"Fifteen" Thai in Muong Ham
(baonghean) -According to the "lam" artists in the Muong - Ham region (Chau Cuong commune - Quy Hop), there are two ways to sing "lam", corresponding to two different Khen melodies: The first way is called "lam ten con", this way is "lam" in the style of walking, jumping...; the second way is "lam doi doi", this way is "lam" slow, leisurely, leisurely.
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To have a "lam" session, there must be a reason. No one suddenly blows the flute to invite "lam", nor does anyone suddenly feel like "laming" alone. The reason for a "lam" session must be happy events (such as: holidays; New Year's Day; weddings; guests from far away coming to the village; housewarming ceremony...). No one ever "lams" in sad events, because "lam" is a love song. "Lam" has a strangely strong impact on the listener's soul. Lam enters people's hearts like the sound of the mountain wind blowing in the quiet noon, like the sound of a stream flowing in the afternoon, like the sound of a turtle dove or a cuckoo singing in the distant, sad night... The deeper the night goes, the more haunting the sound of "lam", just like the underground stream of love, burning between people, permeating the sound of the panpipes and going deep into the hearts and minds of the Thai boys and girls - diligent, gentle, simple people who love to work, respect people and always prefer a peaceful, quiet life.
In the entire Muong - Ham region today, there are only a few people left who know how to make "lam" into "lam", and there are not many people who play the "khen lam" anymore, most of them are 60 years old or older. The preservation and development of "lam" as well as other folk melodies of the Thai people today is facing a great difficulty, which is really hard to overcome, if you do not know or do not really love this type of folk song!?
Article and photos: Thai Tam
