Music, an indispensable part of the spiritual life of Vietnamese people, is likened to food nourishing the soul. Vietnamese music proudly possesses a rich and diverse heritage, clearly reflecting the unique cultural identity of the nation.
A prominent feature of Vietnamese music is its diverse development across regions. From North to South, each region has its own distinct musical melodies, creating unique characteristics that cannot be confused, contributing to the overall picture of Vietnamese cultural identity. This richness in music has led to the diversity of musical instruments. According to statistics, Vietnam has hundreds of different types of musical instruments, from instruments created locally, imbued with indigenous characteristics, to instruments imported from various paths, but have been nationalized and localized to suit the musical aesthetics of Vietnamese people.
Embarking on a Journey to Explore Unique National Instruments
Đàn Tranh – The Sound of Silk Echoing the Vietnamese Soul
Đàn Tranh, also known as the sixteen-string zither, is a traditional instrument with a rectangular body about 110–120cm long. The instrument has a large head with holes for attaching strings and a small head with pegs for tuning, the number of strings ranging from 16 to 25 depending on the type.
The soundboard is made of paulownia wood, about 0.05–0.1cm thick, combined with bridges (nhạn – wild geese shaped) in the middle to support the strings and adjust the sound. The strings are made of metal with various sizes. To play the đàn tranh, people use picks made of metal, tortoiseshell, or horn.
Vietnamese Dan Tranh Zither
The sound of the đàn tranh is clear, resonant, and is often used for solo performances, ensembles, accompanying singing, reciting poetry, or in tài tử music ensembles and concerts with other traditional instruments.
Sáo Trúc – The Soul of the Countryside in Each Note
The sáo trúc, or bamboo flute, a familiar image in Vietnamese culture and spiritual life, has long appeared in folk poetry and music. Flutes are usually made of bamboo or trúc (a type of bamboo), with a diameter of about 1.5cm and a length of 30cm.
The sáo trúc is capable of conveying music in a gentle and emotional way, with a wide range of two octaves. The sound of the sáo trúc is bright, melodious, and cheerful, bringing a feeling of relaxation and peace.
The sáo trúc is often used for solo performances or ensembles with symphony orchestras, traditional orchestras, chamber music, and even in modern music.
Đàn Bầu – The Heartfelt Voice of the Nation
Đàn bầu, or monochord, is a unique traditional Vietnamese instrument. The instrument is played with a plectrum or pick and comes in two main types: the bamboo body đàn bầu and the wooden box đàn bầu.
The bamboo body đàn bầu is often used in Xẩm singing, with the body made from a section of bamboo about 120cm long and about 15cm in diameter. The wooden box đàn bầu is an improved version, used by professional players, with various sizes.
The đàn bầu has one string running along the body, formerly made of silk, later replaced by an iron wire. The neck of the instrument is made of half a gourd, which helps to increase the volume of the instrument. The sound of the đàn bầu is deep, sweet, and full of emotion, touching the hearts of listeners.
Đàn Tỳ Bà – The Beauty of Asian Harmony
The đàn tỳ bà is a stringed instrument originating from China (Pipa) and Japan (Biwa). However, over time, the đàn tỳ bà has been improved to suit Vietnamese music and culture.
The soundboard of the đàn tỳ bà is made of paulownia wood, the body and neck are attached together. The instrument has a small shape, the soundboard is made of soft, light wood and left natural. The end of the body where the strings are attached is called the bridge, the body is intricately carved with the chữ thọ (longevity character) or bat images. The headstock has 4 wooden pegs for tuning.
The đàn tỳ bà is about 95–100cm long. The neck is fitted with 4 curved ivory pieces called Tứ Thiên Vương (Four Heavenly Kings) and 8 frets made of wood or bamboo. Ancient đàn tỳ bà used silk strings, while today nylon strings are commonly used.
Đàn Đáy – The Sound of Ca Trù
The đàn đáy appeared during the Lê dynasty, 15th-17th centuries, and is the longest instrument created by the Vietnamese people. The old name of the instrument was Vô để cầm, meaning a bottomless lute.
The đàn đáy is often used in ca trù singing, ả đào singing, performed with phách (bamboo clapper) and trống đế (small drum). The sound of the đàn đáy is somewhat melancholic and desolate, creating a distinctive musical space for ca trù.
The đàn đáy has 7 equal intervals, helping artists easily switch between ranges without having to tune the strings. The ability to create chùn notes (sliding notes) when pressing the frets is a unique feature of the đàn đáy.
Đàn Nguyệt – Moonlight in Music
The đàn nguyệt, also known as đàn kìm, is an instrument widely used in court music and traditional music. The đàn nguyệt originated and developed from the 11th century and is still an important instrument in Vietnamese music today.
The neck is long, the frets are high, creating a soft, nuanced sound. The sound of the đàn nguyệt is resonant, bright, deep, and rich, sometimes low, sometimes high, suitable for many genres of music.
The đàn nguyệt is used in ensembles, ritual music, and hát văn (spiritual singing). The playing style is also very diverse, it can be solo, ensemble, or accompaniment for singing.
Đàn Nhị (Đàn Cò) – The Echo of Silk Strings
The đàn nhị, or đàn cò (bowed lute), is an instrument with a long history in traditional Vietnamese folk music. The đàn nhị plays an important role in the traditional orchestra.
The name “đàn cò” (stork lute) comes from the shape of the instrument, resembling a stork with the tuning peg pointing down like a stork’s beak, the body like a stork’s body, and the neck like a stork’s neck. The sound of the instrument is cold, like the sound of a stork calling.
The đàn cò is often used in cải lương (renovated opera) orchestras, ngũ âm (five-sound) ensembles, bát âm (eight-sound) ensembles, folk songs, and tài tử music. Today, the đàn nhị is also used in sad songs and homeland songs.
