Instruments of the Trieng people

15/08/2023 13:05

As a branch of the Gie Trieng ethnic group in the North Central Highlands, the Trieng people who have lived near the border for a long time in Ngoc Hoi district are proud of their rich and diverse traditional cultural beauty. In particular, in addition to gongs - sinuses, there are also unique ethnic musical instruments made from rattan, bamboo, and wood.

In Dak Rang village, Dak Duc commune, Ngoc Hoi district, village elder Brol Ve is honored to be the "conductor" in the ethnic orchestra with a special charm. Getting acquainted with the flute and the guitar from the age of 13-14, up to now, at the age of 70, he has made and used nearly 20 musical instruments of all kinds. From the rekindling efforts of the enthusiastic village elder, the love for traditional musical instruments has spread in the community. Generations continue the passion for the flute, the resounding lute.

Many years ago, a preliminary study of the ethnic musical instruments of the Trieng people in Dak Rang was introduced, through the results of research and initial research by the late musician Pham Cao Dat - a former official of the Culture and Sports sector. and Provincial Tourism. Accordingly, the Trieng people have a rich, diverse and unique folk music capital (including singing and instrumental music). In terms of musical instruments, in addition to the main gongs, there is also a system of "instrumental" folk.

Artist Brol Thi (2nd from the right) performs a musical instrument of the Trieng ethnic group. Photo: TN

According to the original set, air-activated musical instruments include flutes, mainly talen, talun, and talet. The Talen is a four-hole flute, played vertically. Talun 4 holes but has more length than talen and more bass. Talet has only one hole in the middle of the tube, which is made sound by combining blowing with the mouth, flapping and covering the palm of the hand to the top of the tube.

Gor is made from a very small reed tube (diameter only 1-1cm) but up to 1,5 meter long, with a chicken mesh vibrating membrane that creates a special timbre.

The trumpet consists of 7 pairs of tubes connected by beeswax. According to old Brol Ve, the Khen was inspired by the word “doar” – a traditional multi-tone musical instrument loved by the Trieng people. The doar body consists of 6 small bamboo tubes, different lengths and lengths, linked together and attached to a dry gourd shell, both to resonate with the sound and to have a shaping effect.

 In the form of a horn and for blowing, there are kayol and ka kit. Kayol made of chamois horns 12-15cm long. The large end of the horn is covered with beeswax, while the sharp end of the horn is beveled to create an opening about 0,5cm in diameter. The tone is generated inside the curve of the horn. Kayol's voice is clear and just need to blow lightly. Kakit made of buffalo horn, slightly blown heavy and dull. Kakit is used as a gong to call and gather villagers when there is a job. Ka don blows again to signal to the villagers every time a wild boar is trapped.

As part of the musical instrument set of the Trieng people, it is impossible not to mention the stud, which is a 6-pipe instrument used by 6 people at the same time, creating a very beautiful and unique sound.

Crafting tissue. Photo: TN

Brol Thi was one of the first young men from Dak Rang village to be taught by old Brol Ve how to use and manufacture the mobin (m'bin) - the most popular instrument of the Trieng people. Up to now, there have been more than 10 guitars created by him. A number of herds were selected to be displayed at the Exhibition House, introducing typical products of the village. The model bin has a small shape (like the mandolin, or the talu of the Van Kieu people...), made of milk wood, but according to Brol Thi, she is not patient, hard-working, and cannot be cut into pieces. The uniqueness of the bin model is that only two strings attached to the small key are enough to create a smooth sound. In the same family as the mo bin, there is also the mobin pui similar to the goong herd of the Ba Na ethnic group. 

Along with the herd, the oong eng of the Trieng people consists of the oong eng ot and the bee eng eng, which are similar in structure, only different in the way of holding the lute. Oong eng emits a very small sound, just humming like a mosquito, made according to the principle of the koní (the Gia Rai ethnic group) but more primitive. In addition to a wooden stick, rattan string, the pull rod of the oong eng is a small, flexible bamboo that rubs against the strings.

According to the assessment, musical instruments made from bamboo, cork and wood of the Trieng people account for two-thirds of the total number of musical instruments currently used in the community of Dak Rang village. The characteristics of folk music of the people are gentle and peaceful, like gentle confiding in a narrow space, expressing deep feelings and peaceful life of the Trieng people.

With special music and long experience with ethnic musical instruments, village elder Brol Ve said that each instrument, flute, and Khen ... crafted and used seems to be a story, some fate and life associated with the activities and lives of people in a small village. From the past, while the mobin was popularly played in both daily activities and festivals, the doar was often accompanied by a pair to blow when going to the fields. Khen specializes in blowing in happy festivals and big festivals. Oong eng ót is a love song of a boy who misses his lover, his loved ones who go away, his friends, the village... In particular, the musical instrument ensemble plays a significant role when accompaniment to folk songs, contributing to the music. part that creates a unique and captivating harmony. Along with gongs - sinuses, ethnic musical instruments have followed the village's artisans to festivals and cultural events organized by all levels, branches and localities.

Efforts to continue the class of artisans ahead of today's young people contribute to spreading the long-standing cultural beauty of the community.

Thanh Nhu