, a civil servant at the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Dong Khanh Son commune, the stone xylophone class is an activity aimed at implementing Project 6 "Preserving and promoting the valuable traditional culture of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development" (under the National Target Program for socio -economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province). This is also an opportunity to encourage and motivate the younger generation to cherish and preserve the musical identity of their ethnic group. In the future, the Culture and Social Affairs Department of the commune will continue to advise the local Party committee and government to open another class to teach the use of stone xylophones for students. The locality will also introduce stone xylophones and some other traditional musical instruments to promote and spread the valuable cultural identity of the Raglai people through traditional festivals and cultural and artistic activities.
Preserving and safeguarding the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in general, and the Raglai people in particular, is a major issue requiring the joint efforts of local authorities at all levels and the community. This significant issue will be gradually addressed through small-scale training courses, such as the stone xylophone teaching class in Dong Khanh Son commune. In recent times, many localities with large ethnic minority populations have actively established performing arts groups; revived many traditional festivals; and opened numerous classes teaching the use of musical instruments, folk singing, and epics. All of this instills confidence in the restoration of the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in present and future generations.
GIANG DINH
Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202511/de-tieng-dan-da-mai-ngan-vang-04a581c/
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