For the Muong people ( in Phu Tho province ), gongs are not just musical instruments but also sacred "treasures," closely linked to every aspect of community life.
The sound of gongs is present in most important rituals of the human life cycle (birth ceremonies, weddings, funerals) and agricultural festivals, folk beliefs (temple worship ceremonies, village worship ceremonies, rain-praying festivals). The sound of gongs is considered a means of communicating with deities and ancestors, to pray for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and peace for the community.
Gongs are not only tools for cultural performance, but also symbols of power, wealth, and status for families and clans in traditional Muong society.
The gongs of the Muong people have distinct characteristics compared to those of the Central Highlands. Here, a gong ensemble usually consists of 12 gongs (sometimes fewer depending on conditions), each with a different size and pitch. Most are knobbed gongs, made of bronze. The knob is the most important part that creates the characteristic sound.
The Muong people primarily use cloth-wrapped mallets to strike gongs, producing a deep, resonant sound, unlike the method of striking with bare mallets or hands used by some other ethnic groups.
The artisans typically sit or stand while playing the gongs, forming an orchestra with a clear division of labor for each gong, from the large gong to the smaller ones.
The simple, rustic melodies of the Muong gongs are close to nature and working life, reflecting the thoughts and feelings of the people.
The former Hoa Binh province alone still preserves approximately 10,000 gongs, a large number demonstrating the enduring nature of this heritage. However, preserving and promoting the cultural value of gong music in the modern context also faces many challenges.
Gong performances are an opportunity for people in the villages and hamlets to gather together, share joys and sorrows, and strengthen solidarity.
For the Muong people (Phu Tho province), gongs are not simply musical instruments. They are "treasures," a connecting link between humans and deities and ancestors; an indispensable sound in all rituals, from rain-praying festivals and the New Rice Festival to major life events.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nguoi-muong-dieu-hanh-danh-cong-chieng-net-dep-doc-dao-o-phu-tho-2460511.html
Comment (0)