Dinh pu – Unique musical instrument of the Brau ethnic group

The folk musical instruments of the Brau people are very diverse and rich. From materials available in nature such as wood, bamboo, reed, and wild animal skin, the Brau people create musical instruments such as the Ting ning gong, the Tơ rưng lute, the Ding pu, drums, and flutes. In particular, the Ding pu is a musical instrument whose name is associated with the majestic nature and carries the unique cultural identity of the Brau people.

Dinh pu is a musical instrument whose name is associated with majestic nature and carries the unique cultural identity of the Brau people.

The Brau ethnic group resides in Dak Me village, Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district (Kon Tum), originally from the Southern Laos and Northeastern Cambodia regions. The population is nearly 700 people. Due to the migration process, the Brau ethnic group came to live in Vietnam about 100 years ago and is one of the 5 smallest ethnic groups in the Vietnamese ethnic community. The Brau village is in a special location, where the cultures of the three countries of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia meet, so the majority of the Brau people can use all 3 languages.

In addition to the Tha Gong, which has a special place in spiritual life and is considered a sacred object, the Brau people still preserve many traditional musical instruments with their own unique features, including the Dinh Pu.

The Ding Pu player will use both of his hands to clap together or one hand to clap directly on the tube to create sound.

Mr. Thao Muu, Dak Me village, Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district said: In the Brau language, “Dinh” means tube and “Pu” means the sound emitted from the bamboo tube, the melody when two hands clap together. The Brau people’s Dinh Pu is extremely simple, consisting of 2 tubes of equal length, about 1.2m, selected from beautiful, slender bamboo segments of equal thickness.

Dinh pu is a musical instrument used by the Brau people for entertainment and relaxation in different spaces and times such as: when clearing fields, moving to a new house, and especially Dinh pu is not performed in the joyful festivals of the Brau people.

Dinh pu is often used in the land clearing ceremony of the Brau people.

Ms. Nang Phuong, Dak Me village, Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district shared: To express all the themes through the Dinh Pu songs, each song must have 5 people, 4 main players will use their two hands to clap together or one hand to clap directly on the tube to create resonance in each note that the sound is emitted, the remaining person is responsible for keeping the Dinh Pu's balance when crossing each other.

In particular, the “Dot Pi Munr” (field clearing ceremony) of the Brau people is always associated with the performance of Dinh Pu. Legend has it that since ancient times, with the custom of clearing fields, from January to March of the first month of the year, the village elder would lead the heads of families in the Brau community into the forest to search for and choose a good piece of land to ask heaven and earth to allow the villagers to clear fields to grow crops and hunt wild animals.

Most Brau women know how to play the Dinh Pu musical instrument.

Mr. Thao Dua, village elder of Dak Me village, Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district, said: When the village elders' council has chosen a mountainous area, each family will set aside a small area to mark the location and especially the Brau people will choose the most beautiful and pure bamboo trees to make Dinh Pu. In the evening, after the village elders have completed the rituals, the boys and girls will together breathe life into the Dinh Pu. The Brau people believe that Dinh Pu with a clear, high-pitched and resonant tone will signal that the location chosen by the village is a good and beautiful land, the village will be blessed by heaven and earth for a bountiful harvest and the deep and high sounds, along with a cup of wine, express gratitude and joy because the villagers have chosen a beautiful land.

Ms. Nang Tien, Dak Me village, Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district said: When performing Dinh Pu at the Land Clearance Ceremony, all 5 people focused on performing to create the best sounds, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere for the villagers, wishing for a bountiful harvest.

Currently, although the Brau ethnic community residing in Dak Me village, Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district has a modest number of households and population, they are very proud of their ethnic group's unique cultural traditions and more than anyone else, the young generation of the Brau ethnic group today always actively receives the teachings of the previous generation to preserve and promote the good cultural features passed down by their ancestors, including the Dinh Pu musical instrument.

Ngoc Chi (Ethnic and Development Newspaper)

Source: https://baophutho.vn/dinh-pu--nhac-cu-doc-dao-cua-dan-toc-brau-225030.htm