(VOVworld) – The Raglai have many kinds of musical instrument - Ma La flat gongs, the Sarakel wind instrument, and the Chapi. In the Raglai’s cultural life musical instruments are treasured possessions and close friends. They appear at all important events such as ceremonies to say a last farewell to the deceased or to celebrate new rice and at performances of epics.
Raglai people sing, dance, and play Ma La flat gongs and flute |
The Lithophone has been used by the Raglai people in Khanh Son, Khanh Hoa province, for thousands of years. It is a set of stone slabs of different sizes and shapes used to make percussive melodies. At first Raglai people beat a lithophone to scare away wild animals and protect their crops. Then they developed it into a kind of musical instrument to play at community festivals. Mau Quoc Tien, a researcher of the Raglai culture in Khanh Hoa province, elaborates: “The Lithophone represents the Raglai culture. In 1979 in Goc Gao commune, Khanh Son district, researchers discovered the first 12-stone-slab lithophone. It was preserved by Bo Bo Ren, a Raglai man. Researchers say it dates back 3000 to 5000 years.”
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| Khanh Son lithophone |
Another typical musical instrument of the Raglai is the flat gong called the Ma La. Players beat flat gongs with their fists. A set of Ma La has 5, 7, or 9 gongs depending on the locality. The Raglai treasure the Ma La and name each gong according to its sound. The gong that produces the lowest pitched sound is the mother, then the father, then the children.
The Ma La’s sound is melodious and goes up and down like breaths or heart beats at solemn rituals such as grave leaving ceremonies, house warmings, and new rice celebrations. The Ma La is also played to cheer up festivals or get-togethers of relatives and friends. The Raglai say “whenever one drinks wine, one plays the Ma La.”
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| Chamaleá Âu plays the Chapi |
The Chapi is another unique instrument of the Raglai. Its sound is similar to the sound of the Ma La. It is made from a bamboo tube about 30cm long and 10cm in diameter. Because of its small size and ease of playing, all Raglai families have one.
The Raglai produce different kinds of flutes. Raglai men often blow a flute called a Ta cung, which means calling friends, or a Dinh tut or flirting flute to express love for a girl. A Tale piloi is a powerful flute played by prestigious villagers. Phan Quoc Anh is a researcher of the Raglai culture. “Musical instruments of the Raglai are diverse including gourd and Sarakel wind instruments, lithophones, Chapis, and Ma La flat gongs. These musical instruments are enjoyed by tourists because they typify the unaffected nature of folk culture.”
Music has always been an important part of the life of the Raglai. Their musical instruments are precious tangible heritages reflecting their souls and cultural values.