The My Son Sanctuary in Duy Xuyen district (Quang Nam province) was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Visitors here can not only admire the ancient Cham towers but also enjoy the unique saranai music of the Cham people.
To better understand the saranai horn, we met with Thien Thanh Vu (born in 1990), one of the few people who can play traditional Cham musical instruments in this sacred site. Mr. Vu said: He has been associated with this sacred site for over 10 years and preserves Cham culture through the sound of the horn, entertaining tourists. To play the saranai horn, learners must be very patient, knowing how to breathe properly and maintain their breath well because the saranai melody is unique in that it lasts continuously, only stopping after an entire piece is finished. Therefore, not everyone who wants to learn to play the horn can. In the past, it took me two years to learn to play the saranai horn. In the village, children who wanted to learn to play the horn had to choose a place far from the village, because the ancient Cham believed that playing the horn in the village would bring evil spirits.
“For the Cham people , the traditional saranai horn is only played during festivals, not in everyday life. The sound of the saranai horn is also a sacred instrument, connecting people with the spiritual world. The saranai horn is indispensable in any important Cham festival such as the New Year festival like Rija Nuga, the Katê festival, wedding celebrations, etc.,” Mr. Vu added.
The ancient Cham saranai were previously made from ivory, buffalo horns, etc. Later, these materials were replaced with tamarind wood. Importantly, the core wood must be used to produce a clear and resonant sound. The saranai consists of three parts: a brass mouthpiece for blowing, a wooden body, and a bell.
For many years in the sacred area, the sounds of the saranai horn, paranung drum, and ghinang drum have harmonized, accompanying Cham dancers performing traditional dances to ancient music, captivating tourists and promoting the unique culture of the ancient Cham people. This is also the result of the efforts of those managing the site. Besides preserving the existing values of the ancient Cham towers, the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board also organizes Cham dance performances for tourists . At the same time, they teach the younger generations how to play the horns to preserve the Cham culture.
Mr. Phan Ho, Director of the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board, said: “We also directly invited researchers and some artisans from Ninh Thuan to My Son to cooperate, practice, and preserve the traditional dance heritage in the folk festivals of the Cham people. Alongside preserving Cham rituals and dances, we also create conditions for the Cham people to revive the traditional brocade weaving craft to serve tourists.” Source: https://baodantoc.vn/tieng-ken-saranai-o-my-son-1595992641298.htm
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