Keeper of the Mountain's Voice

Halfway up the mountain in Phieng Den village, Quang Bach commune, the sound of the Mong flute resounds as if telling the story of spring, many love markets, and unfinished relationships. The flute player is Mr. Chao Phai Lu - an "unqualified artist", but can play many traditional musical instruments and, in particular, he also hand-crafts the flute, jew's harp, etc. from bamboo, reed, and forest wood.

Mr. Chao Phai Lu performs Mong ethnic musical instruments.

Following the Secretary of the Youth Union of Quang Bach commune, we visited Mr. Chao Phai Lu, who is affectionately called by the villagers as “Mr. Lu the Musical Instrument”. From afar, we could hear the melodious, sweet, sometimes passionate sound. Inside the flickering fire in the kitchen, Mr. Lu was gently gliding his skillful fingers on the flute he had made himself.

His family's traditional wooden house is hung with many musical instruments such as: panpipes, two-stringed fiddles, flutes... each one is polished and polished.

Mr. Lu said that since he was a child, he loved his ethnic musical instruments. Whether he was herding buffaloes and cows, or going to the fields or forests, he always carried with him a mouth harp, panpipe or bamboo flute.

The first musical instrument he learned and used was the Mong flute. Later, because of his passion, he learned from friends and artisans in the village and became proficient in playing other musical instruments, such as: the Erhu, Tinh, Mong flute, leaf flute, pi le...

According to Mr. Lu, many Mong ethnic musical instruments are very difficult to make. To play them well and use them skillfully, in addition to talent, it takes a lot of time. As for him, because of his passion, he researched and learned by himself, gradually breathing life into the instruments, so that each time the flute or panpipe sounds, it is convincing and attracts listeners.

When we expressed our wish to hear him play the two-stringed fiddle or the flute, Mr. Lu happily played the two-stringed fiddle and performed the song in the Mong language, “Pure Love,” with smooth, melodious melodies: “Hey, my dear! For years I’ve been sending my love/I love you so much but I haven’t dared to say it/Come with me to the love market” ...

"Keeping the spirit of the mountain", teaching children to love traditional musical instruments

To preserve the cultural identity of the Mong people, Mr. Lu taught some musical instruments to his son, Chao My Giang.

Chao My Giang shared: My father is very good at playing the flute and the panpipe, so since I was little I have listened to many musical instruments and liked the Mong flute the most. Since 6th grade, I have learned to play the flute. At first it was very difficult, but with a lot of practice, I am now quite proficient and can play many songs with the Mong flute. I will learn some other traditional musical instruments such as the Mong flute and the Tinh lute...

Mr. Chao Phai Lu is self-taught and can play many different musical instruments.

Mr. Lu also teaches children in the village for free. Every summer, his small house resounds with the sounds of children practicing flute playing, young people practicing panpipe dancing...

“There was a kid who, after learning to play the flute, also asked to learn the jew’s harp. That made me happy,” Mr. Chao Phai Lu shared.

Over the years, Mr. Chao Phai Lu has actively participated in the mass arts movement. He has been invited many times to participate in local art performances and competitions...

His son, Chao My Giang, also regularly participates in art programs at school and in the locality. At the 2024 Young Artists Festival, Giang performed the Mong flute solo “Spring in the Mong Village” and won the award for best musical instrument.

Ms. Lieu Thi Nhat Le, Secretary of the Youth Union of Quang Bach commune, shared: Recently, the locality has also promoted and encouraged Mr. Chao Phai Lu and his family to continue to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group, while teaching the younger generation to know and use their ethnic musical instruments, to maintain the cultural identity of the ethnic groups in the area.

Without asking for a title or a certificate, the Mong ethnic man still truly “preserves the soul of the mountain” - with his calloused hands, with his heart that loves his ethnic culture. On the way back, the song of that multi-talented “artist” still echoed in our ears: “Your figure is as beautiful as a fresh flower, your smile is as smooth as the flowers on the hill… ho… ho…!”.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202510/nguoi-giu-thanh-am-cua-nui-9400188/