The soulful voice of the mountains
In Nghe Village, Cao Minh Commune, 84-year-old elder Hoang Minh Tan is revered for his lifelong devotion to the ‘khen’. He recalls being captivated by its sound as a child, watching his father and other elders perform at village festivals, markets, and ceremonies. Over time, the ‘khen’ became an inseparable part of his life.
To Elder Tan, the ‘khen’ is more than a musical instrument—it is a confidant, a storyteller, and the voice of the community. It connects people with the heavens, the earth, and their ancestors.
He began playing and dancing with the ‘khen’ in the 1970s and, three years later, took up the challenging craft of making the instrument. Constructing a ‘khen’ is no easy feat, and mastering its melody and rhythm is even more demanding.
Each spring, during the local festival atop Mu La, Elder Tan is invited to perform the ‘khen’ dance. His music mingles with the clouds and mountain winds, often playing matchmaker for young Mong couples who find love through the traditional dance.
‘Khen’ is more than a musical instrument—it is a confidant, a storyteller, and the voice of the community. It connects people with the heavens, the earth, and their ancestors.
According to Elder Tan, the graceful movements of the ‘khen’ dance symbolise the resilience of mountain life—where mist swirls and winds bite year-round. The dance mimics sowing seeds, harvesting crops, warding off wild animals, and the blossoming of love between young men and women. Though it may appear simple, the dance requires seamless coordination of hands, feet, breath, and body.
In Lung Nghe Village, Elder Ly Van Vu shares a similar passion. Blinded by illness at the age of six, he never let darkness dim his love for the ‘khen’. At 18, he learned to play and craft the instrument under the guidance of village elders. Through perseverance, he became a master of both.
At 26, still unmarried, Elder Vu travelled to Bao Lam in Cao Bang Province. There, the enchanting sound of Elder Tan’s ‘khen’ captivated a local woman’s heart—uniting them in marriage through music.
Sustaining the legacy of ’khen’
In the tranquil Mong villages, devoted individuals work tirelessly to preserve their cultural heritage. Elders Tan and Vu have performed across provinces, their weathered hands still shaping and playing the ‘khen’ with unwavering dedication.
They continue to practice daily, urging the younger generation to embrace and safeguard this treasured tradition.
“The ‘khen’ has a magical voice,” says Elder Tan. “It speaks the heart of a young man. Through its music and dance, a girl can sense whether he is strong, hardworking, and kind enough to care for her all his life.”
In 2014, Elder Tan co-founded a club dedicated to reviving the ‘khen’. Now with 28 members and Tan as its leader, the club nurtures a new generation of enthusiasts.
The ‘khen’ is more than music - it is a heartfelt call to friendship, a thread that binds people together.
Among them is Duong Van Minh, a ninth-grade student who began learning the ‘khen’ at the age of eight. Despite living many kilometres from Elder Tan, Minh makes the journey regularly to study under his guidance. He also receives mentorship from Ly Hong Quan, another skilled player in the commune.
Minh has performed at numerous events within and beyond the province. He spent his summer holidays learning from Elder Tan and now aspires to attend an arts and culture school.
“My dream is to return home and develop the ‘khen’ and its craftsmanship,” Minh shares. “I want to preserve what our ancestors always hoped we would—our traditional Mong ‘khen’.”
The ‘khen’ is more than music—it is a heartfelt call to friendship, a thread that binds people together. On the misty summit of Mu La, master artisans not only perform with grace but also craft each instrument with care. Their passion ensures that the soul of Mong music continues to echo far and wide.
