Gong is not a special musical instrument only in
Vietnam, but also in many other countries. However, for peoples in Tay
Nguyen (Tây Nguyên), Vietnam, it becomes a sacred object connecting
closely with human spiritual life.
Performing gongs in Gia Lai
Gia
Rai people and Ba Na people - 02 peoples occupy the generality in Gia
Lai, they do not consider gong as only a musical instrument, but also a
means by that they can get in touch with Gods on festivals. In Gia Lai,
gong is called "ching" by Gia Rai people. However, each region has
different names such as Gia Rai Chor people (at Ayun Pa, Ia Pa) call it
"Chinh du", Gia Rai Arap (at Chu Pah) call gongs without buttons by
"ching", gongs with buttons by "chieng" ("chiêng") and when they merger
together into a set of gongs, they will be called "ching chieng"
("ching chiêng").
Coming
to Gia Lai, you should visit inherited property Mo H''ra belonging to
Kon Long Khong commune, K''Bang suburban, which still stores such a lot
of cultural characters of Ba Na people that you cannot find out
anywhere.
Gongs have
become valuable assets to Gia Rai people and Ba Na people for a long
time. In addition, they are a symbol of spiritual wealth on these
peoples because according to their opinions, any family which has a lot
of small jars and gongs is worthy holding the position of a chieftain
of their village.
The beating way of Gia Rai people observes the
traditional beating way that is each person beats one and everybody
carry out combined well-balanced operations in a team using one or many
sets of gongs.
Mo H''ra village has about 40 valuable sets of
gongs, among that, the most famous kind is Honh gong. You are very
surprised when you can see that from 7-year-old children to the
elderly, everyone can beats gongs. Among them, there are some people
can play ancient melodies such as "Eating cattle - Sapo", "Welcome new
rice, new mountain field - Sa moc", "Grave visiting festival - Atau",
... This village has not only gongs, but is also the place storing a
lot of special customs for a long time.