Introducing gongs to boarding schools

Dong Xuan district’s Ethnic Boarding School os graduallly recreating and reviving the ethnic minority’s own beauty; as well as innovation in teaching and imparting gongs as well as other ethnic musical instruments into the boarding students’ cultural life. This innovation has gained positive signs.

Dance of gongs represented by 6th graders of Dong Xuan district's EthnicBoarding school.

The Ethnic Boarding School in Dong Xuan district has more than 200 students of the groups of Cham H’roi, E De, Ba Na, Tay in the communes of Xuan Quang 1, Xuan Quang 2, Xuan Lanh, where there used to be a rich cultural environment of the ethnic minorities. Mr. Huynh Ngoc Sang, Vice Principal of the school, shared, “In the past, the residence of the students kept such musical instruments as “gongs, T’rung, tinh” … At night, students played happily, imparting each other how to play the instruments. The gong sound is a vital part in their spiritual life here. At weekends, students brought dry wood from high-field for kitchen and campfire, singing, dancing, playing and socializing”.

Along with academic movements, The Ethnic Boarding School in Dong Xuan district has invited artisans from the villages and hamlets in the district and surrounding districts to impart the way to use gongs, drums. Artisan Ma Than in Le A hamlet (KrongPa commune, Son Hoa district), lets known: “I am very fond of teaching students here, the students are so much enthusiastic and witted. I like the work of imparting gongs and I will continue teaching once being offered. Mainly 6^th and 7^th graders attend the class, which is to set the first stage for returning to teach the next grades and kept gongs in school for longer”.

The school is preserving the set of 2 small gongs, 3 medium gongs and 2 drums. These are the Cham H’roi people’s usual gongs. Thanks to the available gongs, drums, putting the gongs into learning is relatively favorable. La A Dung, a gong-studying student, lets known: “In my village, no one knows how to play gongs, I am taught how to play this national instrument at school, I feel very happy”.

Two repertoires of “Tieng cong chieng” and “Vui hoi cong chieng” performed by the students from the EthnicBoarding School in Dong Xuan district at the 2^nd culture – music – sports contest of ethnic students in Phu Yen province in 2014, held in Dong Xuan district, were highly appreciated by both the judge and audience. Mr. Phan Anh Tan, a retired officer (in Long Ha quarter, La Hai townlet) commented: “The show is so great, the dance in the “Vui hoi cong chieng” repertoire is beautiful and soulful. Gong sound is like the old days; but unfortunately, it is no echoing through the night as before”.

The School has regularly organized art nights on Saturday nights with performances on performing musical instruments of ethnic minorities. With efforts, the School tries to revive the ethnic minorities’ cultural identity.

Source: Phu Yen Newspaper

Translated by TRINH THUY

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