Explaining a Traditional Musical Instrument: The Đàn Bầu

Prompt: Explaining a Traditional Musical Instrument: The Đàn Bầu

Exposition on a Traditional Musical Instrument: The Đàn Bầu
 

I. Outline of the Exposition on a Traditional Musical Instrument: The Đàn Bầu

1. Introduction

- Introducing the traditional musical instrument, the Đàn Bầu.

2. Body

a. Origin, History:
- Regarded as the 'soul of the Vietnamese people,' it has always been at the forefront of traditional musical instruments in Vietnam.
- It has appeared in the nation's history for thousands of years.

b. Structure:
- It has a relatively simple structure, consisting of a resonator (sound box) made of bamboo or wood, a handle to produce pitch, and a single string, without frets, classified as a plucked string instrument.
- The resonator or sound box is usually made of rosewood, with a total length ranging from about 110-115cm, a height of about 10.5 cm, with one end of the box larger in diameter at 12.5cm containing the sound dish, and the other end tapering smaller at about 9.5cm.
- The handle, also known as the neck, is the main part to produce pitch, made of flexible buffalo horn, with a length ranging from 50 - 70 cm, attached to the small end of the sound box, passing through the resonator.
- The strings, traditionally made of twisted silk or nylon, nowadays replaced with nylon strings and more recently with metal strings.
- The bầu or gourd, made from the knob of a gourd or crafted from wood.
- The string part serves as a bridge when firmly tied to the larger end containing the sound dish, extending along the resonator then tied to the handle at the smaller end, the junction of the gourd and the handle.
- The plectrum, made of bamboo, hornbeam, coconut shell, softwood, shaped into a stick with a length of 4 - 4.5 cm.

c. Sound Characteristics:
- It has a wide range of tones spanning 3 octaves, but the best is around 2 octaves, with a round, smooth, clear, deep, and enticing sound.
- To fully demonstrate the beauty of the đàn bầu, artists must master techniques such as plucking, hammering, pressing, caressing, slapping, stroking, vibrating, jerking,...

d. Đàn bầu in culture and art:
- It is one of the musical instruments used to accompany Xam singing, as well as frequently used in solo performances, combined with other traditional musical instruments in Tuong, Cheo, Water Puppetry, Hue chamber music, Don Ca Tai Tu, Cai Luong stages, and in ensemble performances of traditional musical instruments.
- Nowadays, the đàn bầu even transcends traditional boundaries to enter the realm of modern music in compositions influenced by homeland melodies, folk songs, or becomes a special highlight in popular contemporary music pieces.
- It becomes a source of inspiration in poetry and music.

3. Conclusion

Expressing impressions.

II. Sample Essay Thematic Essay on a Traditional Musical Instrument: Đàn bầu

'My country's land, tranquil with the sound of the đàn bầu
Hearing the gentle pain of mother
Three times bidding farewell, twice silently weeping
The others do not return, only mother silently waits...'

Alongside the 'folk songs', 'mother's lullabies', 'flute sounds', 'bamboo flutes', 'straw roofs', 'waterfronts'... the sound of the đàn bầu has become a symbol representing the image of the country. The sacred, deep, melodious music bears sadness, taking us back to childhood days, back to the traditional cultural space of the nation with a very 'homeland' atmosphere, though simple, humble yet containing many sweet emotions akin to the mother's embracing heart. Surely, when mentioning unique and remarkable traditional musical instruments, one would never forget to give the đàn bầu a priority position.

Mentioning the đàn bầu means mentioning a unique musical instrument, with its 'deep, mournful sound' intimately familiar with Vietnamese rural villages, also the most purely Vietnamese musical instrument without borrowing, imitating, or deriving from any other type of musical instrument in the world. The đàn bầu itself carries a unique shape, a strange sound, along with the most unique performance style, considered the 'soul of the Vietnamese people', always standing at the forefront among traditional musical instruments in Vietnam. In terms of origin, the đàn bầu has appeared in the nation's history for thousands of years. Famous for the story of the filial daughter, wholeheartedly shedding tears to sacrifice herself to the demon to save her mother-in-law on their way to a safe haven, ultimately being gifted a đàn bầu by a fairy. And that đàn bầu helped the mother and daughter overcome difficult days, finally reuniting with the husband named Trương Viên returning from battle. Speaking of the origin of this musical instrument, in the Complete Annals of Đại Việt by Ngô Sĩ Liên, there is a quite detailed passage: 'the Đàn Bầu originated from the Red River Delta region then brought by Vietnamese people to Guangxi, China. The Đàn Bầu was inspired by the folk game 'ground drum' of children, where they dig holes and stretch strings across the ground; when struck, it produces a resonant sound. Our ancestors had keen observation and sensitive hearing, so the sound of 'bung bung' from the stretched strings on the ground created the idea of forming a musical instrument made from bamboo tubes and dried gourds with a single string.' From folklore tales to historical records, we can see one common point that the đàn bầu is indeed a traditional musical instrument of the people since ancient times, closely tied to the labor life of the people and the village culture. It is a unique creative achievement of our nation in the process of developing various forms of art and entertainment through many generations.

