Transmitting Xo Dang ethnic culture

When it comes to the art of playing the Klong put, it is impossible not to mention Meritorious Artist Y Sinh, Dak To town, Dak To district, Kon Tum province. From a special love for the Klong put, fearing the risk of the Klong put "disappearing", Meritorious Artist Y Sinh has taught the younger generation with the hope that the melodies of the great forest will forever be passed down in the lives of the Xo Dang people.

The lives of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands villages are the material for folk music . Illustrative photo

Special passion for traditional musical instruments

We met Meritorious Artist Y Sinh in the village of the Xo Dang people at the Cultural and Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups (Son Tay, Hanoi) when she was passionately playing the instrument with the Xo Dang girls, creating an impressive Central Highlands melodies. Through our conversation, we learned that since childhood, she has been immersed in the sounds of gongs and bamboo instruments in Xo Dang festivals. It is unclear when Y Sinh developed a special passion for the traditional bamboo instruments of her people, especially the Klong put.

Although he did not know music theory, Y Sinh still spent time self-studying and playing the T'rung and Klong put instruments so skillfully that many people were amazed. Y Sinh also studied and imitated people in making instruments, and gradually became a skilled craftsman in making Klong put instruments.

As an adult, Y Sinh’s passion for playing the Klong Put has always followed her. Despite being busy with her teaching career, she still enthusiastically participates in cultural and artistic activities, especially performing traditional musical instruments in the locality.

Y Sinh artisans not only create but also skillfully use bamboo musical instruments.

In 2011, when she turned 50, Ms. Y Sinh retired early to devote her time to her passion for traditional musical instruments. She started making T'rung and Klong put instruments. With her skillful hands and precise musical skills, many original T'rung and Klong put instruments of the Xo Dang people were born, participating in art performances from the grassroots to districts, provinces and major cities.

Preserving the sound of the great forest

Meritorious Artist Y Sinh said: “When mentioning the sound of the Klong Put, people think of the wordless folk melody, both poignant and urgent, with the sound of the mountains and forests. The instrument is played by Xo Dang women during the nights in the huts guarding the fields from January to February. At night, the sound of the instrument resonates far away, making insects not dare to damage the crops. During the festival season, people play the instrument in the Rong house. The sound of the Klong Put is also a means of expressing the feelings of a girl who is of marriageable age, but has not yet had a suitable man come to propose to her...”.

Artist Y Sinh teaches Klong put to people passionate about Xo Dang culture

According to Meritorious Artist Y Sinh, the Klong Put is made from 6 to 10 large bamboo tubes, with different lengths. Of which, the short tubes are about 70 - 80cm, the long tubes are up to 150cm, with diameters from 5 to 8cm. All of these tubes are arranged in a row on shelves, frames or table tops, on the ground, one end is made flat, the other end is crossed and tied together with rattan. When playing the instrument, the woman bends slightly, cups her hands and then claps them so that the air from her hands flows into the mouth of the tube, creating a very special sound...

In addition, Ms. Y Sinh also teaches how to play the instrument to young men and women in the locality who want to learn. Meritorious Artist Y Sinh's enthusiasm has been further motivated since the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period was implemented with many support policies, helping to preserve traditional values. Young Xo Dang people have begun to pay more attention to traditional cultural identity and come to Meritorious Artist Y Sinh to learn how to play their ethnic traditional musical instruments.

According to Thanh Thuan - Ethnic Newspaper

Source: https://baophutho.vn/nghe-nhan-uu-tu-y-sinh-trao-truyen-van-hoa-dan-toc-xo-dang-216042.htm