Born into a poor farming family, a Gen Z boy brings Mong flute to international level

As a Mong ethnic, born and raised in Lung Phin commune, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province, Ly Mi Cuong is always passionate about promoting the flute and panpipe sounds of his ethnic group to international competitions. Recently, he won first prize in the Traditional Musical Instruments category at the 2024 China-Singapore International Music Competition.

Dan Viet reporter had a conversation with him after this proud achievement!

Born in a rocky mountainous area with countless difficulties, he chose his own path, which is learning bamboo flute?

- I was born and raised in a poor farming family, my parents worked in the production and processing of Shan Tuyet tea. The place where I was born is also the "cradle" of Mong culture. We Mong people are very fond of playing the flute and the panpipe of our people. Therefore, I have known and loved these two musical instruments from a very early age. However, at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, there is no major in training them, so I had to choose the bamboo flute. Bamboo flute and Mong flute have many similarities, so I consider learning the bamboo flute as a way to understand more about ethnic traditions, while still maintaining the "fire" for the musical instruments of my people.

Many people may think, why not learn a profession related to engineering, economics or tourism to make money easily when born in a poor countryside, but I decided to study music. Music may not be easy to make money but it has a power that many other professions do not have, which is to inspire life, spread positive energy to everyone. Ever since I was a child, I have decided to pursue music, I consider music as my blood, breath and life.

Ly Mi Cuong at the Traditional Instrument Competition, China-Singapore International Music Competition 2024. (Photo: NVCC )

What difficulties did you face from knowing instinctively to learning systematically?

- If before, I played the flute instinctively, without following music theory, then when I studied at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, I followed a certain framework. To learn a musical instrument, you must first understand music theory and have basic knowledge of the subject you are studying. Meritorious Artist Ngoc Anh (Thang Long Music and Dance Theater, part-time lecturer at the Vietnam National Academy of Music) has guided me throughout the past years.

Difficulties? A lot. I had to learn everything from breathing to keeping the rhythm and importantly, it is very difficult for people to give up long-standing habits. In return, I have a strong love and belief in traditional music. The Mong flute or bamboo flute are also traditional flutes and it is our responsibility as young people to preserve and spread them in today's life.

Another difficulty I encountered was my inferiority complex as an ethnic minority. Everything for me was inferior to my friends. But after more than 4 years of studying in Hanoi , I gradually integrated into the lifestyle in this city. At first, there were friends who said things that hurt me and made me think a lot. But then I no longer thought negatively, but instead, I constantly tried to develop myself to prove to everyone that starting point is not important, but whether or not you persevere to try is important.

Why in international competitions do you always bring the image of a young man wearing traditional clothes, playing clear, soulful melodies with the Mong flute and Mong panpipe?

- Not only in international competitions but also in major music events, such as: "Tet Mong Xuong Pho", Den Vau's live show..., I always bring such an image. This is a rare opportunity for me to show off the unique cultural features of my people.

Every time I bring my flute and panpipe abroad, I receive a warm welcome from international audiences and musicians. They are quite interested and curious about Vietnamese musical instruments. There are some friends I still keep in touch with and regularly exchange expertise with. Their welcome is always the motivation for me to try harder, to bring the sound of the flute and panpipe further.

At the 2024 China-Singapore International Music Competition, I am the contestant who brought two unprecedented musical instruments to this competition: the Mong flute and the Mong panpipe. Normally, when talking about traditional musical instruments, it is often the bamboo flute, monochord, zither, pipa, etc. But for me, a true Mong person, bringing the Mong flute and the Mong panpipe is also understandable. It is still the Mong flute and the Mong panpipe, but I always try to choose songs that are more difficult and have higher techniques.

For each competition, I prepare different songs so that you can see that the sound of the Hmong flute is unique, interesting and can play many songs. In the near future, I will participate in the Hong Kong International Music Festival 2024 in China and I am busy preparing for my performance.

Ly Mi Cuong and Den Vau on stage "Den's Show". (Photo: NVCC)

As a young person, you seem to be very active in spreading flute songs on social networks, including renewing familiar flute songs?

- That's right. Traditional music never stops, it's always moving. And I think, in order for young people to love traditional musical instruments, artists must try to "mix" these instruments with modern instruments, with modern dances to be closer to young people. Of course, I also understand that we must be very careful, research thoroughly, otherwise it's very easy to "destroy" the music.

Flute song " Calling you by the stream " by Ly Mi Cuong. (Clip: YTNV)

It is known that you are admired by many young Mong people, especially those of Gen Z. In the near future, what plans do you have to spread ethnic culture with them?

- Our Mong community is very united. We have a club of Mong people living in Hanoi and have many meaningful and practical activities to unite us together. Each person studies a profession, a field, but I am full of aspiration to enrich my homeland or, as poet Y Phuong said, "raise my homeland". I am an artist, my job is to raise the sound that unites hearts and souls together. I want to use music to speak for my people, my homeland.

This summer, I plan to return to Dong Van to open a class to teach bamboo flute, Mong flute, Mong panpipe... after I have completed my professional studies, thereby promoting the love and passion for traditional music for young people.

I hope that these classes will help discover and nurture young Mong people to come to traditional music, and join me in promoting Mong music in particular and ethnic music in general to everyone. And even if they do not pursue music professionally, they still need music to "heal" the "wounds" in their souls.

I am proud to be a Mong and my job right now is to spread love and responsibility for my people. Maybe, many people will think these are delusional things, think I am a "busybody" but somehow I have called myself that angel. Our ethnic people are honest as hell, when they say they will do it and do it to the end. I really desire to do something for my homeland.

Thank you for this interesting conversation!

Source: https://danviet.vn/sinh-ra-tu-gia-dinh-nong-dan-ngheo-chang-trai-gen-z-dua-tieng-sao-nguoi-mong-vuon-tam-quoc-te-20240523071708544.htm