T’rung – the folk-musical instrument
authentically Vietnamese

1. The cultural origin of the traditional T’rung:

It is difficult to know exactly when T’rung appeared for the first time. The creation of this special folk-musical instrument is an hymn of labour and spirit of the Vietnamese ethnic groups for living and developing.
When human had been living in wild age, they had both to work for living and to struggle with nature for existence. Tools for chasing were made from raw natural materials such as stone, clay, bamboo, trees, leafs… Among them, ones made from sharpened bamboo tubes accidentally collided each other in being used and had created joyful sounds. At that period, people did not have yet lot of entertaining activities after one hard working day. Stone drum appeared much later when primitive society was developed with divine worship custom. So it was a great joy when the first T'rung formed.
Music springs from labour for living. In Vietnam, there are many bamboos that early became a symbol of country and nation’s spirit. Many legends and historical stories hold a beautiful image of bamboo.
When the old Viet’s society had been growing, Vietnamese villages were traditionally formed behind rows of bamboo. Almost Vietnamese people’s life is attached to bamboo and its products of daily use.
Referring to folk-musical instruments made by bamboo in Vietnam, we can draw a list with flute, monochord, T’rung, Klongput, pan-pipe… Among them, T’rung is appreciated as a favourite and original one. It is a communally symbol and typically Vietnamese. The sound is lively beautiful.
While flute and pan-pipe are usually used for expressing love feelings, T’rung is always served for the merry gauds, especially in the Highland tribes. That is why the Vietnamese ethnic groups called it happy music as it brings all the joyful sounds.
T’rung musical instrument is made by hanging the different pointed bamboo tubes on one shelf. During creation, they aware of different sounds between the small tubes and the big ones. When placing them in an order, they attain a great sounds current. Each tube speaks "t’rung" when being knocked on. That is why this folk-musical instrument is called T’RUNG. On this shelf, it would be hanged over different sound systems according to each user’s need.
Basically, a traditional folk-musical T’rung is made by the sharpened bamboo tubes. They are linked on one shelf in an order from low to high sound offering a beautiful sound wave.

2. Le May T’rung Musical Instrument

Le May T’rung Musical instrument is a mini one created by Composer Le May who is well-known in the folklore music world in Viet Nam. Product is totally made by hand and minimized a hundred times from the original instrument of the Highland tribes. THE CREATOR IS THE FIRST PERSON CREATING SUCCESSFULLY the EXACT and GOOD SOUND on the very small musical tubes. He is also the first one using bamboo branches to create a natural and attractive shelf for the above said musical instruments.
The letters: H-D-E-G-A.. stands for musical spots: Si, Re, Mi, Sol, La…(5 sound) that is five-scale, special character of the Asian music, including music of the Highland Vietnam. Especially, each shelf was checked and confirmed by signature of a professional executant to guarantee of correct sounds before being packed in box.
LeMay T’rung musical instrument is an original musical instrument of Vietnamese folk art. This is a nice gift for starting first lessons of music basis.

REGISTERED OF COPY RIGHT AT VIETNAM COMPANY OF COPYRIGHT (MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION) NO: 308/VH/HBH, SIGNED BY DIRECTOR NGUYEN THUONG THUAN.

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