In terms of structure, the đàn bầu is one of the musical instruments with a fairly simple structure, consisting only of a resonator box (soundbox) made of bamboo or wood, a neck to produce pitch, and a single string, without any frets. Therefore, the đàn bầu is classified into the chordophone category and belongs to the plucked string family, where the musician uses frets to pluck and the string produces sound. Regarding the structure and materials for crafting the resonator or soundboard, they are divided into two types: wooden boxes or bamboo boxes; however, nowadays, with relatively affluent economic conditions, as well as the essential requirements of sound, the use of bamboo material is no longer common, and the đàn bầu is mainly made of wood. Today, the soundboard or resonator box is often made of jackfruit wood, with a total length ranging from about 110-115cm, a height of about 10.5 cm, with one end of the box larger with a diameter of 12.5cm containing the sound bowl, and the other end tapering smaller to about 9.5cm. On the resonator box, some decorations or carvings can be engraved to enhance the aesthetic value as well as the value of the instrument. The second important part is the neck or neck of the instrument, the main part to produce pitch, made of flexible bamboo horn, now replaced by buffalo horn with a length of 50 - 70 cm, attached to the small end of the resonator box, passing through the gourd. In terms of the strings, in the past, they were often made of hemp strings or twisted strings, but nowadays, people have switched to using silk strings, and most recently, metal strings, to increase durability and improve sound quality. As for the sound bowl, the origin of the name 'đàn bầu' in reality has no function in creating sound, but its main purpose is to make the instrument less empty and cover the joint between the string and the neck to add aesthetic value. This part is often made from the knob of a gourd ('gourd knob') or crafted from wood. Regarding the relationship between the parts, the string part becomes the bridge when securely tied to the larger end containing the sound bowl of the resonator box, stretched along the soundboard then tied to the neck at the small end, the junction of the gourd and the neck. Additionally, to play the đàn bầu, the musician needs a bow, made of bamboo, willow, coconut shell, or soft wood, shaped into a stick with a length of 4 - 4.5 cm.

In terms of sound nuances, the đàn bầu encompasses a wide range of octaves, but it excels most notably around the 2nd octave, producing a rounded, smooth, clear, deep, and enchanting sound that easily transports individuals back to serene, heartfelt rural landscapes. To fully showcase the beauty of the đàn bầu, artists must master techniques such as plucking to enhance resonance, pressing, caressing, tapping, stroking, pulling, vibrating, bending,... Especially when playing, one must release soul and melody, expressing music in a subtle manner, with each piece conveying different melodic states from melancholy, longing, to sweetness, affection, then vitality, joyfulness, or gentleness, profound like the lullabies of the countryside. It can be said that, despite its simple structure, the đàn bầu is not an easy-to-play, easy-to-feel musical instrument, but rather demands skill and passion from the artist for this unique traditional instrument.

In Vietnamese culture and art, in the primitive era, the đàn bầu was one of the musical instruments used to accompany Xẩm singing, while also being frequently used in solo performances. Later, with the strong development of other art forms, along with innovative creativity, the đàn bầu was also integrated with other traditional musical instruments on stages such as Tuồng, Chèo, Water Puppetry, Hue Chamber Music, Đờn ca Tài tử, Cải Lương, and in ethnic musical ensemble performances. Today, the đàn bầu has even surpassed traditional boundaries to enter the realm of modern music, in compositions imbued with homeland, folk melodies, or becoming special highlights in popular contemporary music, leaving impressions on different generations. In literature, the đàn bầu has also entered poetic works such as the verse 'My country's land, tranquil with the sound of the đàn bầu' by poet Tạ Hữu Yên when depicting the image of the homeland. The đàn bầu has also become a new source of inspiration for composers such as Trần Tiến with the piece 'Mysterious Solo', Nguyễn Đình Phúc, Lữ Giang with 'The Sound of the Đàn Bầu',... all of which are excellent works, expressing the appreciation and understanding of the Vietnamese people for this unique and unparalleled musical instrument.

It can be said that the đàn bầu is a unique creative achievement, a sacred crystallization of the Vietnamese traditional cultural heritage, which through thousands of years of dedication, has become increasingly profound and clear. Listening to the sounds of the đàn bầu, one imagines a tranquil, sweet mother's lullaby, envisioning the slender, affectionate figure of the homeland, the earnest, deep sound of the đàn bầu, gently reminding us of a country that has endured much suffering in the past. And finally, the diversity in tone, flexibility in melody of the đàn bầu evoke the richness of Vietnamese intonation, the voice of our people. The đàn bầu is truly a delicate musical instrument, worthy of preservation and further development.

Here we have introduced to you a type of traditional musical instrument - the đàn bầu. In addition to the essay Exposition about a traditional musical instrument: Đàn bầu, you can hone your essay writing skills about an object through practice with topics such as: Exposition about how to make a paper kite, Exposition about household items, Exposition about the bicycle, Exposition about the lantern.