The beautiful sound of the Chau Yen panpipe

Yen Chau district in Son La province is famous for its sweet fragrant bananas and mangos and also for the beautiful sounds of the Thai ethnic people’s panpipes, which inspire tourists to the region.

The panpipe is a popular musical instrument created by the Thai ethnic minority people in Yen Chau, Son La.

Lu Hong Xua, one of the few artisans that make and play the panpipe in Tum village, Chieng Khoi commune, Yen Chau district, said in Thai villages, boys play panpipes to express their love to girls.

An artisan playing the panpipe. Photo: vov.vn

Together with the gong, the Tinh musical instrument, flute and strings, the panpipe remains popular among the Thai. It is played at Thai community events, festivals, competitions and performances.

Xua said that "The Thai in Yen Chau district like playing the panpipe. We play it on major occasions, at house warming ceremonies, wedding parties, and performances. We play and the people sing along. The atmosphere is very interesting and exciting. The xoe dance- a popular traditional dance of the Thai- is always accompanied by panpipes”.

To produce its beautiful sound, panpipe players need to understand the instrument’s characteristics and learn by heart its melodies and accompanying songs as well as the voices of the singers.

Lu Van Banh in Na Va village, Vieng lan commune - a senior panpipe player - said “I love the Thai panpipe of Yen Chau. I’m 67 years old now. I still play panpipe during local festivals, ceremonies and competitions. Our performances have also been filmed. The panpipe is an inseparable part of our lives. We play it when we are working and it makes us feel comfortable”.

The process of making a panpipe is as effort-consuming as that to create any masterpiece of art. Not everyone can make it properly. Making a panpipe requires skills, precision, and effort.

Artisan Xua said it’s important to select the right bamboo and materials.We choose may pao, a wild bamboo of the forest, to make a panpipe. The bamboo must come from a dry area because those in wet areas can easily wither. After that we hang the bamboo for a month to ensure that they are completely dry. We then cut them to make the pipe. Meanwhile, the box of the instrument is made from a special kind of wood called maymu which is durable. The reed is made of grass or silver and is as small as a hair. It usually takes us a day to make a panpipe.

Thai panpipe is a masterpiece of art which combines natural materials and the player’s love for the homeland. Despite changes taking place everyday, the panpipe maintains its important role in the lives of the Thai people.