Đàn Tam Thập Lục – Resounding Sound
The đàn tam thập lục, with 36 strings, is a stringed instrument belonging to the struck category of Vietnamese folk instruments. The instrument has a trapezoidal shape, the soundboard is made of soft, light wood, the middle of the soundboard is slightly arched. The sides and neck are made of hard woods.
The instrument uses metal strings and mallets made of thin, flexible bamboo, the mallet heads are wrapped in felt to make the sound softer. The sound of the đàn tam thập lục is clear, resounding, often used in cải lương orchestras, chèo (popular opera), solo performances, accompaniment for singing, or playing in general traditional orchestras.
Đàn Tam – Echoes from the Past
The đàn tam has a round body covered with python skin. In the past, the đàn tam was often played with the bát âm orchestra. Today, the đàn tam comes in many different sizes, used for various purposes.
The sound of the đàn tam is resonant, bright, warm, but in the lower ranges it is slightly dull. Therefore, the instrument is often used to play strong musical melodies.
Đàn Sến – Southern Harmonies
The đàn sến is a plucked stringed instrument originating from abroad, introduced to Vietnam and becoming a national instrument, popular in the South.
The sound of the đàn sến is bright, similar to the đàn nguyệt but clearer and less resonant. The đàn sến is often used in cải lương orchestras or tuồng (classical drama) stage performances.
Đàn Đá – Whispers of the Mountains and Forests
The đàn đá, or lithophone, is a special type of instrument, with small thin stones for high notes, and large stones for low notes. The sound of the đàn đá sounds like whispers, comforting the sorrows of life.
Đàn Gáo – Warm and Deep Tone
The đàn gáo evolved from the đàn nhị, also known as đàn hồ. The đàn gáo is larger and longer than the đàn nhị, somewhat similar to the Chinese huqin in terms of playing method and features.
The đàn gáo is made from half of a large coconut shell, covered with a wooden face to make the body.
The sound of the đàn gáo is deeper than the đàn nhị, fuller and firmer than the đàn cò, with a beautiful, warm, slightly trầm (low and deep) tone, bringing a sense of contemplation. The đàn gáo is often used in nhã nhạc (court music), tuồng, phường bát âm, chèo stage performances. It is an important instrument in hát xẩm (blind busker’s singing), and accompaniment for singing.
Đàn T’Rưng – Echoes of the Central Highlands Mountains and Forests
The Đàn T’Rưng is a traditional instrument originating in the Central Highlands. The instrument has from 5-7 hollow tubes cut to different lengths, creating different tones. Some professional Đàn T’Rưng models have from 12–16 tubes arranged in rows on the instrument.
The Đàn T’Rưng has a range of up to 3 octaves. Small, short tubes produce high notes, large tubes produce low notes. The Đàn T’Rưng has a unique timbre, the sound is not too resonant and loud.
Đàn Đoản (Đàn Tứ) – Joyful Sounds
The đàn đoản, also known as đàn tứ, đàn mặt trời, đàn nhật (short lute, four-string lute, sun lute, nhật lute), is a vertical stringed instrument, traditional to the Vietnamese people and some ethnic minorities in the North.
The đàn đoản has 4 silk strings, with 7 equally spaced frets. The sound of the đàn đoản is crisp and resonant, suitable for joyful, witty melodies. The đàn đoản is used in bát âm music, cải lương or tuồng, and in traditional orchestral ensembles.
Khèn – Call of the Mountains and Forests
The khèn is a wind instrument, with a complex structure, consisting of many bamboo tubes arranged side by side. The design of each end inserted through the gourd body, resembling a banana flower bud, acts as a khèn resonator.
The khèn is an instrument of the Mường, Thái, and H’mong ethnic groups. The Mường people use the khèn to accompany singing, the H’mong people use the khèn for courtship between boys and girls. The timbre of the khèn is crisp, different tubes will produce different timbres. Inside the tube there is a reed made of silver or thin sheet copper.
Cồng Chiêng – Soul of the Central Highlands
Cồng chiêng (gongs and cymbals) are percussion instruments belonging to the bronze category, originating from the Đông Sơn bronze culture era. Cồng chiêng are made from copper alloy mixed with lead and tin. Cồng are knobbed gongs, chiêng are flat gongs.
Smaller cồng chiêng have higher pitches, larger cồng chiêng have lower pitches. Cồng chiêng are important instruments of Vietnamese culture, associated with the image of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands.
Ethnic Minority Music Instruments – Unique Identities
Mường Ethnic Musical Instruments
Sáo ôi is a unique instrument of the Mường ethnic group, a type of vertical flute with 4 holes, made from a tép bamboo tube. The Mường people compare the sound of the sáo ôi to “The call of love”, as clear as the whispers of the wind.
Khmer Ethnic Musical Instruments
The Nhạc cụ ngũ âm (five-sound musical instrument ensemble) is a typical traditional orchestra of the Southern Khmer people, composed of 5 types of materials including bronze, iron, wood, leather, and wind. The ngũ âm orchestra is performed by 9 different types of instruments.
Tày Ethnic Musical Instruments
Đàn Tính (Tính tẩu) is a unique instrument of the Tày people, associated with the life of the Tày ethnic people during festivals, ceremonies, and courtship occasions.
Conclusion
The traditional musical instrument culture of the Vietnamese nation is a priceless treasure, which needs to be preserved and promoted. Each type of instrument has its own beauty, contributing to the diversity and richness of Vietnamese music. Learning about and exploring these instruments not only helps us better understand the national cultural identity, but also evokes pride and love for our homeland and country. Let us join hands to preserve and promote these good traditional cultural values for future generations.