Starting out as working in the circus performance industry, the two artists Nguyen Quang Su and Dinh Anh Tuan probably did not imagine their current job.
Initial fate was only to make a program exploiting musical instruments such as props to perform circus, dance or drama, however, when immersed in the world of music, creativity was released, another turning point paved the way.
Music from life
Dan Do Group, founded more than 12 years ago, with 3 official members: Anh Dinh Anh Tuan taking on the position of manager and operator of the group's activities, Anh Nguyen Duc Minh - the music professional director and Anh Nguyen Quang Su specializing in research and manufacturing musical instruments.
However, a smooth performance depends largely on the instruments made by Mr. Su. In the group, the members joked to each other that the most miserable person was Mr. Su.
Artist Dinh Anh Tuan explained: For example, Mr. Su is primarily responsible for making a bell. After that, Mr. Minh will use the sound on the musical instrument to build the work. However, if the musical instrument does not meet the standards of the works that Mr. Minh wants, the musical instrument will have to be returned to Mr. Su".
As a person who is inherently clumsy with his hands and feet, now taking on the task of making musical instruments, artist Nguyen Quang Su revealed that he has had to beat up his music many times because he did not achieve the expected quality. With the philosophy of "taking culture as the root, taking people as the energy" that the group pursues, the musical instruments developed by Mr. Su are from familiar items in life.
Many years ago, the group researched and explored bamboo materials; now, the group has switched to processing from brass, copper, bottle, jar... with pottery. Mr. Su bought many items made of this material to experiment with music.
The male artist said: "I go looking for sound, not pottery. When I bought it, I also asked the seller how the time and the heat of the pottery was. There are items and sounds that are very good but not very durable. There is a worry in me when the artists perform, that item can break at any time.
Each plate has a different sound, like the voice of each person. They are hand-shaped; moreover, the internal texture is often difficult to see with the naked eye because they can explode inside when heated. I appreciate the durability of the instrument.
Therefore, after a period of research and processing from ceramics, the group has had more unique musical instruments. The putt is completed based on the principle of the resonance from the putt from the terracotta, with the vibration film made from the motorcycle's hoes, creating a deep sound like a giant bass.
The rice rations are made from rice cookers, the surface has a layer of buffalo skin to create vibration, above which are the strings connecting to the bamboo frame, bringing a warm, gentle sound.
In addition, the musical instrument also appears in the male drum (shaped like a thick cake, with a warm sound like a resounding sound from the earth), the electronic and electronic bell (created with terracotta with a unique musical structure, each with a separate sound system), the rotated pottery (played with rotation on the ceramic mouth, creating a soft resounding effect)...
The voice of indigenous music
A journey to discover pottery musical instruments will be introduced at the GOm Show shows at the end of June in Hanoi with works symbolizing the unique voice of indigenous ethnic communities such as: M'Nong, Tay, Lo Lo, Nung Din, E De, Ha Nhi...
Not only the initial 3 members, with 10 young and enthusiastic members and the "silent heroes" behind the stage, listeners will be immersed in the journey of "morning - evening - afternoon". From Quay ve, Thien do, Xuoi dong to Tim Hani, Gom... are all harmoniously combined with folk and creative musical instruments.
For artist Nguyen Duc Minh, music is like pottery, from a piece of earth then shaped by hand, transforming each shape and bringing a result like imagination. This is an endless source of inspiration for him as well as the young artists in the program.
GOm Show not only marked a new milestone in the artistic journey of the group Dan Do, but also opened a special step forward in the flow of Vietnamese contemporary art. More than that, indigenous music is given a higher expectation: Reaching out to the world.
Mr. Do Tuan Anh, representative of the organizing committee, shared: "The group of artists did a very difficult task. That is to preserve and promote indigenous music in accordance with the breath of the times. That music, in addition to being highly educational and aesthetic, also arouses the love of homeland and country in the younger generation.
The musical instruments and sounds used by the artists are both familiar and strange. The performance is expansive, the soul and the quintessence of Vietnamese culture are revealed. I realized that young people also love this type of music. That is what makes me believe that the group is on the right track.
