I spent 2 days last week in the Mekong Delta visiting Vinh Long (city) and Vinh Xuan (village in outskirts), the latter being professor Phong's hometown. It was the anniversary of his maternal grandmother's death. Many of his family members, a good number of whom are musicians, were home for the commemoration. Professor Phong's brothers and nieces played some Tai Tu music characterstic of Southern Vietnam. Most Tai Tu instruments are now amplified, including the traditional instruments dan bau and dan nguyet, along with the singer's voice. A popular addition to the Tai Tu ensemble is a modified electric guitar. It has 6 strings but tuned in fifths/fourths/octave, and has the wood between the frets hollowed out to allow for pitch bending. Funny how guitars have a knack for adapting to whatever culture they find themselves in. I also visited a pottery village, shipyard, and longan smoking village on An Binh island on the Cuu Long River.
Vinh Xuan River
view from Prof Phong's front yard
crossing the river
rice paddies
rice husks to feed the kiln
feeding kiln
unloading clay
pottery worker's quarters
this little boy tried to sell me sand
living quarters
on the Cuu Long River
shipyard
newly built ship
outside longan smoking house
preparing longans to be smoked
sorting longans
I recorded the Tai Tu music (about 50 minutes) and will post excerpts when I get a chance.
0 comments:
Post a Comment