Promoting the value of Muong gong heritage
Muong gong has long been considered the soul of Muong culture, the crystallization of spiritual life, spirituality and community history. In Muong people's concept, gongs are not only for performing music but also the voice of the forest and mountain, a harmony between people and ancestors, the sky and earth.
Artisan Dinh Ngoc Luong, who was born and grew up in Muong gongs full of cultural and symbolic values, shared: "From the time a child cried at birth until returning to the "Heaven Muong" scene, the sound of the Beng club always accompanies and reminds each person about the origin and identity of their nation".
In the first ceremony of the year, the cadet of Xac ward rang out in front of each house, bringing blessings and good news. During the wedding, the gongs congratulated the couple. During the farewell ceremony, the gongs became a guiding sound for the soul to peacefully return to their ancestors. When the village held the Spring Festival and the New Rice Festival, the gong sound arose, bustlingly calling out people, calling out the season, driving away bad luck and bringing home the wish to be full.
For artisan Dinh Ngoc Luong, that persistent presence makes Muong gongs considered the treasure and soul of the ethnic village. Each gong usually has 12 pieces, symbolizing 12 months, like the time period of a lifetime wrapped in a bronze jar.
Muong gong music reflects the ingenuity and proficiency of the players in applying gong playing techniques. Although not a professional musician, the Muong people have created many unique gongs, bearing the unique cultural imprint of their community.
To preserve and promote the value of Muong gong cultural heritage and widely introduce it to the international public, at the "Great Unity Festival of Ethnic Groups" within the framework of the Week of "Great Unity of Ethnic Groups - Vietnam Cultural Heritage" (from November 18 to 24), artisan Dinh Ngoc Luong and a group of ethnic groups brought a Muong gong performance combined with special dance and singing.
The artist shared: "We have edited old gong melodies on folk materials to suit the current stage but still maintain the original spirit. When combining gong music with folk songs and dances, the performance is both attractive to the audience and conveys the typical cultural beauty of the Muong people".
He expressed his hope that through cultural festivals and performances, the value of Muong gongs will be preserved and developed sustainably, both serving the spiritual life of the community and becoming a bridge to promote Vietnamese culture to the world.
Spreading the color of the nation
Not only stands out with the bustling gongs of the Muong people, the community of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam also owns a rich and diverse cultural and artistic treasure trove, worthy of being preserved and spread in community life.
These are the graceful dances of the Thai people, the Then singing and Tinh lute of the Tay people, the flute, the Khen of the Northwestern ethnic groups, along with folk songs such as Quan Ho, Ca Tru, Lu singing, sli singing, Gio singing... All of these values not only reflect the rich spiritual life but also contribute to affirming the identity, history and intelligence of the Vietnamese ethnic communities.
At the "Great Unity of Ethnic Groups Festival", the Au Wa dance was performed by the Kho Mu ethnic group in Son La, bringing a joyful festive atmosphere. The dancer shook his hips, winked his waist, his whole body vibrated with the gongs and drums, as if immersing himself in the nature of the Northwest mountains and forests, forgetting the hardships of daily life.
Along with that, the unique sound from Dao Dao musical instruments, made from bamboo tubes - which are familiar labor tools - resounds, making listeners both excited and admiring the ingenuity and cultural creativity of the Kho Mu people. Both dance and music brought the audience into the vibrant festival space, full of traditional rhythm and color.
For the Nung people in Thai Nguyen, visitors can witness women dressed up in red in traditional peach blossom costumes, holding Tinh musical instruments, singing the folk song "Pui vui ngay cam co" or the song "Hoi co minh!", "Chua ta mo hoi don xuong"...
Ms. Lo Thi Huong (Nung ethnic group, Thai Nguyen) shared: Like other ethnic groups coming here, we want to bring to the event a part of the cultural soul of our ethnic group, to spread the heritage and traditional cultural values to the public. Each melody, each rhythm of the instrument not only shows joy and solidarity, but also contributes to preserving and spreading the unique identity of the nation, helping the younger generation and tourists better understand the long-standing cultural values of the community".
Pham Thi Bich Phuong (21 years old, student) visited the Vietnam Ethnic Culture - Tourism Village on the occasion of the festival. She expressed her excitement at being warmly welcomed by the harmonious and friendly ethnic groups.
Bich Phuong said: Previously, I only saw images of ethnic minorities through books or television, and had never been able to interact directly. When attending the event, listening to them dance and sing, harmonizing with unique musical instruments, I love and want to explore more deeply the culture and traditions of ethnic groups. I hope to be able to return many times to experience more and share stories about these unique heritages and cultural values with everyone.
The event "Great Unity Day of Ethnic Groups" therefore becomes an important bridge, bringing music, singing, dancing, traditional costumes and customs of Vietnamese ethnic groups closer to the public, contributing to spreading and preserving traditional culture, creating a sustainable vitality for the national cultural heritage.
