Let the sound of the lithophone resonate forever

The sound of lithophone resounds

We came to the lithophone class when the teachers and students here were enthusiastically teaching and learning each note in the songs "Continuing the story of peace " , "Khanh Son girl" ... Each stroke of the wooden hammer hitting the stone slab created a clear, resonant sound, spreading far and wide in the space of the mountains and forests. Although the sound of the instrument still sounded clumsy and stumbling, it still made us feel happy when the traditional culture, music , and traditional musical instruments of the Raglai people here are being cared for and preserved by the young people themselves, opening up new hopes in promoting, practicing, and spreading the unique value of lithophones in performing arts, cultural activities, and tourism. Witnessing the scene of the union members and youth of Dong Khanh Son commune attentively learning and studying how to use the lithophone also partly shows the interest of today's young people in traditional culture. Student Mau Thi Bich Hy said: “Before joining the class, I only knew about lithophone through TV programs. The sound of the lithophone echoed like the sound of the mountains and forests. I really wanted to have the opportunity to learn to play the lithophone, so when I heard that Dong Khanh Son commune was opening a lithophone class, I signed up. Through the class, from my initial curiosity, I truly loved my ethnic musical instrument and wanted to contribute a small part in preserving and introducing the lithophone.”

Teacher Nguyen Ngoc Kieu Ngan instructs students on lithophone.

Like Mau Thi Bich Hy, the other students in the lithophone class of Dong Khanh Son commune are all young people who have never directly touched a lithophone. Each person only knows and hears the sound of the lithophone through the media and performing arts programs. None of them thought that one day, they would directly learn how to use the lithophone, holding a wooden hammer to hit the lifeless stone pieces to create each beautiful sound and melody. Student Cao Thi Diem Quynh shared: “Through the class, I was able to play the song “Continuing the story of peace” in a basic way. The things I learned from the class are very meaningful to me personally. After the class, I hope to have the conditions to continue practicing more, participating in cultural and artistic activities in the locality. I also hope that in the near future, Dong Khanh Son commune will open more classes to teach other traditional Raglai musical instruments such as: Ma la, trumpet, Chapi...”.

Bringing much hope

According to Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Kieu Ngan - in charge of the class, gathering nearly 30 students to participate in the class is a great effort of the Dong Khanh Son commune government, demonstrating the commune's concern for preserving and promoting national cultural values. Students also try to arrange family work, overcome their own difficulties to participate in the class. The commune has learned about each student to come up with the most effective teaching plan, from specific, intuitive instructions on music theory on the lithophone, to focusing on the practical element so that students can all grasp and know how to play basic music on the lithophone.

The lithophone is identified as one of the oldest musical instruments of the Raglai people. Two sets of lithophones found by Mr. Bo Bo Ren's family in the Doc Gao area (Khanh Son commune) 65 years ago, currently kept 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 ethnic lithophones. Stone slabs with different scales are arranged in a certain order so that when struck, they produce sounds that are both clear and melodious, yet rustic and close to the soul of the Raglai people. However, with the impacts of modern life, traditional musical instruments in general and lithophones in particular face challenges in preserving and promoting their values. Therefore, the opening of lithophone classes in Dong Khanh Son commune for young people is very important.

According to Mr. Cao Van Han - civil servant of the Department of Culture - Society of Dong Khanh Son commune, the lithophone class is an activity to implement Project 6 "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values 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 young generation to appreciate and preserve the musical identity of their nation. In the coming time, the Department of Culture - Society of the commune will continue to advise the local Party Committee and government to open another class to teach the use of lithophone for students. The locality will also introduce lithophone sets and some other traditional musical instruments to introduce and spread the fine cultural values and identities of the Raglai people through traditional festivals, cultural and artistic activities.

Preserving and maintaining the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in general and the Raglai in particular is a big problem that requires the joint efforts of local authorities at all levels and the community. That big problem will be gradually solved through small classes such as the lithophone teaching class in Dong Khanh Son commune. Recently, in many localities with a large population of ethnic minorities, art troupes have been actively established; many traditional festivals have been restored; many classes have been opened to teach the use of musical instruments, folk songs, epics, etc. All of these bring confidence in the restoration of traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in today's and future lives.

FAMILY

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202511/de-tieng-dan-da-mai-ngan-vang-04a581c/