Drums and gongs resound during the festival

Drums are both musical instruments and signals for festival and village activities. In traditional village houses, there are always large and small drums on shelves, which people take out when needed.

The Co Tu ethnic group has 3 different types of drums: the large drum is called k'thu, cha gor boh, the medium drum is par lu, the small drum is char gor katuoi. The drum surface is made from goat skin or mang skin because these types of skin are very thin, the drum sound resonates; buffalo skin and cow skin are rarely used because they are too thick, the drum does not sound. The best part of old rattan rope, 20 - 30 m long, is chosen to make the string to stretch the drum surface. The drum body is made of good wood. The large drum when played resonates, the small drum creates rhythm and accompaniment. Drums are often used to harmonize with gongs, keeping the beat for group dances.

The rhythm of drums is joyful in front of the traditional Co Tu village house.

The Co Tu people do not use the word “gong” like the people of the Central Highlands, but use the word “drum gong” to talk about this unique performance. After the drum and gong beats “tùng…tùng”, “tăng tăng”, “tụ…tụ”, “tiing tong…”, the girls always step out first to perform the dance movements, then the men and boys.

The women are in front, the men are behind. If there are many people dancing, the inner circle is women, the outer circle is men, showing the protection of men for women. A basic characteristic of Co Tu dance is the combination of male and female dancers in a dance formation.

Besides the group of women dancing da'da, the men join the festival dance with the tan'tung dance, creating a complete dance formation that the Co Tu people call Tan'tung da'da (which has been included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage). Leading the dance formation are village elders, trumpet and flute players, some people playing gongs and drums. Everyone dances in a circle and walks counterclockwise to the vibrant, bustling rhythm of drums and gongs, reviving the vast mountains and forests.

Tan'tung is derived from the sound of drums, one of the two main instruments for traditional Co Tu dances. Drums are both musical instruments and weapons associated with men and wars to protect villages in ancient times. Tan'tung is a dance for men, with the feet stepping sideways (not stepping forward like normal walking) and always turning to the rhythm of the two hands waving up and down...

The men's dance depicts and recreates the scene of hunting animals. It is a victory dance that shows the martial spirit of the Co Tu people, in harmony with the women's dance to pray for a good harvest. When participating in the festival dance, in addition to the cloak from the back to the shoulders, from the shoulders to the belly and the T-shaped loincloth, the dancer also has props such as a basket (ta leo), weapons of an ancient warrior such as a shield, sword, crossbow or spear.

While dancing, sometimes they jump forward, throwing their spears and spears straight ahead, sometimes they jump back, crouching behind to support their shields. Sometimes they jump sideways to observe their targets and hunting animals. The men's Tan'tung dance movements with their lively intensity and rhythm express their strong, brave, and majestic strength.

Double drum performance of the Cham Hroi ethnic group.

The Cor ethnic group is famous for its gong fighting, in which drums play a very important role. The musical instruments for the gong fighting performance include 2 gongs (chech) and 1 drum (a-gơl). Participating in the gong fighting are only 3 people: one person uses the wife gong, one person uses the husband gong to compete with each other. The third person plays the drum, acting as a referee to keep the rhythm, encouraging the two sides to compete. The Cor people consider gong fighting as a unique art, only for young men with enough strength and talent. Because the gong playing style is like martial arts, showing the strength, flexibility, and quick-wittedness of the participants. With the double gong fighting performance, the musical timbre is even more unique. The performer is both good at playing musical instruments and has good health to perform strong movements like a martial artist. The performer shows the martial spirit while also having the appearance of an artist, making the audience admire and encourage them to show off their acting skills.

In traditional festivals such as buffalo eating ceremony, wedding ceremony, health celebration ceremony..., Cham - Hroi ethnic groups (Van Canh commune, Gia Lai province), Cham - Hroi and Bhanar ethnic groups (Dong Xuan commune, Xuan Hoa commune, Dak Lak province) often use 3 sets of 3 gongs (3-piece gong), 3 sets of double drums and 3 sets of 5 gongs. When performing, these instruments are arranged as follows: The set of 3 gongs goes first, followed by the double drums and finally the 5 gongs. When performing, the sounds of gongs - drums - gongs alternate in a rhythmic manner, sometimes lively, sometimes high and low, sometimes calm and melancholy. The soul of this majestic harmony is the double drum dance (K'toang). The artist performing the double drum not only beats but also dances with highly skilled, skillful and precise movements. The contestants look at each other with happy faces, graceful bodies, and firm, flexible steps. Double drum is a lively and attractive performing art, exuding the soul and breath of our nation.

It can be said that drums are musical instruments closely associated with the spiritual and cultural life of ethnic groups in the Truong Son - Tay Nguyen region, and are an indispensable part of the intangible cultural heritage of ethnic groups such as music , singing, dancing, and traditional festivals.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202510/trong-chieng-am-vang-ngay-hoi-90c1cf0/