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Dan bau
| Dan
day |
Dan nhi
| Dan
tam |
Dan ty ba
|
Gongs or Cong chieng
|
Khen Mong |
K'long
put |
K'ni
|
Lithophone or Dan da
|
Mong flute or Sao
|
Moon-shaped lute or Dan nguyet
|
Tinh tau musical lute
|
Tranh zither |
Trong com
| T'rung
Dan bau is a musical instrument
that touches the heart. The music of dan bau
(one-stringed zither) should be solely for the pleasure
of its player. Don't listen to it if you are a young
woman.
This warning, probably coming from vigilant parents
wishing to protect their daughters from the emotional
appeal of love songs played on this instrument; this
gives an idea of the power and charm of its music.
According to the "Dai Nam thuc luc tien bien" the first
dan bau was made in 1770. At its first appearance it was
a very simple instrument comprised of a bamboo section,
a flexible rod, a calabash or half a coconut. After a
process of evolution and improvement, the present form
of the dan bau is a bit more sophisticated, yet still
quite simple. It consists of an oblong box-shaped sound
board, slightly narrower toward one end, with a slightly
warped top made of unvarnished soft light wood, sides
made of hard wood, and a bottom of light wood pierced
with holes for better sound. At one end of the sound
board is a flexible bamboo rod that goes through a dried
calabash whose bottom end has been cut out before being
fixed on the sounding board. At the other end of the
sounding board is a peg made of wood or metal used for
tuning. The metal string is attached to the rod and to
the peg. The pluck is a pointed stick of bamboo or
rattan.
The dan bau is usually tuned to the note C. It uses
harmonies (or overtones). When playing the musician
plucks the string while touching it lightly with the
side of his hand at a point producing a harmony. But
because the flexible rod causes the tension of the
string to vary, the pitch may be made to rise or fall,
the note may be lengthened or shortened, and trills may
be played. The technique involving the fingers of the
left hand includes vibrating, pressing, alternate
pressing and releasing. The dan bau may be played on a
scale consisting of third-tones or even quarter-tones.
The notes played by the dan bau are smooth, sweet, and
captivating. In recent years success has been achieved
in amplifying the sound, causing an increase in volume
and distance that the sound carries, while still
preserving the quality of the sound.
The instrument is played solo or to accompany a poetry
recital. During recent years, it has taken a role in
orchestral accompaniment to cheo and cai luong opera.
The dan bau has been performed on major stages in
foreign countries.
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Source: Vietnam Nation Administration of Tourism
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