The keeper of the Hmong flute

(GLO) - For over 60 years, Mr. Ly Van Tinh (born in 1951, Mong village, Ya Hoi commune, Dak Po district, Gia Lai province) has been quietly preserving the sound of the Mong flute to promote the traditional cultural values ​​of his ethnic group.

Mr. Ly Van Tinh was born and raised in Phi Hai commune, Quang Hoa district, Cao Bang province. At the age of 8, he began learning to play the khene (a type of bamboo flute). At the age of 20, due to a lack of means to buy a khene, he taught himself how to make and crafted his first khene.

Mr. Ly Van Tinh (in the middle) instructs students on how to play the khaen (a type of bamboo flute). Photo: D.L.

In 1982, Mr. Tinh, along with his wife and four children, migrated to Ya Hoi commune to start a new life. Despite the hardships, he still took advantage of his free time to practice playing the khene (a type of bamboo flute). Thanks to this, his khene playing became increasingly skillful. “Each khene piece tells a story, a heartfelt expression of feelings conveyed through the sound. The more I learn, the more I understand the depth of culture and national pride hidden within each melody,” Mr. Tinh shared.

Not only is Mr. Tinh skilled at playing the Hmong mouth organ, but he is also adept at crafting and repairing this instrument. "Making a Hmong mouth organ isn't difficult, but to make it sound good and meet standards, besides meticulous craftsmanship, the maker must put their heart and soul into each step of the process," Mr. Tinh explained.

Mr. Ly Thien Toan (left) performs the Hmong flute after a period of training and skill development. Photo: Dong Lai

Along with playing the khene (a type of bamboo flute), khene dancing is also an art form that demands flexibility, endurance, and skillful technique. To master khene dance movements such as walking forward, walking backward, turning in place, rolling sideways, and playing with the khene, people must practice seriously from a young age. With a passion for preserving and passing on the culture of the nation, Mr. Tinh has actively taught khene playing, crafting, and dancing to the younger generation.

In 2023, Ya Hoi commune opened a khene (a type of bamboo flute) class for 30 students, mostly young people. Mr. Tinh directly taught the class, imparting knowledge on khene playing techniques, crafting, and performing khene dances.

“Now that I’m older, my eyesight is somewhat poor. However, I still want to pass on my knowledge and experience to the younger generation so that the Hmong flute music doesn’t fade away. I only hope that future generations will understand the value, preserve, and promote the beautiful culture of our people,” Mr. Tinh shared.

Having studied with Mr. Tinh since 2023, Ly Thien Toan (born in 2006) has been guided by him on breathing techniques, rhythm, finger placement, and how to properly perceive the melody of each khaen piece. Thanks to Mr. Tinh's dedicated teaching, Toan has progressed very quickly.

“Mr. Tinh taught us very meticulously and wholeheartedly. Thanks to him, we not only learned the techniques but also understood the profound meaning of the Hmong flute in our lives,” Toan confided.

Using your fingers to adjust the sound holes on a traditional mouth organ. Photo: Dong Lai

Besides teaching, Mr. Tinh also performs at local festivals and cultural events. Currently, the local authorities are finalizing the application to recognize Mr. Ly Van Tinh as a Mong flute craftsman.

In addition, he was honored by the Provincial Veterans Association with eight golden words of honor: "Complete loyalty to the nation, deep camaraderie"; and by the Provincial Senior Citizens Association with eighteen golden words: "The older the age, the higher the aspirations; setting a shining example for the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland." In 2022, he received a certificate of commendation from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Dak Pơ District for his outstanding achievements in building the nationwide movement to protect national security during the period 2016-2021.

Speaking with a reporter, Mr. Ly Van Thang, a cultural and social affairs official in Ya Hoi commune, said: "The Mong village has 56 people who know how to play the khene (a type of bamboo flute), but only Mr. Ly Van Tinh has the skills to make and repair them. He is the only one who has preserved all the skills and passed them on to the next generation. To promote the cultural identity of ethnic groups, the local government regularly organizes community cultural activities. At the same time, they cooperate with artisans to open classes to teach dance and khene playing to the younger generation, contributing to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural identity."

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nguoi-luu-giu-tieng-khen-mong-post327388.html