Mr. Rơ Châm Tih is not only an artisan of his village but has also become a "cultural ambassador," bringing the sounds of the mountains to many countries.
Music is our lifeblood.
At nearly 60 years old, with graying hair, artisan Rơ Châm Tih's hands still move gracefully over the bamboo keys and reed strings. For him, the musical instruments of the Gia Rai people are like his flesh and blood, inseparable from his breath, flowing through his veins. He likens the T'rưng, Goong, K'lông Bút, Ting Ning, Bro Amom… to his spiritual children, always cherished and polished. Some instruments can be plucked and struck, some cannot be disassembled, but he has now invented versions that are easily transportable. The two-tiered T'rưng, the three-tiered T'rưng, the Klek klok… are creations that breathe modernity while remaining true to their ethnic identity.
Born and raised in Jút 1 village, Ia Hrung commune, Gia Lai province, Meritorious Artisan Rơ Châm Tih was fortunate to receive instruction from his father, grandfather, and elders in the village from a young age. While his friends ran and played in the fields, young Tih was engrossed in his bamboo instruments, listening to the elders tune and test the music. Never having received praise, just a simple "that's good" was enough to make him happy all day.
Since completing his military service in 1993, he has tirelessly taken Gia Rai music to many places. From one performance to another, both domestically and internationally, he brings with him the instruments he crafted himself and his undeniable joy. He has won more than 30 medals, including 10 Gold Medals, along with numerous other certificates of merit and prestigious titles.
Each musical instrument he creates is imbued with his heart and soul. According to him, 15 traditional instruments are not enough; more need to be created to express the "heart" and profound soul of the Gia Rai people. The sound of the instruments must stir people's hearts, dispel anger and resentment, connect the community, soothe the wild animals, call birds back to their nests, and keep cattle from getting lost…
Each sound he creates is not simply music , but a vivid portrayal of the life, festivals, and work of the Gia Rai people. The instruments are entirely handcrafted, without the use of machinery; each note is the result of a meticulous process of listening, crafting, and practicing. He performs Gia Rai folk songs exactly as they are, without adding or subtracting anything.
Young artisans of the Gia Rai ethnic group in Gia Lai are continuing the cultural traditions of their ancestors.
Bringing the vast forests to the world.
Once, after returning from a performance in Japan, the distinguished artisan Rơ Châm Tih quietly sat beside his bamboo pipe, continuing his crafting. During his breaks, he would often let his mind wander to the nights filled with the resounding gongs, the graceful dances, the image of a mother carrying her child to the fields, or a grandmother leading an elephant down to the stream… Gia Rai culture is not just a hobby; it is his very blood, his reason for living.
For nearly 40 years, he has lost count of how many times he has taken Gia Rai music to distant lands: Japan, the United States, England, Finland, South Korea, Laos, Cambodia… Everywhere, people are amazed to see musical instruments made from bamboo – a simple yet precious material. “Only Vietnam has so many types of musical instruments made from bamboo,” he said, his eyes sparkling with pride.
Each instrument he makes undergoes a meticulous selection process. He has to go deep into the forest to find straight-stemmed bamboo, at least three years old, without cracks or insect damage; he dries them vertically in the sun for a whole month, drying them in the morning and storing them in the evening, protecting them from rain and dew to preserve their authentic sound, and then carefully selects them many more times. When finished, each instrument has its own unique, sweet sound.
In the late afternoons or late nights, when the surroundings were quiet, he would play his instrument, listening intently to the rhythmic rustling of bamboo, as if hearing the falling dew, the cool air of the mountains and forests, and even the hurried breaths of lovers. This music not only soothed people's hearts but also inspired the younger generation.
On his land, he dedicated a house to store materials, display musical instruments, and teach his students such as Rơ Châm Khơi, Siu Lâm, and even his sons - Siu Tim and Siu Ting Ning. He is not only a "keeper of the flame," but also hopes to "pass on the flame" to the next generation.
Artisan Rơ Châm Tih has dedicated his entire life to Gia Rai culture. In 2015, he was awarded the title of Outstanding Artisan in the field of folk performing arts by the President of Vietnam, a well-deserved reward for a lifetime of nurturing and preserving this cultural heritage.
Tieu Dao - Bao Anh
Vietnamnet.vn
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/su-gia-van-hoa-mang-thanh-am-dai-ngan-den-voi-nhieu-quoc-gia-2479777.html
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