Artisans strive to preserve and develop traditional musical instruments.

Despite being over 70 years old, Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van continues to inspire passion in the younger generation and those who love folk songs and traditional musical instruments. He is one of the artisans striving to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the ethnic minorities in Dien Bien province.

It is known that Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van is of the Thai ethnic group, born in Muong Chieng commune, Son La province, but in 1975, he worked in the armed forces in the Northwest region, Lai Chau province (after the province was divided, it is now part of Dien Bien province), as a member of the performing arts troupe. After many years of working and being closely associated with this land, he decided to become a son of Dien Bien.

Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van performs with the Mong flute at the 10th anniversary celebration of Hua Thanh commune.

Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van shared: "In Northwest Vietnam, every place is like home, so I decided to live in Dien Bien Phu city because it is a land steeped in history and heroism. In this city, I am participating in a class teaching traditional musical instruments. We artisans hope not only to preserve our cultural identity but also to spread that beauty to the people of Dien Bien, as well as tourists who come to this land."

Furthermore, one of the important reasons he chose to settle here for the long term was that, in 1978, his performing arts troupe had the honor of performing when General Vo Nguyen Giap visited Dien Bien.

"At that time, I performed using traditional Vietnamese musical instruments such as the pí pặp, khèn bè, and tính tẩu. After each performance, I received many rounds of applause and praise from General Võ Nguyên Giáp, central and local leaders, and everyone else. That made me feel very happy and proud, and it became an encouragement for me to wholeheartedly dedicate myself to music . Therefore, I am committed to contributing my small efforts to the preservation of culture and the development of my homeland," - Meritorious Artist Hải Vân expressed.

With his innate talent and passion, the melodies of his homeland have gradually permeated the life of Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van and have been with him throughout his long journey. To date, he can skillfully play various musical instruments: the two-stringed fiddle (nhị), the single-stringed flute (pí pặp một) of the Black Thai people, the double-stringed flute (pí pặp đôi) of the White Thai people, the tẩu lute, the Hmong flute, and the bamboo mouth organ (khèn bè). But he doesn't stop there; artist Hai Van continues to hone his skills, preserve, and research many other musical instruments.

When asked what motivated him to learn so many different musical instruments, Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van shared: "The sounds and melodies of folk songs have been intertwined with the lives of the people in our villages and are indispensable to our community. The pí pặp is an instrument that embodies love, the soul of folk music and dance, and a unique symbol of the spiritual culture of the Thai ethnic group. With this instrument, our community conveys optimism and the philosophies of life of our people; or with the đàn tính tẩu, it can be played solo, in choirs, and used in courtship songs and folk dances on joyous occasions, major festivals, and spring festivals of our villages… This is also the soul and distinctive feature of our people. Therefore, I want to preserve and pass it on so that the cultural identity of our people does not fade away."

Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van teaches and passes on the Tinh Tau musical instrument.

Furthermore, not only is he proficient in playing traditional musical instruments, but he also develops rhythms to create melodies that are beautiful and relevant to the present day, passing them on to young people and those who love folk art. In addition, he participates in performances at festivals in his village, district, province, and localities, as well as performing at ethnic minority festivals organized by central government agencies.

Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van said: "Currently, I am participating in classes to teach traditional ethnic music to young people. I go to any village or commune that needs my guidance and instruction in traditional musical instruments. Because I love art, I enjoy all kinds of instruments, and I seek out skilled artisans to learn from their experience. Traveling to many places and interacting with many ethnic people makes me feel a deep love for my homeland."

Along with developing and spreading folk culture in many villages and communes, Meritorious Artist Lo Hai Van is also a familiar face in cultural and artistic activities in the residential area where he lives. He is not only a musician in many cultural performances, but also the author of many songs praising his homeland such as: "Echoes of Muong Thanh - Dien Bien Phu"; "Fragrance of Dien Bien Rice" (written in both Vietnamese and Thai ethnic languages); "The Road to the Border" - a work about protecting security and maintaining order within the commune and beyond the border…

His efforts were not only appreciated by the ethnic minority people but also highly valued by all levels and sectors. In 2022, he was honored to receive the title of Outstanding Artisan from the President of Vietnam for his outstanding contributions to preserving and promoting the intangible cultural heritage of the nation.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/nghe-nhan-no-luc-bao-ton-va-phat-trien-cac-nhac-cu-dan-toc-20240923162944802.htm