(Baonghean.vn) - For generations, the panpipe has been an indispensable musical instrument of the Mong people. The panpipe is closely associated with the spiritual and cultural life, present in all holidays and Tet, and is a tool to convey the sad and happy emotions of the Mong people.
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| The sound of the Mong flute is sometimes high-pitched and rustling like a forest tree in the wind, sometimes it is as chirpy as a bird on a high mountain top, and sometimes it is as thunderous as a waterfall. During festivals or funerals, they come to play different tunes. |
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| The old people take the panpipe as a friend, keeping the sound of the panpipe to remind them of their youth, of a time when they were young, standing on the mountain top with the panpipe calling for their lover. |
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| The materials used to make the Mong panpipe are mainly bamboo and wood collected from the forest. The structure of a Mong panpipe is quite simple, consisting of 5 small bamboo tubes and 1 large tube used to connect the small tubes. |
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| People choose old bamboo branches, clean the eyes and dry them on the kitchen shelf for 2-3 months. Then take them down and drill a small hole of the same size at the top of each pipe. The whole pipe is made of xoan or po-mu wood, smooth on the outside and hollowed out on the inside. A sharp knife is used to drill holes to join 5 small pipes together to create the shape of the pipe. |
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| During the New Year and festival season, unmarried men always carry their panpipes with them to show off their talents to beautiful Mong girls. |
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| In the Hmong panpipe, the most important part is the bronze lam located inside the pipes. This is considered the larynx of the panpipe. In the past, the Hmong people often used bronze metal to flatten it, then cut it into small pieces and attach it to the pipes. |
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| Nowadays, they have pre-made bronze lams, then just use a knife to make a small cut to fit into the pipes. The connection of the small pipes with the main pipes must be tight, not allowing air to get in, so that the sound of the pipes can be guaranteed to resonate. |
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| The sound of the Hmong panpipe has long been a part of poetry. Therefore, young men from other ethnic groups are also very interested in learning about the panpipe. |
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| Wives who love their husbands always carry the panpipe with them as a reminder of a beautiful love past or present. |
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| The sound of the panpipes resonates, and many girls stand around happily. It is a familiar image next to the ancient sa mu roofs in Mong villages. |
Ho Phuong
