In Khuoi Day, listen to the sound of the mouth harp.

Located about 12km from the center of Nghia Ta commune, Khuoi Day Mong village lies nestled amidst towering mountains and dense forests. This land doesn't have much to show off, but it leaves a lasting impression on visitors with its unique sounds. These include the mouth harp played by Phung Thi De, harmonizing with her husband's flute, a sound as intoxicating as a freshly opened cup of fermented rice wine.

The Hmong people in Khuoi Day pass on their traditional culture to the younger generation.

Following Uncle Seo Cang, the Party Secretary and respected figure of Khuoi Day village, we arrived at the spacious plot of land next to the cultural center to meet Ms. Phung Thi De, the Hmong woman who plays the mouth harp best in the village. From afar, we could hear the haunting sound of the Hmong flute. Interspersed with that flute music was a delicate, deep sound, like a thin thread piercing through the silent space of the mountains and forests. That was the mouth harp music of Ms. Phung Thi De and the flute music of Mr. Giang My Pao.

The sound of the mouth harp and flute played by the couple Phung Thi De and Giang My Pao is described by the Hmong people in Khuoi Day village as sweet as spring water and gentle as a flame.

Uncle Seo Cang said: The mouth harp is a musical instrument that has been associated with the Hmong people for a very long time, to the point that many generations of Hmong people no longer remember when it first appeared in the cultural life of the community. In the past, Hmong boys and girls would get to know each other without meeting in person, but would sit by a wall or at the edge of the floor to talk and confide in each other. They used the sound of the mouth harp to express their feelings to the person they loved. In the old days, with just the sound of the mouth harp, Hmong men and women could talk all night long, and eventually get married.

Ms. Phung Thi De further explained this special musical instrument to us: The Hmong mouth harp consists of three main parts: a small copper piece, a bamboo tube, and a part called the "reed," made of copper. The "reed" is only about 5cm long, as thin as a large sewing needle, and attached to the copper piece. Playing the mouth harp requires not only skillful hands but also breath control. Even, deep, and sustained breath is necessary for the sound to have varying pitches and form a melody.

Ms. Phung Thi De is one of the few people in Khuoi Day who still knows how to play the mouth harp.

Besides the mouth organ, flute, and many other instruments, the mouth harp was once an important instrument, helping to preserve the cultural identity of the Hmong people throughout the years they migrated to the Khuoi Day area to settle and build their lives. Giang My Pao confided: "I came from Ha Giang to Khuoi Day as a son-in-law, and at first, I was a little sad because I wasn't used to it. I missed the sound of the mouth harp so much if I didn't hear it for a day. Luckily, my wife knows how to play the mouth harp, so every time the sun sets, we bring out the mouth organ and play together."

However, the hardships of life have caused the sounds of the mouth harp to gradually fade away. In the entire village, only a few men still know how to play the mouth harp and flute, while among the women, only Ms. Phung Thi De still preserves the art of playing the mouth harp.

Recognizing the risk of cultural identity fading away, the Party Secretary of Khuoi Day village, Chu Seo Cang, proactively purchased mouth harps and other musical instruments such as the khene (a type of mouth organ) and flutes for the young people in the village to practice. However, due to limited funds, he has not yet been able to open formal classes. He said that next year, Khuoi Day village will restore the traditional spring festival, organizing performances of Mong folk songs and traditional musical instruments to revive cultural identity, including the sound of the mouth harp.

The mouth harp playing of Ms. Phung Thi De and the flute playing of Mr. Giang My Pao are loved by the villagers.

Ms. Ban Thi Dung, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Nghia Ta Commune, further shared: Nghia Ta Commune has surveyed and planned to preserve and promote the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups associated with tourism in the locality. Specifically for Khuoi Day, we will establish a Mong ethnic cultural club, and annually we will cooperate to open classes to teach folk songs, how to use musical instruments, etc., so that the cultural identity of the Mong people in Khuoi Day does not fade away...

Leaving Khuoi Day, we could still hear the whispering, heartfelt sounds of the mouth harp accompanying our footsteps. That melodious sound has always been a source of pride, a bond connecting generations of Hmong people in the highland village of Khuoi Day. But only when restored in a timely and appropriate manner can the mouth harp retain the spirit of the mountains and forests, preserving the memories of generations of Hmong people who have entrusted their simple melodies to it.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202604/ve-khuoi-day-nghe-tieng-dan-moi-4c331d0/