(HBO) - Along with the trend of international integration of Vietnam, more and more new forms of entertainment are emerging, the ethnic music is being faded in modern society. However, the members of the ethnic music club in Doan Ket 2 Hamlet - Phuc Tien Commune - Ky Son District are still devoting all their love, enthusiasm and efforts to keep the ethnic music uninterrupted day by day.
Members of the ethnic musical club of Doan
Ket 2 Hamlet - Phuc Tien Commune during a training session
As a key member of the club, Mr. Bui Van Le
is now 73 years old. At present, Mr. Le is the oldest member and is responsible
for conveying his accumulated experiences for the members.
Since its foundation, the club consisted of
only 15 people, including 5 people in the ethnic musical band and 10 people in
the dance team. During 10 years of operation, up to now, the club has 35
members. Mr. Le's band consists of 5 main members with age of 55 - 73 years
old. Each member is responsible for playing a musical instrument such as: flutes,
monochord, erhu, drum ... All the people were not trained through a
professional institution, only just the person knew and handed over to the
other and practice with each others. The flute, the rhythm and the dances of
the members of the club have contributed to many cultural exchange events in
the villages, communes and exchanges between districts.
Mr. Bui Van Le said: "Our club usually
only meets once a week. Members are busy working during the day so they gather
only in the late afternoons and evenings. They usually play volleyball in the
afternoon and dance in the evening. When there is the opportunity to exchange,
it is necessary to prepare and rehearse the repertoire will be more often. Some
performances are often carried out by the band, such as: Đẻ đất đẻ nước
– When the land and water were known, lưu
thủy
- water flowing, Giang Nam, đêm khuya - late at night, đi đường - on the
road ... ".
Each club's training session is very simple.
With an old cassette player, the members with their instruments, when the music
emerges, the supporting dance team started the soft folk dance with the
colorful costumes of the Muong ethnic girls. Uncle Dinh Thanh Van – the club
member shared "When hearing the sound of the song and the rhythm, I feel
my life is more joyful, forget my old age. The training sessions help us close
together, therefore, raising our big love of musical instruments in every human
being".
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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