Unique materials in ethnic music

Ethnic music, which includes musical instruments and instrumental music, was formed from the needs of people during the labour and production process, and passed down in the folk community, and have gradually developed over many generations. Along with folk songs and dances, ethnic music has become an indispensable part in the spiritual life of people of all ethnic groups, expressing their thoughts and feelings, instead of words, in a delicate, thoughtful, sincere and emotional way.

Born in the folk community, this genre of music carries within it stories associated with the working life of mountainous people and bears the unique characteristics of each ethnic group. While folk songs are expressed through verbal language, folk dancing is a body language, the language of ethnic music features both high-pitched and low-pitched sounds, containing many levels of emotions: joy, sadness, happiness, and pain.

Artists of the provincial Music and Dance Theater stage a Dao ethnic musical ensemble performance.

Ethnic music of 12 ethnic groups living in Son La province is diverse and rich, with a full system of musical instruments classified as percussion, wind and string. Among them, wind instruments are the most diverse with the types of ‘pi’ of the Thai people (pi pap, pi tam lay, pi pot, pi xo lo); lip lute, flute, and panpine of the Mong ethnic group; horn of the Dao ethnic group. Percussion instruments are quite popular among many ethnic groups such as drums, gongs, ‘phach’, and ‘hun may’. As for string instruments in Son La, there is only the gourd lute of the white Thai people in Quynh Nhai, Ngoc Chien and Muong La. In addition to traditional musical instruments passed down from generation to generation, ethnic music also has its own unique features that sometimes come from the daily life. Sometimes with just a leaf plucked from a tree branch, people can blow up a melodious song (leaf flute), or they can also create a symphony through using a pestle to tap on a wooden trough (‘dam duong’ of the Muong people).


The ethnic music of the Mong people has its own unique characteristics. If the sound of the flute is a melodious, high-pitched and resonant sound, the sound of the panpipe is deep like storytelling. Each instrument brings about a different feeling. The panpipe is considered a symbol of Mong ethnic culture. In the past, it was only used to play songs to say goodbye to the deceased, but now it is modified and combined with dancing, or staged into a performance. However, for the panpipe and other Mong ethnic musical instruments, the Mong people still retain the traditional way of making to keep the original sound.

For the Dao people, musical instruments such as drum, gong, ‘phach’ and horn must always be accompanied by bell dance and singing performed in traditional ceremonies such as ‘cap sac’ and funeral. From these rituals, excerpts are staged to serve tourism and the community's culture enjoyment needs.

 

Traditional ethnic music and instruments have long become unique materials in composing professional art performances. From single instruments, artists have creatively combined them into unique ensemble performances or used them to harmonise and arrange for contemporary musical works with folk resonance. The timbre of ethnic musical instruments or the characteristics of traditional ethnic music, when combined with contemporary music, still do not lose their own colour, creating works that are both close and familiar, and modern and strange. That's how professional artists bring art closer to the public, and contribute to preserving and promoting the traditional values of ethnic groups for today and future generations.

Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Traditional sport and folk game competition opens

    Traditional sport and folk game competition opens

    SPORTS -
    As part of a series of events celebrating the 130th founding anniversary of Son La province (October 10, 1895 – 2025), the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism opened a competition of traditional sports and ethnic folk games on October 8 morning at Tay Bac Square. The event formed part of the National Target Programme on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas .
  • 'Smart coffee farming adapts to climate change

    Smart coffee farming adapts to climate change

    BUSINESS -
    The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment on October 7-8 hosted an agricultural forum themed “Agricultural Extension Supporting Farmers in Smart Coffee Farming Adapted to Climate Change.” The event brought together over 200 participants, including experts, representative from businesses and cooperatives, and coffee growers from Son La and Dien Bien provinces.
  • 'Son La reviews proposed project on disaster prevention, landslide control, sustainable tourism in Ta Xua Cloud Paradise

    Son La reviews proposed project on disaster prevention, landslide control, sustainable tourism in Ta Xua Cloud Paradise

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    Vice Chairman of the Son La provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Cong on October 7 chaired a meeting with Ta Xua Skyline JSC to review the company’s proposal seeking approval to study, survey, and implement a project on disaster prevention, landslide control, and sustainable tourism development in Ta Xua Cloud Paradise, Ta Xua commune. The meeting was attended by representatives from relevant provincial departments, agencies, and the Ta Xua commune People’s Committee.
  • 'Over 1,000 people participate in blood donation day

    Over 1,000 people participate in blood donation day

    SOCIETY -
    The Son La provincial Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation coordinated with the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to organise the 2025 Voluntary Blood Donation Day, under the slogan “Donate Blood to Save Lives – Donate Regularly” at Tay Bac University on October 5.
  • 'Meeting celebrates 95th anniversary of Vietnam Women’s Union

    Meeting celebrates 95th anniversary of Vietnam Women’s Union

    SOCIETY -
    The Son La Vietnamese Women’s Association – Connecting Women from All Places on October 5 held a gathering to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Women’s Union (October 20, 1930 – 2025). The event was attended by over 120 members from grassroots-level women’s organisations across the province.
  • 'Workshop seeks to develop agroforestry livelihood models, sustainable green tourism

    Workshop seeks to develop agroforestry livelihood models, sustainable green tourism

    BUSINESS -
    The Son La provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations, in collaboration with the provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund, on October 2 organised a consultation workshop on building a project to promote agroforestry livelihood models and sustainable green tourism funded by forest environmental service payments of the community in Ngoc Chien commune.
  • 'Mai Son commune launches Lifelong Learning Week 2025

    Mai Son commune launches Lifelong Learning Week 2025

    SOCIETY -
    The People’s Committee of Mai Son commune launched the Lifelong Learning Week 2025, themed “Learn to develop yourself, master knowledge and technology, and contribute to building a strong and prosperous nation,” at Mai Son High-Quality Secondary School on October 2.
  • 'Outstanding cooperative in agricultural production

    Outstanding cooperative in agricultural production

    BUSINESS -
    In the vibrant emulation atmosphere among units and localities across the province to celebrate the 6th Son La provincial Patriotic Emulation Congress in 2025, the May 19 Agricultural Development Service Cooperative in Van Son ward shows the spirit of industrious working. Outside in the fields, cooperative members diligently tend to rows of organic vegetables, as well as plum, grape, peach, and strawberry trees. Inside the processing workshop, modern machinery operates day and night, producing delicious batches of dried fruit.