Cham artists at My Son

Having been involved since its early days, the Cham artists have brought a unique and distinctive touch to the My Son Cham Folk Art Troupe, contributing to the brand's reputation as a characteristic cultural tourism product.

The Arija Dang group performs the saranai horn and sings Cham folk songs. Photo: VL

The saranai horn in the sacred valley. Foreign tourists held their breath as they listened to the saranai horn played by Thap Arija Dang, then erupted in admiring applause. They were delighted not only by the clear, soaring melody of the saranai but also by the young Cham man's exceptionally long breath control. Originally from Ninh Thuan province, Thap Arija Dang had followed his father – a local artist – to perform throughout the region since childhood. Cham folk music seemed to be deeply ingrained in his blood. In 2015, Thap Arija Dang joined the My Son Cham folk art troupe in Duy Xuyen. Initially, Dang mainly performed group acts such as singing, dancing, and playing the ghi nang drums. For over a year now, he has also taken on solo saranai horn performances after the person in charge of this segment transferred to another position. To be able to stand on stage and perform for 5 minutes, Thap Arija Dang has had to practice diligently for years. With arms outstretched and feet tapping to the rhythmic drumming and the soaring, melodious saranai horn, the Ten Arija Dang dancers seem to transform into the moss-covered temples of My Son amidst the mystical valley of the gods.

Cham folk dances have become a trademark for My Son tourism.

Along with the paranung drum and ghi nang drum, the saranai horn is an indispensable instrument for the Cham people in important traditional ceremonies. To master the saranai horn, training often takes 2-3 years, or even 5 years. The most difficult part is breath control and sustain (because the saranai melody is continuous, lasting until the end of a performance), followed by the art of vocal embellishment and rhythm. Furthermore, stage performance style (demeanor, dancing) also determines the success of a solo performance. According to Thap Arija Dang, to play the saranai horn, besides talent and passion, learners must be very persistent. In return, the performances are always met with applause and admiration from the audience. “At those times, I can excitedly play for 5 or 6 minutes, because of the joy of seeing the performance well-received by the audience. It's even more fulfilling knowing that I've contributed to promoting and introducing the Cham culture to tourists,” shared Thap Arija Dang. At nearly 29 years old, Thap Arija Dang has spent almost a third of his life in My Son, not only because it's a place where he can fulfill his passion for music, but also because it helps him realize his aspiration to promote and spread the cultural values ​​and traditional folk music of the Cham people. To date, besides skillfully playing various Cham traditional musical instruments such as the paranung drum, ghi nang drum, saranai horn, rattles, gongs, wooden clappers, and kanhi ensemble, Thap Arija Dang is also a professional choreographer, having successfully staged several cultural programs and performances both within and outside the district. Established in 2002, the Cham Folk Art Troupe has become a branded tourism product of My Son. With approximately 10 staged singing and dancing performances, the troupe performs four shows daily, primarily focusing on acts such as the Apsara Dance, the Shiva Dance, and saranai horn solos. These are considered impressive and captivating performances for viewers and tourists. The success of this troupe is largely due to the Cham artists from Ninh Thuan. At its peak, the troupe had seven Cham members. Among the Cham performers who have been associated with My Son, Thap Huu Luu has been the longest-serving, for nearly 20 years. Duy Xuyen, Quang Nam, has now become his second home. Not only is he proficient in playing traditional Cham musical instruments, but he is also a successful singer, performing songs with his ethnic style at local cultural events. It seems that his pride in his national culture makes him sing his ethnic songs even better. Currently, his wife and children from Ninh Thuan have also come to work in My Son. Thap Huu Luu's small family has settled down in this new land. Along with daily performances for tourists, some products such as the Legendary My Son Night, the Cham Village Drum Festival... all feature Cham artists, adding appeal and establishing a solid My Son tourism brand. And, in the journey of building that brand, names like Thap Arija Dang, Thap Huu Luu, and before them Truong Ton, Thien Thanh Vu… are like a continuous stream of Cham culture at My Son, making the performances more authentic and impressive. Perhaps that's why, for more than 20 years, the sound of the saranai horn, the paranung drum, and the ghi nang drum have continued to resonate every morning and evening, harmonizing with the Apsara fairy dances that captivate tourists. And so, whenever the music begins, the space seems to freeze as eyes stare in awe, breathless with the seemingly endless sound of the saranai horn. Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/nhung-nghe-si-cham-tai-my-son-3026607.html