The person who extends the love for Jrai folk songs

In the afternoon of May, the weather in Krong Pa was milder after a heavy rain. Taking advantage of the moment when the sky had just cleared, Mr. Rah Lan Thu - Head of Chu Ju village led us to Mrs. H'Mi's house. According to Mr. Thu, Mrs. H'Mi was the only person in the village who knew many Jrai folk songs.

Knowing the purpose of our visit, Mrs. H'Mi's face showed joy. Sipping water boiled with forest leaves, Mrs. H'Mi gently told us: In the past, every time the village organized a festival, women gathered around the fire and sang folk songs. From then on, she fell in love with folk songs without realizing it. Thanks to diligently listening and practicing singing, she quickly memorized many folk songs. In 1975, she joined the commune's art troupe. During this time, she traveled around the villages to bring songs to serve the soldiers and the people.

“That year, I was only 14 years old, and I joined the commune’s art troupe with my sisters and brothers. We sang to encourage each other, to tell stories about the village, about human love, and also to remind each other to live kindly and in solidarity. After 3 months of joining the troupe, I asked to quit to take care of my seriously ill father,” Ms. H’Mi recalled.

Not only knowing many folk songs, Ms. Kpa H'Mi also composed new songs about village life. **Photo: LH**

According to Ms. H'Mi, Jrai folk songs are passed down orally, through memory, imbued with the breath of life, expressing the thoughts, feelings, and philosophies of life of the people. The content of folk songs is very diverse and rich, sometimes praising the beauty of the mountains and forests, the merits of ancestors; sometimes giving advice, criticizing bad habits, reminding people to live with love, solidarity, and preserve the national cultural identity.

The special feature of Jrai folk songs is the improvisation and flexibility in the way of expression. Singers not only convey available melodies but can also compose their own lyrics, depending on the situation, story and emotions. Jrai people singing folk songs often use a natural, strong but soft voice, creating a long resonance at the climax; at the same time, expressing emotions by emphasizing and vibrating at the end of the sentence. Especially the combination with lip vibration or vocal resonance simulating the sound of wind, stream, and echo of mountains and forests.

Although her hair is gray, Mrs. H'Mi's voice is still clear and resonant like the sound of a stream at its source. Currently, she knows more than 20 Jrai folk songs. Not only do she preserve them, she also composes many new songs about village life, prosperous crops, and praises the Party and her homeland. While talking to us, she showed off her award certificates at cultural and sports festivals for ethnic minorities in Krong Pa district.

“In recent years, I have often participated in cultural events organized by the locality to both test myself and preserve Jrai folk songs. At the first Ethnic Minority Culture and Sports Festival and Agricultural Products Connection Fair of Krong Pa District in 2023, I won first prize in folk song singing,” Ms. H'Mi confided. In addition, Ms. H'Mi often sings for her children and grandchildren, both to keep the passion alive and to remind the next generation to remember and preserve folk songs.

Chu Ju village has 213 households, 97% of whom are Jrai. In the past, there were many people in the village who knew how to sing folk songs, but now the number of people who know how to sing is very small. Modern music is gradually replacing traditional music, so Jrai folk songs are increasingly fading away and being forgotten by young people.

“Mrs. H'Mi is the only person in the village who knows many Jrai folk songs. Therefore, we always encourage our children and grandchildren to learn from her to preserve the identity of the nation,” Mr. Thu shared.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Ksor H'Nái - Cultural and Information Officer of Ia Rsai Commune - said: Ms. Kpa H'Mi is one of the few people in the commune who still knows and can perform Jrai folk songs. She also regularly participates in art performances organized by the commune during festivals and cultural events.

We always actively promote and mobilize people, especially the young generation, to raise awareness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values of the nation, including Jrai folk songs.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nguoi-noi-dai-tinh-yeu-voi-dan-ca-jrai-post325350.html