Highland man plays nearly 10 musical instruments fluently

(Baonghean.vn) - Born in a highland village, his passion for music has been ingrained in his blood since he was a child. Although his dream of becoming a professional artist failed, Luong Van Pan still did not abandon his musical instruments. The villagers affectionately call him "Artist of the mountains and forests".

Clip of Mr. Luong Van Pan playing some traditional musical instruments:

On quiet nights, people in Khe Ngau village, Xa Luong commune (Tuong Duong) often listen to the smooth, melodious melodies coming from the house of Mr. Luong Van Pan (born 1966).

Through the melody of each song, people understand the owner's feelings, the excitement when spring comes, the joy after each bumper crop, and also the regret for an unfulfilled dream.

Not yet 10 years old, Thai ethnic boy Luong Van Pan has skillfully used his ethnic musical instruments such as pi nhuon, xi xo lo, khen be, flute, tieu, dan la, gong... That passion was passed down by his grandfather and father, combined with his natural talent, helped him soon become famous throughout the region. Wherever he went, people there wanted to hear his khen and pi sounds.

Musical instrument collection of Mr. Luong Van Pan. Photo: Cong Kien.

The older he got, the more smooth and attractive Luong Van Pan's flute and pipe sounds became, especially for girls who heard Pan play his flute at night, the flute sounds seemed to echo in their deep sleep. Everyone encouraged him to take the entrance exam to a music school to have the opportunity to develop his talent, to open up his future, to bring pride to his family and the village along the Nam Mo River.

But unfortunately, Pan's family was very poor at that time, with 8 siblings, daily food was not enough, where could he get money to take the exam, and then study for several years in the city. Moreover, Khe Ngau village at that time was very remote and isolated, more than 200 kilometers from Vinh City now, Pan's flute sound could not cross hundreds of mountains and streams to reach professional art troupes.

His dream not coming true, Luong Van Pan had to stay in the village, attached to the mountains, forests, fields, streams and the gentle Nam Mo River, always murmuring like a lullaby of his homeland. But his passion for traditional music never dwindled, but on the contrary, it grew with the years. Whether going into the forest to get wood, going to the fields to weed rice or going down to the stream to fish, the panpipe and the pipe always followed his footsteps.

Mr. Luong Van Pan plays the xi xo lo, a traditional musical instrument of the Thai people. Photo: Dinh Tuan.

Not only is he fluent in using Thai traditional musical instruments, Luong Van Pan also spends time learning and playing skillfully the pí tơm of the Khmu people, the khen lá of the Hmong people and the flute of the lowland people. He also plays the guitar and mandolin well, which are musical instruments of European origin. Although he has not received formal education or training, his music has conquered many hearts, bringing artistic inspiration to listeners.

That can only be explained by the innate talent and passion for music that always flows in the veins. Ms. Luong Thi Phuong (born 1968) - Mr. Pan's wife confessed that she used to be in love with him because of his melodious panpipes, the inviting sounds of the panpipes and his singing voice as clear as the water of Khe Ngau. Then, a few months later, she agreed to be his wife, and it has been 20 years now.

Mr. Luong Van Pan makes pi tom - a musical instrument of the Khmu ethnic group. Photo: Dinh Tuan.

In recent years, Mr. Luong Van Pan has actively participated in the mass art movement, being the core of the commune and district art troupe. He has achieved certain results, including the A prize at the Sen Village Festival and the First prize for solo performance of traditional musical instruments at the Art Competition in the Van Temple - Cua Rao Festival program. This is the source of motivation to help the man from Khe Ngau village continue with his passion from his youth.

Not only using it fluently and skillfully, recently Mr. Pan has also learned and successfully crafted a number of musical instruments such as the pi nhuon, xi xo lo of the Thai people and pi tom of the Khmu people. And currently, he is researching and learning how to craft the khene - a musical instrument considered the "soul melody" of the Thai people. Mr. Luong Van Pan shared: "In the near future, when I have free time, I will open a free class to teach how to play the khene and other types of pi. People from near and far villages are willing to come to me. I just hope that the sounds of the khene and pi will stay forever in the highland villages."

Cong Kien - Dinh Tuan