The resounding gongs of the Cham H'roi echo

(GLO) - Amidst the changes of modern life, the Chăm H'roi artisans at the Canh Thành Village Gong Club (Vân Canh commune, Gia Lai province) still steadfastly preserve the sound of gongs and cymbals - the cultural soul of their ethnic group.

Beyond simply practicing and performing, they are also dedicated to passing on their knowledge to the younger generation, ensuring that the sounds of the mountains continue to resonate, extending the stream of cultural identity.

Those who "keep the flame" of culture alive.

Late in the afternoon in Canh Thanh village, the sound of gongs and cymbals suddenly echoed, deep, majestic, and lingering along the hillside. The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough to make listeners slow their pace.

Following the sound of the gongs, I found the stilt house nestled in the middle of residential area 2 – where artisan Thanh Van Huan (46 years old) – Chairman of the Gong Club of Canh Thanh village, along with other artisans, regularly hold classes without blackboards or chalk.

The artisans of the Canh Thanh Village Gong Club, along with young people, performed several gong pieces of the Chăm H'roi people. Photo: PCH

The gongs continued to beat steadily and slowly. Among those already familiar with the gongs were the young people of the village, still quite inexperienced. They carefully checked each beat, adjusting their posture according to the patient guidance of the artisans.

Without lesson plans or a podium, the gong-playing class takes place in a simple, hands-on manner, teaching each movement precisely. Each gong sound, therefore, carries cultural memories, slowly passed down through generations.

During a break, village elder Doan Kim Hanh (66 years old) - a member of the Canh Thanh Village Gong Club - shared: "I was taught gong playing by my father and other village elders from a young age, from the rhythm of the double drums to each gong piece associated with rituals and community activities."

For the Cham H'roi people, gongs are not just musical instruments, a bond that connects the community, but also a message from their ancestors to their descendants, a way for the Cham H'roi to connect with the spirits!

According to artisan Thanh Van Huan, in order to preserve these values, at the end of October 2022, the People's Committee of Van Canh district (formerly) and the Management Board of Canh Thanh village established the Gong Club with 25 participating artisans, bringing together many elderly artisans - "living treasures" who still remember and know each gong piece and drum rhythm passed down through many generations.

"Maintaining the club is not just about performing at festivals, but more importantly, it's about creating a space for gong music to 'live' in everyday life, so that young people have the opportunity to access it and develop an awareness of preserving cultural identity," Mr. Huan emphasized.

Passing on passion to the younger generation.

According to Mr. Doan Van Tuyen, Secretary of the Party Branch of Canh Thanh village, the village currently has 327 households, mostly Chăm H'roi people. For a time, the traditional cultural life of the village was quiet, lacking the sounds of gongs and drums, and the familiar traditional dances; the number of people who knew how to play gongs and perform traditional dances gradually decreased over the years, leaving behind concerns about the risk of cultural identity fading away.

Artisan Thanh Van Huan (second from the left) guides young people in the village on how to play the gongs. Photo: PCH

Based on this reality, the gong-playing classes are regularly maintained by the Steering Committee of the Canh Thanh Village Gong Club. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Chieu (68 years old, a Cham H'roi ethnic minority), a member of the club, opening the classes not only restores the sound of gongs but also creates opportunities for people, especially young people, to access and nurture their love for traditional culture.

Simply playing gongs during festivals is not enough; gong playing must be practiced regularly, and there must be a new generation of players so that the cultural continuity is not broken.

Currently, the club's activities attract dozens of young people, mainly aged 12 to 18. From being hesitant and unfamiliar with the rhythm of the gongs and drums, many have gradually become more confident and understand the meaning of each gong piece connected to the spiritual life of their ethnic group.

Đoàn Bảo Quốc (15 years old) said that thanks to the dedicated guidance of the artisans, he has learned to play some basic gong pieces such as Chi-pla, A-ya, and A-ri.

"Each gong piece has its own meaning. The more I learn, the more I like it and want to stay involved for the long term so that I can contribute to preserving the gong music of my village in the future," Quoc shared.

Besides teaching at traditional stilt houses, the artisans also take young people to perform at cultural and sports festivals. Through "accompanying, playing, and performing together" with the artisans, the younger generation has honed their skills and confidence in front of crowds; at the same time, they have gained a deeper understanding of the value of gongs in traditional rituals and customs.

Thirteen-year-old Nguyen Phuoc Tan shared: "Since learning and participating in performances, I have not only learned more gong music but also understood more about my ethnic culture. I feel proud to play the gongs of my people and want to learn better so that I can continue to preserve the sound of the gongs for my village in the future."

Speaking about his expectations for the next generation, artisan Thanh Van Huan believes that the core issue is not just teaching the children to play the gongs in the correct rhythm and memorize many gong pieces, but more importantly, to awaken their love and appreciation for national culture.

“Every gong and drum beat must be associated with the pride and sense of responsibility of the Chăm H’roi people towards their ancestral traditions. Without the younger generation to inherit them, the gongs will only remain a memory. Preserving culture is not just a joy, but a mission, a matter of survival for the community,” Mr. Huấn shared.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Viet, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Canh commune, said: In the coming time, the commune will continue to strengthen the activities of the clubs, linking teaching and learning with community activities, cultural festivals and education of the younger generation; at the same time, mobilizing resources to support artisans, creating conditions for the cultural space of gong music to be sustainably preserved in daily life.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/ngan-vang-tieng-cong-chieng-cham-hroi-post575394.html