Coming to Khoang area, Huong Can commune, Thanh Son district with the desire to learn about the technique of making clay drums, a unique traditional musical instrument of the Muong people, we met Mr. Ha Ngoc Bao, 65 years old, Muong ethnic group. His story is not only a journey to preserve a cultural heritage, but also a passion and desire, a dedication to teaching the next generation the secrets to making the unique sound of clay drums so that they can master playing this special musical instrument of the ethnic group.
The clay drum, called “Toong Tung” in the Muong language, has long been a typical musical symbol of the Muong people. According to Mr. Bao, legend has it that during the reign of the 6th Hung King, after returning from victory, the king and his soldiers rested in Thanh Son district. While setting up camp and digging the ground to bury stakes, when lying down to rest, the king accidentally put his ear to the ground and heard a rumbling sound coming from the ground. That was the first sound of the clay drum, a strange and powerful sound, from which this special musical instrument was born.
Earthen drum in Muong language is called "Toong Tung".
Mr. Bao recalls his childhood days, when he was herding buffaloes on the hillsides, he was taught the techniques of making and playing clay drums by his teacher, Mr. Dinh Van Dao, who is also a famous clay drum artisan in the area. After 50 years of working with clay drums, up to now, Mr. Bao is the only person in Khoang area who can still make and perform clay drums skillfully.
“Clay drums are made from natural materials available in the mountains and forests. However, the selection of materials and the making of drums require sophistication and high skills. The first main material is a type of wild vine that grows on ancient trees. Finding wild vine is not easy, it can only be found on ancient trees on high mountain peaks.
The next materials needed are bamboo tubes, bamboo pins and an old, large, thick enough areca spathe to produce a resonant sound. The selection of areca spathe also has standards such as: old, wide, and tough areca spathe so that when pressed it will be tight, when the areca spathe dries it will not stretch, not affecting the sound of the drum," said Mr. Bao.
Soil filling materials.
Before starting to make the drum, Mr. Bao will perform a ritual to worship the earth god to ask for permission to dig the earth to make the drum. This is a custom of the Muong people, showing respect to nature and the gods who protect the land.
Mr. Dinh Van Dao, one of the caretakers of Khoang communal house - where the New Rice Festival (10/10 lunar calendar) will take place, is also the person who taught Mr. Ha Ngoc Bao how to play the earth drum. He will carefully arrange and solemnly read the prayer in Muong language. The main content of the prayer is to make the earth gods of the four directions make the earth thicker, the drum sound louder, the song happier, and pray that the drum sound will bring good crops.
After the ceremony of worshiping the earth god was completed, Mr. Bao began the most important step of digging the soil. The drum mouth had a diameter of about 20cm and a depth of about 35 - 40cm. After completing the drum, a rectangular areca spathe would be cut and attached to the drum mouth, and a string would be threaded through the central hole to stretch the areca spathe. The next steps included fixing 4 bamboo sticks to tightly clamp the drum face and attaching two bamboo poles on both sides to create different pitches. Tie a string about 2m long to the two bamboo poles, the short, taut side of the string would produce a high-pitched sound, the long, loose side would produce a low-pitched sound, when hitting the string, we would get two types of sounds, the boom and the binh, which would be heard bustlingly.
Making drums requires skillful hands and special musical ability of the drummer.
The special thing about the earth drum is that the sound comes from the ground, creating a sound that is both solemn and resonant, different from ordinary drums. This sound not only brings excitement to festivals but also prays for good crops and a peaceful life for the people.
Although he is one of the few people who still know how to make and perform clay drums in Khoang area, Mr. Bao is always enthusiastic about passing on his techniques and passion to the younger generations. Currently, he is teaching two students, including Mr. Dinh Xuan Bay, who has performed clay drums with him at many festivals. Mr. Bay shared: "At first, I learned just because of my passion, but the more I played, the more I loved and understood the value of this instrument. I hope to continue teaching the younger generation so that clay drums will not be lost or forgotten."
The empty land surface after completion.
People like Mr. Ha Ngoc Bao are the hope for the restoration and preservation of the value of traditional musical instruments. Mr. Bao expressed his wish: “I hope that in the future, the clay drum will be known and loved more by the younger generations, so that it will not only be a musical instrument, but also an indispensable part of the cultural life of the Muong people.”
Mr. Dinh Quang Van, Chairman of Huong Can Commune People's Committee, said: “The earthen drum plays a very important role in the spiritual and cultural life of the Muong people. In recent times, the local government has also implemented a number of measures to preserve it. In particular, during festivals such as the New Rice Festival or the Full Moon Day of January, the earthen drum is often combined with traditional musical instruments in the communal house yard to create a sacred and bustling atmosphere. This is not only about preserving a musical instrument, but also about preserving a part of the cultural soul of the Muong people, so that the sound of the earthen drum will forever echo in festivals and community life.”
Mr. Ha Ngoc Bao, Khoang area, Huong Can commune is one of the very few people who still make and play clay drums in Phu Tho.
The clay drum, with its unique sound, is not only a legacy of the past but also a living soul in the festivals and rituals of the Muong community. Each drum sound not only resonates in space but is also the beat of history, the memory of heroic battles and days of hard work. To keep the clay drum resounding, the attention and preservation of the whole community is needed. This not only helps protect a special musical instrument but is also a way to preserve spiritual values, community connection and national identity. The deep, bustling sound of the clay drum will forever echo in the land of origin as a reminder of the strength of solidarity, tradition and national pride.
Bao Thoa
Source: https://baophutho.vn/trong-dat-huong-can-tieng-vong-van-hoa-muong-224533.htm
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