In the small house in Khe Mong hamlet, Van Lang commune (Dong Hy, Thai Nguyen), the sound of Mong flute still resounds regularly through the breath of Meritorious Artist Hoang Van Mui.
At the age of over 70, he still diligently takes care of each flute Tube, passing on each ancient flute to the younger generation.
Born into a Mong family with a tradition of folk arts, Mr. Mui was passed down by his father the ancient Khen melodies from the age of 10.
When he was only 13 years old, he mastered manyen and dances, associated with the typical music of the Mong people.
For him, the Khen is not only an instrument expressing the words and feelings of the Mong people but also a "sacred voice", a core part of the nation.
To blow a good flute, the blower not only needs endurance and good sound, but also must clearly understand the language of each melody to perform it fully.
"Each melody carries its own content, which can be a wedding invitation, a greeting to a guest, or a lament at a funeral. The sound of the Khen has accompanied the Mong people all their lives, from birth until closing their eyes, said Mr. Mui.
After more than half a century of working with the Khen, he has represented the commune in performing at many major events in and outside the province. For him, blowing the flute every occasion is not only for performance, but also a way to bring Mong culture closer to the people of the lowlands.
Since 2015, Mr. Mui has opened a free Khen class at home. At first, there were only a few children in the village, and gradually young men from other places came to visit.
According to him, learners must be healthy, flexible, and have good hearing, especially must understand the content of each melody, because Mong flute is not only for listening but also for "talking", for "knowing the story".
I teach not only to help them know how to blow the flute, but also to make them understand that they are Mong, have language, customs and even their own art, he shared.
However, despite his great passion for preserving the craft, Mr. Mui still cannot help but worry and worry about the risk of the Mong Khen mangrove.
"Young people today are partly less interested in Khen, partly because they work far away. If there was no one to follow, the sound of the flute would only remain in my memory, he shared.
Mr. Hoang Xuan Truong - Chairman of Van Lang Commune People's Committee said that Mr. Mui is a prestigious person who has made great contributions to preserving traditional culture in the locality.
In 2022, he was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist, holding the intangible cultural heritage of Khen Art of the Mong people.
This title recognizes his contributions to preserving the cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group in Thai Nguyen.
Currently, Van Lang commune has established an Arts Club in Khe Mong hamlet, a model of community activities. This is considered an effective way to help preserve Mong Khen art in a sustainable way.
