The man from the highlands is proficient in playing nearly 10 musical instruments.

(Baonghean.vn) - Born in a remote mountain village, a passion for music has been ingrained in him since childhood. Although his dream of becoming a professional artist didn't come true, Luong Van Pan never abandoned musical instruments. The villagers affectionately call him "The Artist of the Mountains and Forests."

A video clip of Mr. Luong Van Pan playing some traditional musical instruments:

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

Through the melodies of each piece, one can understand the emotions of the composer: the excitement of spring's arrival, the joy after a bountiful harvest, and even the regret of an unfulfilled dream.

Before the age of 10, Luong Van Pan, a boy of the Thai ethnic group, had already mastered various traditional musical instruments such as the pi nhuon, xi xo lo, khen be, flute, piccolo, leaf lute, gongs, etc. This passion, passed down from his grandfather and father, combined with his innate talent, helped him quickly become famous throughout the region. Wherever he went, people wanted to hear the sound of his khen and pi.

Luong Van Pan's musical instrument collection. Photo: Cong Kien.

As he grew older, Luong Van Pan's playing of the khaen and pii became more refined and captivating, especially to the girls who were stirred by his flute playing at night, the sound echoing even in their deepest sleep. Everyone encouraged him to apply to a specialized music school to develop his talent, to broaden his future, and to bring pride to his family and the village along the Nam Mo River.

Unfortunately, Pắn's family was very poor at the time, with eight siblings. They barely had enough to eat each day, let alone the money for the competition and several years of schooling in the city. Furthermore, Khe Ngậu village was very remote and isolated, more than 200 kilometers from what is now Vinh City. Pắn's flute music couldn't travel across hundreds of mountains and streams to reach professional performing arts groups.

His dreams unfulfilled, Luong Van Pan had to remain in his village, bound to the mountains, forests, fields, streams, and the gentle Nam Mo River, whose murmuring sounds were like a lullaby of his homeland. But his passion for traditional music never diminished; on the contrary, it grew stronger with each passing year. Whether he was gathering wood in the forest, weeding the rice paddies in the fields, or fishing in the streams, his flute and pipe always accompanied him.

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

Not only is Luong Van Pan proficient in playing traditional Thai musical instruments, but he also dedicated time to learning and mastering the pí tơm of the Khơ mú people, the khèn lá of the Hmong people, and the flute of the lowlands. He also plays the guitar and mandolin well, instruments of European origin. Despite lacking formal musical training, his music has captivated many hearts, bringing listeners a profound artistic experience.

This can only be explained by innate talent and a passion for music that runs deep in his veins. Ms. Luong Thi Phuong (born in 1968) - Mr. Pan's wife - confessed that she was captivated by his melodious bamboo flute playing, his inviting leaf flute playing, and his clear, melodious singing voice. A few months later, she agreed to marry him, and they have been together for over 20 years now.

Mr. Luong Van Pan crafts a 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 arts movement, forming the core of the village and district arts teams. He has achieved notable results, including the A prize at the Lang Sen Festival and the first prize for solo performance of traditional musical instruments at the arts competition during the Van Temple - Cua Rao Festival. This serves as motivation for this man from Khe Ngau village to continue pursuing his passion from his youth.

Not only is he proficient and skilled in playing the instruments, but recently, Mr. Pắn has also successfully learned and crafted several musical instruments such as the pí nhuôn and xi xờ lò of the Thai people and the pí tơm of the Khơ mú people. Currently, he is researching how to craft the khèn bè – an instrument considered the "soul" of the Thai people. Mr. Lương Văn Pắn shared: "In the future, when I have free time, I will open free classes to teach how to play the khèn and other types of pí. People from nearby and distant villages will come to me, and I will gladly accept their requests. I only hope that the sounds of the khèn and pí will remain with the highland villages forever."

Cong Kien - Dinh Tuan