Pentatonic music and dragon dance, cultural heritage of Khmer people in Dong Nai

(DN) - Dong Nai, the land of 51 ethnic groups, is also the place that preserves one of the unique cultural "treasures": Khmer's pentatonic music and dance. These are not only art forms, but also a link between the community, a source of pride and a witness to a long-standing culture.

Music of 5 Elements

 

Practice space and musical instruments in the pentatonic orchestra at Soc Lon Pagoda (Loc Hung commune). Photo: Tu Huy

Pentatonic music is made from five basic materials: wood, bronze, iron, leather and air. Each material creates a distinct tone, when combined together, it creates a musical space that is both solemn, melodious and resonant. Pentatonic music has become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the Khmer community. In 2019, Pentatonic music was officially recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage - a worthy affirmation of the lasting value and strong vitality of this art form.

In 2010, Wat Phum Thom (Soc Lon Pagoda, Loc Hung Commune, Dong Nai Province) invited a music teacher from Soc Trang Province (old) to assemble an orchestra and teach its first students. After 15 years, the pagoda has built 3 pentatonic bands with nearly 30 members. Currently, the members still maintain practice, guide the next generation and perform at festivals. "The teacher teaches little by little, sentence by sentence and then puts them together into a song. When I learned to play this instrument, I felt very happy and proud" - Lam Thanh Nhan (Loc Hung Commune), a member of the newest band at Soc Lon Pagoda shared.

Pentatonic music creates a unique color at community festivals. Photo: Tu Huy

The sounds of the pentatonic scale not only resonate within the Khmer community's festivals, but also reach far and wide, participating in many major cultural exchange events.

At the Cultural Exchange Camp of the Central Highlands, Central and Southeast provinces at Phat Quoc Van Thanh Pagoda (Binh Long Ward, Dong Nai ) in 2024, gathering nearly 3,000 people from 20 ethnic groups, a pentatonic band from Soc Lon Pagoda participated in performing special performances. The pentatonic music sounded like an introduction to Khmer culture to friends of ethnic groups.

Venerable Lam Chani, Cultural Board of Soc Lon Pagoda, affirmed: “Our goal is to bring pentatonic music closer to the community, promote this intangible beauty, so that other ethnic groups can understand and appreciate Khmer culture more.”

Dragon Dance - Epic Dance, the Power of Faith

If the pentatonic music is the sound of the spirit, the dragon dance is a visual image, a dance that tells an epic story. The Khmer call it Yak Roam, a type of ancient dance drama based on the epic Reem Ke, a work similar to the Indian Ramayana. In that dance drama, good and evil are clearly shown through the characters: prince, princess, monkey god Hanuman and dragons - the embodiment of evil forces.

The special feature of the dragon dance is the combination of colorful costumes, symbolic masks and decisive, graceful and powerful dance movements. In Khmer festivals, the dragon dance is often performed to pray for peace, ward off evil spirits and affirm people's attachment to Buddhism.

Dragon dance costume. Photo: Tu Huy

At the Sima festival at Sirivansa Pagoda (Binh Phuoc Ward), the dragon dance team made the festival space more sacred. The music, the eyes through the masks, and each graceful gesture created a magical space, attracting all eyes.

Mr. Lam Phuong, an artist who has been involved in the dance for many years, shared: “In the past, wherever Buddha went, the monkey god followed to protect him. The monkey dance was to pave the way for Buddha. But to be able to dance it is not easy, you have to practice persistently and regularly, and gradually you will master it.”

Keep the fire burning and spread the heritage

In the flow of modern life, preserving traditional art forms is not simple. But in Dong Nai, the efforts of the Khmer community have shown a resilient spirit. They not only keep it for themselves but also bring their heritage to introduce and exchange, to become a part of the multi-identity picture of the community of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Pentatonic music and the dance of the dragon are therefore not only artistic performances, but also stories of national pride and the responsibility of the younger generation in continuing the heritage. Each sound and each dance beat is a testament to the longevity of Khmer culture, deeply permeating spiritual life, becoming a source of strength connecting the community, fostering love for the homeland, and adding motivation for today's development journey.

The Chan dance is a combination of colorful costumes, symbolic masks and decisive, graceful and powerful dance movements. Photo: Tu Huy

Heritage, once preserved with love and pride, will never fade away. In Dong Nai, the five-tone music and the dance rhythm still resonate and shine, as an affirmation that: Traditional culture always has a firm place in people's hearts, despite all changes of time.

Lyna Phan

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202509/nhac-ngu-am-va-mua-chan-di-san-van-hoa-cua-dong-bao-khmer-tren-dat-dong-nai-59a130e/