| Description |
Khen: in the Hmong language it is called Krềnh, associated with sad stories, so at first they only used the flute to blow instead of crying at funerals to remember the dead. They gradually introduced it to festivals (Gźu tào, fairs), marriages, holidays (New Year, new house celebration), etc. The raw materials are usually bamboo, pine wood, or rocky mountain pơmu wood.
The Hmong Khen are part of the wind system, which is composed of two components: the bamboo pipes known as Xôngz trơưv and the gourd made of rock pine wood (Zưx Cxôngx). The Khen tree has seven bronze blades, or reed tongues, but only six bamboo tubes. . The bamboo sections of the Hmong flute in Ha Giang are straighter and shorter than those of the Hmong flute in Lao Cai, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien. The gourd is cut with 6 holes to insert 6 bamboo tubes. The tip of the trumpet bellows has a copper blade (reed blade).
The blower must hold the ken with both hands while covering the holes with his fingers in the Khen. Sound is produced by air blown into the Khen passing through the reed. Since there aren't enough seven notes in the Hmong Khen language, it's essential to employ the method of pressing and releasing the Khen notes to produce resonance in order to produce sounds and Khen songs.
The trumpet can be blown out or inhaled. Initially, the trumpet was only used for blowing, but later they created more dances. Khen dance movements are very diverse. Couple dances between boys and girls often kick their heels together, glide evenly, and change places. The most difficult move is to carry Khen while rolling around, dancing the "cock fight" and "horse fight" dance while Khen's sound still doesn't stop. Khen is associated with belief and is a sacred object in the rituals of the Hmong people. |
