Spring day, the flute sounds oh

Sao Oi is a unique traditional musical instrument of the Muong people. The sound of the flute calls for spring, melodious throughout the village, clear, romantic and passionate like a soft, sweet spring breeze, as if containing the thoughts and feelings of the people of the Northwest highlands.

Mr. Ha Xuan Trong, Man Duc town (Tan Lac) is engrossed in the flute melody.

Talking to us, Mr. Ha Xuan Trong in Man Duc town (Tan Lac), one of the people who are proficient in this unique traditional musical instrument, shared: The Oi flute is often used in festivals, Tet or cultural exchanges in hamlets and villages. The sound of the Oi flute is gentle, deep, and peaceful, just like the indigenous Muong people and their lives. I myself am proficient in playing the Oi flute, often performing at festivals in the district and neighboring areas. The flute melodies are mainly Muong folk songs such as: Dap bong bong, Moi trau, Ru un, Hai bong trang... The songs have simple melodies but contain deep emotions, bringing listeners back to their roots, creating a unique color in the art of music in general and traditional Muong musical instruments in particular.

We sat around the red fire, sipping hot tea in the cold weather, listening to the sound of the flute on Mr. Trong's doorstep and heard many interesting stories from the flute. The story goes: One day, a young man went hunting, when he returned it was late at night, he went to a house at the beginning of the village and immediately took out the flute to play, using the heart-rending sound of the flute to replace the call, the request to stay in the house. Just like that, the sound of the flute echoed in the late night, sometimes low, sometimes high, echoing into the house. At first, the homeowner who had just heard the sound of the flute found it very strange, then it gradually became passionate, gentle, lingering in the night, the homeowner woke up and opened the gate to invite the young man into the house. Folk tales passed down by word of mouth all talk about the sound of the flute containing humanity between people, the filial piety of children to their parents, the loyalty of husband and wife...

At village festivals, spring festivals, ceremonies, and Tet, the Muong people often use the Oi flute to accompany singing, especially lullabies, nursery rhymes, Muong folk songs, or the act of singing rang thuong (words of love), thuong rang (words of love - words of response) or bo meng (spoken singing). The rhythmic rhythm "Dap boong boong boong, dap boong grapefruit grapefruit..." in the folk song Dap Bong Bong through the Oi flute expresses the overflowing emotions and love for the homeland of the Muong people.

The Oi flute is also called "Oi tube" or "Khao Oi" by the Muong people. It was skillfully and skillfully created by the ancestors and passed down from generation to generation. The Oi flute is mainly made of bamboo, has 4 holes and 5 musical notes: Ho - Su - Sang - Xe - Cong and goes up to high notes. Therefore, the Oi flute has a simple, rustic melody but the sound is melancholy, gentle, and has its own unique nuances.

Unlike the bamboo flute, the "oi" flute is suitable for Muong folk songs. The "oi" flute of the Muong people is compared to the call of love. If Mong boys use the "khen" and "leaf flute" to express their love and conquer girls, Muong boys have the "oi" flute to convey their love. The melodious sound of the flute is blown from one end of the village to the other; when going to the forest or the fields, they play from this field to the other; by the river or stream, they play from this wharf to the other wharf. In the flute's melody, there are many "oi" words such as: "oi oi" (you), "oi hay" (you), "oi ha" (you), "oi oi" (you), "oi oi" (you)... which sound very close and passionate. The "oi" flute sounds like a cry, like a call from the heart "oi" (you), "oi" (you), "oi" (you), "oi" (you)... Those calls seem to make the Muong girls in the house restless. The sound of the flute still echoes in the ears like a confession of love and longing, a promise, an oath, so profound and profound! From that heart, the sounds of "oh" and "oi" have given wings to each young man and woman to voluntarily come together in an innocent, passionate and meaningful way.

Today, the flute is still cherished, polished, and passed down through many generations by the hands of Muong artisans. The sound of the flute echoes, carrying melody and emotion, calling for Spring.

Nguyen Hoang

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