| Description |
The Khen Art of the Mong people is an indispensable musical instrument in the cultural and spiritual life of the Mong people in Phu Luong and Dong Hy districts - Thai Nguyen. The structure and manufacturing process of this musical instrument are also very unique. The Khen Art of the Mong people is unique because of its shape, structure and sound-making function. The sound is emitted by both the exhaled and inhaled air. The Khen has 6 tubes made from a type of bamboo mounted on a hollowed-out wooden gourd, connected by resin and wild peach tree bark. The only metal part is the bronze reed (the reed). All stages are done by hand with tools made by the Mong people themselves. The gourd is usually made from pine wood such as: stone pine, kim giao or po mu. The manufacturing of the flute is also very unique, there is no common standard. The artisans who make the flute measure by hand and look by eye to make it.
Although the making and playing of the Khen is exclusive to men, the enjoyment and enjoyment of its melody is for the whole community, regardless of age or status. The musical perception of this instrument has affirmed the high level of musical and aesthetic appreciation of the Mong people. The Khen has 4 types of music: early music, small music, medium music and large music. Following the music are the lyrics, including: original lyrics; love songs; funeral songs and animal sacrifices.
Performing the Khen Art of the Mong people is a very unique art because this instrument is not only played but also danced with extremely lively variations. The Khen Art of the Mong people is performed at funerals, festivals, and cultural and artistic activities. Blowing the Khen is often accompanied by Khen dancing, which can be performed by one or many people. The Khen dancer bends his back, turns his heels in place and moves on a large circle, then gradually narrows it in a spiral, squats, moves forward, moves backward... The content of the Khen song is consistent with poems and folk tales.
Khen - both a musical instrument, a prop, and a cultural symbol of the Mong people. The Khen Art of the Mong people expresses the uniqueness between sound and dance movements, thereby expressing the solidarity and spirit of unity in community life. In 2017, the Khen Art of the Mong people in Dong Hy and Phu Luong was listed in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. |
