Keeping the rhythm of gongs and drums alive amidst the vast forest.

For over 60 years, artisan Ho Song Hao (74 years old), residing in Xom Moi village, Vinh O commune, Vinh Linh district, has pursued his passion for gong music. He not only masters the skills and plays the instrument expertly but also actively participates in teaching, preserving, and promoting the cultural heritage of gong music. Thanks to his guidance, many young generations in the western mountainous region of Vinh Linh district have learned to play gongs proficiently and spread their passion for this traditional musical instrument.

A performance by the Vinh O commune gong ensemble at the ceremony announcing Vinh Khe commune, Vinh Linh district, as achieving new rural standards in 2023 - Photo: NB

As a child, I was captivated by the rhythm of gongs and drums.

For generations, in the cultural and spiritual life of the Van Kieu and Pa Ko people in the Truong Son mountain range, gongs and drums have not only been musical instruments but also considered "guardian spirits," symbols of wealth in each family and the strength of each village. The melodies and rhythms of the gongs and drums serve as a supernatural language of communication between humans and the spirit world . The resounding sound of the gongs and drums conveys the feelings and prayers for a prosperous, comfortable, peaceful, and happy life to the spiritual realm.

Born and raised in the mountainous region of Vinh O commune, Mr. Hao frequently saw people in his village using gongs and drums during Tet (Lunar New Year), festivals, funerals, and weddings. The melodious sounds of the gongs and drums captivated him from a young age, and from then on, his passion for traditional musical instruments and folk music grew. Whenever the village or commune organized a festival, Mr. Hao would follow the gong and drum performance team to watch and learn.

Back then, because he was still young, Mr. Hao wasn't allowed to use gongs, but because of his intense passion, he used tools like wooden planks and sheet metal to mimic the shape of the instruments and practiced diligently alone.

Being intelligent, quick-witted, and possessing a talent and passion for traditional music and ethnic instruments, Mr. Hao only needed a few years of solo practice to almost perfectly reproduce the melodies and rhythms that the artisans usually performed. It wasn't until he was 13 or 14 years old that he officially followed the elders in his village to learn how to play the gongs and inherited the skills passed down from his ancestors.

Artisan Ho Song Hao (right) shares gong-playing techniques with his younger brother Ho Van Binh - Photo: NB

In 1969, Mr. Hao was sent to study at a teacher training college in Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh province, so he temporarily set aside his passion for researching gongs. In 1972, Mr. Hao was assigned to Huong Lap area, Huong Hoa district, to teach elementary school. There, he actively practiced and researched the interesting and new aspects of using gongs.

“My father passed away early, and in 1979, my mother became seriously ill. My younger siblings were still very young, so I decided to quit teaching and return home to help my family. Upon returning to my hometown, I was elected village head, a police officer, and in 1998 I transferred to become a judicial officer in the commune. In 2014, I retired. Since leaving Huong Lap commune and returning to my hometown, I have become even more passionate about learning and studying more thoroughly the melodies, rhythms, and skills of using gongs passed down from our ancestors. Since childhood, I have considered gongs as a part of my life and will strive to ensure that younger generations continue to preserve the gong rhythm for the future,” shared artisan Ho Song Hao.

For decades, artisan Ho Song Hao has participated in performing with gongs, cymbals, and drums during funerals and weddings in his village and commune. He is happy that the younger generation is not letting traditional culture, musical instruments, and wind music gradually fade away. This has motivated him to work even harder in teaching the skills of using gongs to the younger generation in his commune and region.

Let the sound of gongs and drums resonate forever.

Having started his career as a teacher, Mr. Hao flexibly applied his pedagogical skills in compiling lesson plans for teaching gong playing and carefully consulted with the Party Committee and the government of Vinh O commune on preserving and promoting traditional ethnic musical instruments and music.

Thanks to this, the Vinh O Commune Gong Performance Team was established under the direction, management, and operation of the Commune People's Committee many years ago. Currently, the team has about 30 members, with specific assignments for each person in using drums, gongs, cymbals, and in the dance group. Artisan Ho Song Hao plays a crucial role in the Vinh O Commune Gong Performance Team.

First, he wanted to convey to the team members and the villagers, especially the young people, the importance of respecting the "village guardian spirit." Accordingly, before bringing the gongs out for long practice sessions, performances, or to serve at festivals, funerals, or weddings, they must adhere to the regulations regarding gong offerings. The offerings consist only of a chicken and a bottle of wine, but they must be presented in a neat, solemn, and respectful manner. When the gongs are no longer being played, the homeowner or village elder, or the team members assigned to the task, are responsible for hanging the gongs in the most prominent place in the house. This beautiful tradition has been embraced and practiced by the younger generation for many years.

Artisan Ho Song Hao (on the left) passionately performs gong music - Photo: NB

Gongs have many different pieces and rhythms depending on the context of use, but generally, during festivals, the rhythm is joyful and celebratory; during rituals, the rhythm is solemn and respectful. Most young people prefer to play gongs spontaneously, without following any rules, and this style is only suitable for the lively parts of a festival.

Based on that reality, Mr. Hao has "compiled" many flexible lessons, suitable for the purpose of enabling young people to skillfully use the gong and drum rhythms, knowing how to use them correctly to promote traditional cultural values. "To teach young people to play the gong and drum proficiently, we must first awaken their passion for it. From there, the children will be enthusiastic and actively participate."

"The gong music has truly awakened the soul and pride in traditional national culture in many people, especially young people. For many years now, the rhythm of the gongs combined with dances has increasingly attracted more participants and increased community spirit and solidarity in villages and residential areas. This makes me even more determined to pass on all the skills in using gongs to the younger generation, so that in the future, the sound of gongs will forever resonate in the majestic Truong Son mountain range," Mr. Hao shared.

For many years, artisan Ho Song Hao has not only taught the use and cultural beauty of gongs to members of the Vinh O commune's gong performance team and people in the village and commune, as well as his children, relatives, and clan members, but he has also traveled throughout the villages and hamlets of Vinh Ha and Vinh Khe communes (Vinh Linh district) with the desire to preserve and spread the gong culture left by his ancestors.

With this dedication, in the future, the sight of young men and women, the elderly and children across the mountainous villages of western Quang Tri province holding hands and singing to the rhythmic gongs and drums, welcoming bountiful harvests and celebrating a renewed, prosperous homeland, will no longer be rare...

Nhon Bon

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/giu-nhip-cong-chieng-giua-dai-ngan-190730.htm