Telling ethnic cultural stories through music

For nearly two decades of living and working on the Dong Van Karst Plateau, artist Nguyen Tuan Anh of the Meo Vac Commune Public Service Center has devoted himself to exploring, preserving and revitalizing traditional ethnic music. For him, each musical instrument produces more than a melody; it also carries the cultural stories and memories of a community.

From his small studio, Tuan Anh distills the sounds of the rocky highlands through music.

Born in the midland province of Phu Tho, Tuan Anh moved to Meo Vac District in 2008, beginning his career there as an art teacher at Can Chu Phin Primary School. Two years later, he transferred to the Meo Vac District Cultural Center, where he worked in sound and music arrangement. His work took him to numerous villages, where he became immersed in the cultural life of the Mong, Lo Lo, Tay, Dao and Giay ethnic groups.

Through these journeys, he realized that the region's traditional music was rich and diverse but was gradually disappearing from everyday community life. He therefore devoted considerable time to studying and learning to play traditional instruments, including the Mong flute, jaw harp, Lo Lo bronze drum, Giay drum, round lute and Mong panpipe.

The jaw harp is one of the instruments to which he has devoted the most time and effort. Alongside traditional performance techniques, Tuan Anh has experimented with combining its sound with modern musical arrangements of his own, while preserving the instrument's original tones. His works, shared on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, have helped spark young people's curiosity about the music and culture of the highlands.

At cultural programs held at the Khau Vai Love Market and Meo Vac night market, he combines the panpipe, flute, jaw harp and gong in ways suited to each setting. At venues serving international visitors, he introduces the instruments in both Vietnamese and English, explaining their origins, meanings and traditional uses. In this way, his performances have become a form of cultural exchange.

Chu Minh Quang, Director of the Meo Vac Commune Public Service Center, said Tuan Anh is deeply committed to traditional ethnic music. He not only performs but also actively studies, collects and arranges traditional music to bring cultural values closer to local people, visitors and younger generations.

Tuan Anh is currently preparing a performance combining traditional music with contemporary dance for the Lo Lo Ethnic Cultural Festival in Meo Vac. The work will recreate the great flood legend, an origin story of the Lo Lo people. Through new forms of storytelling, he hopes traditional sounds will continue to be preserved and find a place in contemporary life.

Hong Ha