The resounding sound of the Red Dao people's drums

The wedge drum is a traditional musical instrument, the “soul” of the Red Dao people in Ta Phin commune, Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province. During Tet, the sound of the drum is used to drive away bad luck and bad things from the old year. During festivals, the sound of the drum adds joy and happiness, making people feel happy, and the whole village dances enthusiastically to the beat of the drum...

The unique feature of the wedge drum is the wedges that are woven crisscross around the drum body.

This year, he entered his seventies, an age when many people have chosen to rest and enjoy their children and grandchildren; but, for artisan Chao Quay Vang, a Red Dao ethnic group in Ta Phin commune, Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province, he is still working hard at making drums. Mr. Vang said that making drums is not only a profession, but also an art.

According to him, to have a complete wedge drum requires many stages, each stage requires meticulousness and carefulness. For example, the drum body must be made from light but sturdy woods such as sa moc or pine, which are abundant in the hills of the Dao people. The wood is carved, planed and then joined together with old rattan to ensure durability and flexibility.

"The drum skin is the most important part. For a long time, I have only chosen the skin of cows over 5 years old because the older the cow skin, the more durable it is and the farther the sound it produces. The skin is dried over a fire for 7 days and 7 nights to ensure its elasticity and toughness, then soaked in spring water overnight to soften it. Next, the skin is cut to size, stretched over the drum body and twisted with rattan to secure the drum face, instead of nailing it like many other types of drums...", Mr. Vang explained.

The drum body is made of light but sturdy wood such as sa moc and pine.

However, the unique feature of the wedge drum lies in the drum wedges. Each drum requires about 200-300 wedges that are hand-carved and “evenly shaped” and then woven crisscrossing around the drum body. According to artisan Vang, these wedges not only hold the drum head taut but also create the shape of a bright sun, a symbol of life, faith and strength.

“Because of these wedges, even if the drum surface becomes loose during use, just add more wedges to tighten it up immediately,” Mr. Vang shared.

In the traditional culture of the Red Dao people, many unique and sacred rituals and festivals are still preserved. And, in all traditional rituals, the sound of the drum is indispensable. Every time the festival drum sounds, the old, the young, the boys and girls pass the drum to each other. The sound of the drum drives away the bad luck and bad things of the old year. The sound of the drum adds joy and happiness, making people feel cheerful, the whole village dances enthusiastically around the big fire...

Cowhide is dried over a fire for 7 days and 7 nights to cover the drum.

According to Mr. Vang, the Red Dao people consider the drum a sacred musical instrument, indispensable in all important ceremonies such as Put Tong, Cap Sac, weddings, funerals or exorcisms. The sound of the drum not only signals the beginning of the ceremony but also acts as a spiritual bridge, dispelling bad luck and bringing peace and luck...

Previously, Mr. Vang's wedge drums were only used during village and hamlet festivals. However, in recent years, as tourism has developed and Ta Phin has become a favorite destination for tourists, the wedge drum has become a unique cultural product, attracting the attention and exploration of tourists. They are interested in learning and exploring the drum-making process, listening to stories about the culture of the Red Dao people around the wedge drum. Because "The sound of the wedge drum is not just a sound, but also a story about history, culture and national pride", Mr. Vang said.

The wedge drum is a sacred musical instrument, indispensable in all important rituals of the Red Dao people.

It is an honor and pride that the Red Dao people's drum making craft in Sa Pa was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020. This is not only a joy but also a motivation for Mr. Chao Quay Vang to continue to pass on the craft to the younger generation. Therefore, despite his old age, Mr. Vang still diligently teaches the younger generation in the village and commune drum making techniques.

“The wedge drum is the voice of our ancestors, the sacred soul of the Red Dao people. If we do not preserve our craft and drums, we will lose part of our identity,” Mr. Vang affirmed.

Trong Bao (Ethnic and Development Newspaper)

Source: https://baophutho.vn/ngan-vang-tieng-trong-nem-cua-dong-bao-dao-do-230047.htm