Unique leaf trumpet sound of Mong ethnic people

Leaf flute - a simple but unique musical instrument of the Mong people is likened to the song of a nightingale. The sound of the leaf flute is used to express people's feelings towards nature, between people and to reveal the feelings of love between couples...

Families in Tham Hon village, Ta Bu commune teach their children to play leaf trumpets.

To learn about this unique musical instrument, we went upstream of the Da River to Tham Hon village, Ta Bu commune. As soon as we reached the village entrance, we heard the melodious and cheerful sounds of “pi po”. Welcoming us, Mr. Song A Tenh, Party cell secretary and head of Tham Hon village, warmly said: Tham Hon has 38 households, 100% of whom are Mong ethnic people. The sound we are hearing is the leaf flute that the women in the village are practicing to prepare for the cultural and artistic exchange on the occasion of September 2. All the women in the village know how to play the leaf flute, which has been passed down from generation to generation and is closely associated with the daily life of the Mong people.

Seeing a group of women enthusiastically practicing leaf trumpets on the porch, when asked, everyone enthusiastically guided us on how to choose leaves and how to create “pi po” sounds and then create melodies according to songs… Ms. Ho Thi Denh, Head of the Women’s Association of Tham Hon village, shared: When I was a child, I followed my mother to the fields. During breaks, I saw my mother often blowing leaf trumpets to communicate and chat with people far away and also heard the sound of leaf trumpets echoing back. Then my mother taught me how to choose leaves and practice blowing to songs. After just a few practice sessions, I was able to blow songs. Now I pass it on to my children and the younger generation. At the same time, I promote and mobilize women in the village to teach their children how to blow leaf trumpets to preserve the cultural features of our people.

The leaves used to make trumpets must have a wide, smooth surface and no serrations.

Guiding me on how to choose leaves and how to blow, Ms. Denh added: The leaves used to make the trumpet must have a wide, smooth surface, no serrated edges, thin, smooth, hairless leaves, such as the leaves of trees: longan, mango, guava, wild arrowroot, banana leaves... because these types of leaves can withstand the force of the air, have toughness and are not easily torn. When blowing the leaf trumpet, use your hands to hold the two ends of the leaf and hold the leaf horizontally between your two lips, gently roll the edges of the leaf to fit the upper and lower lips of the blower, along with that, combine using the tongue to push air through the gap of the lips into the leaf gap to create a high-pitched sound.

Putting the leaf to her lips, Ms. Denh and the other women in the art troupe gently sang the cheerful, clear melody of the song “The Mong people thank the Party”. The simplicity and uniqueness of this natural musical instrument creates a unique feature of the Mong people, making listeners very excited and engrossed. On special occasions such as weddings, new rice celebrations, new house celebrations, Tet holidays… the clear sound of the leaf trumpet rises up like a harmony between people and the mountains and forests, expressing people’s feelings towards nature, towards life…

Ms. Denh guides the children in the village to play the leaf trumpet.

Nowadays, modern life has many electronic musical instruments and vibrant modern music, but the Mong people in Tham Hon village still preserve, conserve and promote the leaf trumpet musical instrument along with the unique cultural features of their people, contributing to preserving the unique cultural features of the Mong people to live forever.

Lam Giang

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