Keep the sounds of the mountains and forests forever

Those rustic sounds not only captivate listeners, but are also the way the Bahnar people preserve and pass on their love for the mountains and forests, and their ancestors' culture.

The Sound of Love and Life

Early morning in village T2 (Kim Son commune), fog covers the mountain slopes, the sound of wild chickens echoes in the deep valley, blending with the bustling sounds of the awakening mountains and forests. From the stilt house of artist Dinh Van Rat (63 years old), the sounds of strings, gongs and songs resound softly, inviting visitors from afar.

Artist Dinh Van Rat (right cover) and artist Dinh Thi Nganh (middle) perform the song Thanks to the Party. **Photo: D.D**

Many artisans and people from neighboring villages had gathered early. Some were playing monochords, two-stringed zithers, flutes, gongs; others were beating the rhythm and singing to familiar tunes.

The female artists sat alternately, listening and tapping lightly, then singing together the songs: Going to the fields; Love and Response; Soldiers Marching; The sound of gongs in the dry season; Thanking the Party, thanking the State, thanking Uncle Ho... The sounds of the instruments and the lyrics blended together, creating a lively musical space, telling old stories of the forest, the village and the prosperous farming seasons.

Having just finished singing a song and sipping hot tea, artist Dinh Thi Nganh (65 years old, village T2) said, I learned these songs since I was a child, taught by the women and mothers in the village, without any books.

Since then, every time I went to the fields with my mother or in my spare time, sitting at the weaving loom, I hummed and sang, absorbed in every word and every song without realizing it.

“Music is like the breath of our village. Each song not only tells stories of labor, emotions, and remembrance of Uncle Ho, but also teaches me to appreciate the mountains and forests, and the traditions that our ancestors have worked so hard to leave behind. Therefore, as long as there are still songs and instruments, the soul of the village and the soul of the Bana people will be preserved and promoted,” Ms. Nganh confided.

In another corner, artisan Dinh Van Rat and a few others tune the strings of the monochord. Mr. Rat said, the Bahnar monochord has two versions: 6 strings and 12 strings, made from the core of electric wire, bicycle brake or guitar strings; the body is made from bamboo, attached with 1-2 hollowed out dry gourds, creating a clear, far-reaching sound. The maker must understand the history and meaning of the instrument, have the ability to feel the music and have a deep love for traditional music.

Village elder Dinh Sinh (84 years old, village T2) shared: “Playing the k'ni (also known as “love lute” or “Goong lute”) is very difficult. When pulling the strings, you have to hold the instrument in your mouth and open it so that the sound resonates throughout the house, then adjust the notes. Although society has many modern musical instruments, we still keep traditional musical instruments in festivals and family ceremonies.”

Preserving musical heritage

Artisans and villagers in Kim Son commune all expressed concern and commented that today's young generation is gradually moving away from traditional cultural values, including Bahnar music.

The high and low sounds, the rhythm of gongs, the sounds of monochords, t'rung, k'ni… if not preserved, will only remain in the memories of village elders and enthusiasts. Losing music also means losing a treasure trove of knowledge, skills and cultural identity of the community.

Artists and locals gathered to play traditional musical instruments and sing folk songs during an activity. **Photo: D.D**

Realizing the importance of preservation, artisans such as Mr. Dinh Van Rat and Ms. Dinh Thi Nganh, along with local people, actively teach young people in villages about dances, folk songs, history and the meaning of traditional musical instruments.

They teach how to play the instrument skillfully, bringing cultural values into daily life and festivals, with the hope that ancient melodies will resonate forever in the mountains and forests.

Mr. Dinh Diu (33 years old, village T1) said: “Since childhood, I have been taught by village elders and artisans to play preng, pră, gongs. Every time I play the instruments, I understand more about the rhythm of life, stories and customs of my people, and at the same time inspire young people to respect and preserve traditional values.”

Dinh Van Nghiem (30 years old, village T6) said: “When I learned each tune and each gong beat, I realized that Bahnar music is not just a melody but also contains history, customs and knowledge passed down through generations. Learning to play and singing folk songs helps me connect deeply with the mountains and forests and my ancestors, preserving memories, customs and national pride.”

It can be said that preserving and teaching traditional music is a way to preserve the unique identity of the Bahnar people, nurturing love for the homeland and national pride.

If not maintained, the old melodies, playing skills and spiritual values will gradually disappear. Preserving traditional music is a shared responsibility, requiring the consensus of artisans and the community.

Mr. Le Quang Thang, Head of the Kim Son Commune Culture and Society Department, acknowledged that Bahnar folk music is an important part of spiritual life and a valuable asset of Vietnam's cultural treasure.

Recently, the Department has registered with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to have a mechanism to preserve craft villages and support artisans who know how to play traditional musical instruments in the area. At the same time, advise the commune on plans to expand classes teaching traditional musical instruments and folk songs, and encourage young people to participate in folk cultural activities.

“We want traditional music to be present in daily life, in festivals and community activities. When the younger generation experiences and loves it, the old melodies will continue to resonate, extending the journey of preserving Bahnar cultural identity,” Mr. Thang emphasized.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/giu-mai-nhung-thanh-am-voi-nui-rung-post570250.html