Unique 54-bar stone xylophone

The traditional craft village area (part of Champa Island Nha Trang Tourist Area) is currently displaying a set of 54 stone xylophones created by artist and cultural researcher Nguyen Xuan Quang (a member of the UNESCO Vietnam Association). He and his colleagues completed this set of stone xylophones after 10 years of developing the idea and nearly 3 years of crafting and sound testing.

Symbolizing the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam.

One day at the end of May, we had the opportunity to chat with artist Nguyen Xuan Quang as he was completing the final stages of his 54-bar stone xylophone. This is a truly special work, as a typical stone xylophone usually only has 6 to 14 bars. Artist Nguyen Xuan Quang said: “I originally came from the field of agricultural and environmental planning, and spent many years working in the mountains and forests of Central and Western Vietnam. Those years awakened in me a special affection for stone. To me, stone is not inanimate but is telling a story as long as the Earth itself.” He has poured this love into his poetry collection “Songs of Stone, Moss, and Legends” (already published) and will soon be releasing a book: Songs of Stone and Flowers; Songs of Stone and People… Notably, after many years of research, he successfully crafted the 54-bar stone xylophone – a symbol of the unity and harmony of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Artist Nguyen Xuan Quang is testing the sound of the 54-bar stone xylophone.

To create the stone xylophone, artist Nguyen Xuan Quang and his collaborators personally ventured into the mountains, forests, and streams of the western Khanh Son region to search for and select each slab of the region's famous Rhyolite stone. These blocks of stone, each with its own unique timbre, were transported to the workshop in Nha Trang, where they were meticulously carved and tuned entirely by hand. According to musician Nguyen Phuong Dong, who participated in the creation, the selection of materials and tuning of the instrument was very complex because it is a unified whole with four octaves (including five C notes), not composed of multiple sets of instruments joined together. The result is a massive instrument placed on a wooden stand 80cm high and 12m long, with stone slabs ranging in length from 38cm to 1.8m. This special stone xylophone requires two or more performers and can play both traditional and modern music perfectly.

Sharing his reasons for choosing to create the 54-bar stone xylophone, artist Nguyen Xuan Quang said that he had been nurturing this idea for 10 years when he researched information about stone xylophones – an ancient musical instrument of Vietnam and the world. This 54-bar stone xylophone is the result of contributions from cultural researchers, artisans, artists, musicians, and craftsmen, reflecting a spirit of combining science , art, and national identity. It is not just a musical instrument, but also a cultural message affirming Vietnam as a multi-ethnic nation, yet unified and harmonious, like the melodious sounds of the stone xylophone playing a harmonious symphony. The stone xylophone is also a contemporary product that demonstrates the enduring legacy of ancient culture.

Contributing to the promotion of cultural heritage.

Stone xylophones are among the oldest musical instruments of humankind. In Vietnam, ancient stone xylophone sets have been found in the South Central and Central Highlands regions. These sets not only hold archaeological value but also embody the deep cultural, spiritual, and religious beliefs of the ancients. In Khanh Hoa province , ancient stone xylophone sets have been discovered in the Khanh Son and Bac Ai districts. The Khanh Son collection, consisting of two sets of 12 pieces each, dating back approximately 2,500 to 3,000 years, was recognized as a National Treasure by the Prime Minister on January 18, 2024, and is currently housed at the provincial museum. “Before crafting, we spent a lot of time researching stone xylophones, and from that, we chose to make this set of stone xylophones basically using manual methods. Each stone bar was hand-tuned through chipping, carving, chiseling, and sculpting to create different thicknesses, lengths, and timbres. This is a very elaborate and meticulous process,” said artist Nguyen Xuan Quang.

The 54-bar stone xylophone must ensure accurate sound, with the sound of each stone bar harmonizing to create a unified chord. Furthermore, this musical instrument showcases the masterful carving skills of artisans and craftsmen, resulting in a work of high performance value that conveys a clear cultural message; while also ensuring historical and cultural authenticity through the materials, manufacturing process, and symbolic meaning as a tribute to the nation's origins. It is known that artist Nguyen Xuan Quang is currently submitting an application to the Vietnam Record Organization to establish a Vietnamese record, hoping that this stone xylophone will be recognized as a national cultural and artistic product and can be displayed and performed at cultural events and festivals both domestically and internationally, demonstrating the meticulous effort and dedication of its creators.

Recently, at a meeting of the Provincial People's Committee leaders on the organization of the Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2026, Ms. Thai Thi Le Hang - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism - informed and proposed adding the display of the 54-piece stone xylophone set by artist Nguyen Xuan Quang during the official event. This would introduce to the people and tourists this unique stone xylophone set, as well as the unique cultural and artistic values ​​of this musical instrument associated with the land and people of Khanh Hoa.

Artist and cultural researcher Nguyen Xuan Quang was born in 1965 in Thang Truong commune (Da Nang city); he currently lives in Ho Chi Minh City. His hobbies include writing poetry and researching folklore and the culture of ethnic minorities.

GIANG DINH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202606/doc-dao-bo-dan-da-54-thanh-ce803a1/