Folk songs of Ede minority
Audio sample
1. Duo Dinh Pang (aerophone) |
7. Ensemble of Ching K'ram (bamboo gongs) |
2. Solo Dinh tac ta (aerophone) |
8. Ensemble of Dinh tut (airophone) |
3. Ensemble of K'nah gongs (idiophone)
|
9. A du"n cu ju singing |
4. Kuut singing |
10. Solo Ky pah (aerophone) |
5. Solo Dinh tac ta (areophone) |
11. Solo Dinh nam (aerophone) |
6. Aray singing |
12. Ensemble of K'nah gongs (idiophone) |
The E de ethnic group, one of the age - old ethnic groups in the Highland of Vietnam, lives in Dac Lac province, the south of the Gai Lai province, the west of the Khanh Hoa province and Phu Yen province. The language of the E de ethnic group is of Malayo - P"linedi group. Among ethnic groups in the Highland of Vietnam, the E de people have specific music aptitude and are the owners of many gong sets and musical instruments made of bamboo and typical folk music forms.
1. Duo Dinh Pang (aerophone)
Performed by: Y Nech E ban- Y Liem K'Pak
Dinh pang is a definite-pitch percussion played by male in ordinary activities. It includes 8 hornless bamboo sections (one end close, one end open), about 21 - 50 cm in length. It is played by two people. These sections are linked into 3-2 pair (undertaken by one person) and 2-1 pair (undertaken by one person). When performing, the performer beats on the wooden rectangular-shaped resonance box to create different sounds.
2. Solo Dinh tac ta (aerophone)
Performed by: Y Nech E ban
It is of wind family, freely vibrated branch. It is a transversal flute made of a hornless bamboo section and put into the bark of the dry gourd. A wooden reed is put at the end inside the gourd. The stern of the gourd is used to make spout. The body of the flute is dug two holes above and one below. Its tone row is d1, e1, f1, f#1, g#1. It was played by male only in the morning to wake up female. Today, it is also played in the afternoon for gathering of the male and female.
3. Ensemble of K'nah gongs (idiophone)
Performed by: Group artists of Ede
Knah is the name of gong set of the E de ethnic group. The outstanding point of the gong of the E de ethnic group is antiphonic playing, combination of different rhythm groups with strong and presto intensity. Knah gong set includes 7 flat gongs symbolizing the members of the family: Hlue Khk Diet, Hlue Hliang, Hlue Khk, Knak Khk, Knah Hliang, Knah Di, Sar (from small to large order) and 2 gongs with knob: Mdu, Ana. They are in harmony with H'gr big drum. Its tone row is d1, e1, g1 and a1. The E de people play it in long house and they sit on Kpan chair (boat-shape, about 10-20 cm in length put on the western wall of the house on stilts). Its stick is made of wood or old male bamboo and is played by the right hand. The left hand keeps gong on the thigh and moves on the flat side of the gong to create staccato or sustained. Knah gong is played in festivals and its music expresses the most deep soul of the E de ethnic group. The title of item 3 is Kong Dar. It is imitated the sound of propeller turning used to chase bird from mountain field in the rice harvest season. Propeller turning symbols the coming of the harvest day with the joy of the villagers.
4. Kuut singing
Performed by: Y Tuich nie
Kuut singing is a kind of recitative in epic narrative of the E de people. Kuut singing is performed in the free evenings or moonlight nights in the house on stilts. Dinh buot trok - a vertical flute including 4 press holes and 1 resonating hole is an accompaniment instrument for this singing. The tone row of the flute is f1, g#1, a #1, c2, d#2.
5. Solo Dinh tac ta (areophone)
Performed by: Y Mip Ayun
Accompanied by: Y lon nie
As introduced in the item 2.
6. Aray singing
Performed by: H pot nie
Accompanied by Y Mip Ayun
Ayray singing is a kind of love exchange singing of the E de people. Dinh nam is used to accompany Ayray singing. Like Dinh nam, Ayray singing is forbidden to sing in village. It is only sung on the way to the rice-field or in the Bo ma ceremony. Ayray singing symbolizes the reincarnation of the death. After 7 evolving circles the death embodies in a new-born child to return to the community. Ayray singing has strong characteristic of the boys and girls living in mighty highland forest.
7. Ensemble of Ching K'ram (bamboo gongs)
Performed by: Group artists of Ede
Ching k'ram (bamboo gong) is of the idiophonic family, knocking branch of the E de ethnic group. Ching k'ram set includes 9 gongs. The pitch, name and composition for playing are similar to those of Knah gong. Each gong includes one bamboo section (resonance pipe) and one stick made of bamboo. When performing, the player keeps the resonance pipe between two foots, the hand takes the stick. Its tone row is D, E, c1, d1, e1, g1, a1, h1. Its sound is brittle, vibrated and bustling suitable with entertainment atmosphere. Ching k'ram is played in rice-field or while male and female drink wine in the village.
8. Ensemble of Dinh tut (airophone)
Performed by: Group artists of Ede ethnic
Besides Knah gong and K'ram gong, Dinh tut is a musical instrument that needs the combination of many people when being played. Dinh tut set is played by 6 people arranging into a circle and each flows one section. Its pitch is based on that of the gong set of the E de ethnic group. The tone row of the Dinh tut is f1, g1, a1, c2, d2, e2.
Each section of Dinh tut is made of a small hornless bamboo section of different sizes. One end is open and the other is close with node. It is played by female only. It is believed that the sound of Dinh tut wakes up the soul of the rice and helps the rice grow quickly.
Therefore when seeing the figure of male the soul of the rice will fear and disappear.
Today, Male is responsible for making and playing Dinh tut but when performing, they must wear costume like female. Dinh tut is mainly played in rituals such as: rice ceremony and Bo ma ceremony. The presence of Dinh tut in the Bo ma ceremony brings about mysterious atmosphere of the E de ethnic group.
9. A du"n cu ju singing
Performed by: H'ot nie
Accompanied by: Ba yak
As introduced at the item 6.
10. Solo Ky pah (aerophone)
Performed by: Y Nuech E ban
Ky pa of the E de ethnic group is of wind family, transverse and freely vibrated branch. Ky pa is made of buffalo's horn or wood with the length of 30 cm. The bamboo reed is put at flowing end. Its pitch is tuned by closing or opening two ends. It is played in rituals and ceremony for killing buffalo of the community or hunting.
11. Solo Dinh nam (aerophone)
Melody: Tat e lan nao Tih ma
Performed by: Y Mip Ayun
Dinh nam is played by male only. It is forbidden to play at home or in the village. It is only used to play in the rice-field far from the village or at home only when there is the funeral or in burial-ground in the Bo ma ceremony. It is made of 6 hornless bamboo sections with different lengths put through the bark of the dry gourd. These sections are arranged into two rows. The three above sections are put oblique upward and the others are put transversally to express dichotonal concept which is very popular in the musical instrument of the E de people. It's noticeable that each section, the part put through the dry gourd has a bamboo or brass reed. Its tone row is G#, A#, c1, d#1, f1, g1.
To shake the reed to generate sound, the player must close the press hole at above the body of section to create air pressure. Dinh nam is used not only to perform as solo but also to accompany Ayray singing.
12. Ensemble of K'nah gongs (idiophone)
Performed by: Group artists of Ede
Having the title I" wit H'gum. This is a composition that the head of a tribe used to call villagers and clans when the village had important matter. Today it is used to open festivals.