The old craftsman keeps the folk soul

The soul of the countryside clings to the old profession

Among the crowded houses near Thanh Cong market ( Hanoi ), it was not difficult for me to find Mr. Cao Ky Kinh's house. It was a porridge shop with all kinds of traditional musical instruments hanging all over the walls.

When I arrived, Mr. Kinh was sitting and tuning the strings of his unfinished moon lute. His hair was as white as silk, his face was wrinkled, and his eyes were bright. His dark hands skillfully adjusted each string and each wooden key. Hearing my question, he smiled slightly, picked up the lute, and hummed a part of “Floating Water Float and Floating Clouds” as if to answer and to test whether the sound was “in” yet.

The owner of the porridge shop and traditional musical instrument maker was born in 1958 in Khoai Chau, Hung Yen . In 2006, Mr. Cao Ky Kinh's family moved to Hanoi to make a living by selling porridge in the morning, then selling clothes, watching cars, and grinding flour. When the shop was quiet, he would be absorbed in his small wooden table, where he "breathed life" into the sounds of the mountain and forest from bamboo sticks and pieces of wood into the sounds of the guitar and flute. He said that his father was a musician, so since he was a child he was familiar with the sounds of chiseling, carving, guitar and flute. It was those familiar sounds that brought him to traditional musical instruments from the pure passion passed down from his father.

Mr. Kinh is meticulous with each key.

Returning to the moon lute being tuned, Mr. Kinh said this was the most difficult step. Making a lute is not just a job, but a painstaking process, paying attention to every detail.

“In this profession, choosing wood, carving details, and measuring sizes must be precise. But the most difficult part is tuning the strings and taking the bow. In the noisy city, sometimes I have to wait until late at night to test the instrument to see if it has reached the standard sound,” Mr. Kinh confided. In addition, to make a quality instrument, Mr. Cao Ky Kinh must find and buy good types of wood, such as: Vong, gao, lim, trac, pine... to bring out natural and delicate sounds.

Entering the house, Mr. Kinh introduced me to each instrument. In the room, which was only a little over 10 square meters ^, all kinds of musical instruments with shiny brown paint hung everywhere. The instruments: Nguyet, pipa, nhi, tinh, day… were all simple, not carved, not elaborately decorated, hung on an entire wall. “I know how to play everything hanging here,” he said, his voice tinged with pride.

"Fortune" of traditional musical instruments crafted by Mr. Cao Ky Kinh.

Not only making, he also repairs guitars. According to Mr. Kinh: “Repairing guitars is sometimes more difficult than making them. Making them only requires the right technique, but repairing them requires listening to bring out the old soul of the guitar.”

Someone once brought a guitar that was over a hundred years old to him. Mr. Kinh only dared to promise to restore about 80%, the sound probably would not be as perfect as the original. However, after finishing the repair, hearing the sound of the guitar, the customer was moved and said: "Good, so good. Well, you keep it and play it, consider it our fate." Since then, Mr. Kinh has carefully kept the ancient guitar, despite many people coming to pay a high price to buy it, but he always shook his head.

The Luthier's Feelings

Many customers who came to eat porridge at Mr. Kinh’s shop could not hide their surprise when they saw the musical instrument on the wall. Some people were amazed while eating, then suggested: “Take out your guitar and play for fun!” And so, amidst the billowing smoke from the hot porridge, an ancient melody resounded, gently and passionately, through every small corner of the old alley.

Previously, Mr. Kinh's shop was always busy, but there were few customers coming to eat porridge, while many came to enjoy music and watch the instruments. Even Western customers came to experience, eating and enjoying listening to him play a few pieces of music. Some musicians and singers also stopped by the shop, lingering to interact. Gradually, his small porridge shop became a meeting place for people who love traditional music .

For Mr. Kinh, making and playing instruments makes life more meaningful.

Once bustling and crowded, in recent years, the familiar sounds of instruments and percussion have gradually faded away. “Nowadays, pop music is popular, not many people care to listen to folk music anymore,” his voice dropped.

Occasionally, people still stop by the shop and ask: “It’s been a long time since I heard your country songs, I suddenly miss you.” Mr. Kinh happily takes out his “exclusive” monochord that he created to play some old tunes. He is also happy and willing to teach his knowledge and experience to anyone who wants it.

Mr. Kinh’s guitar workshop was born from his nostalgia for his homeland, his love for folk music, and the affection and encouragement of culture lovers near and far. Although there are times when it is busy and times when it is quiet, he still works hard every day on his guitars. “Making guitars doesn’t make you rich, but if you quit the job, you will feel much poorer,” he laughed, his eyes sparkling.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/nguoi-tho-gia-giu-hon-dan-gian-959288