|
"THEN" SONG |
The "Then" song is the
religious music of the Tay Nun minorities. The song can be considered a
religious performance of Long Poems which depict a journey to the heavens to ask
the Jade Emperor to settle troubles for the head of household.
Long Poems consist of several chapters with different content lengths. The
longest poem ever collected was 4,949 sentences with 35 chapters. The
"Then" song is a general performance of music, song, dancing, and
gestures in different circumstances. In the ceremony procession, not only must
the artist carry out religions activities, but also act as a general actor
singing, playing music, dancing, and showing gestures to demonstrate the meaning
of the sentence he is singing. Sometimes the artist also performs other
activities such as chewing cups and other things.
Music is the main element that completely penetrates the performance. Sometimes
the music is accompanied with song, and at other moments it serves as a
background for dance or connecting parts of a song.The main musical instruments
in the "Then" performance is the "Tin Tau" (a traditional
stringed musical instrument resembling a guitar) and a chain of shaking
instruments. Sometimes the band has a bell present.
All people in the Tay Nun community, regardless of their ages, sexes, and
religions are fond of the "Then" song. Some groups such as the Kinh
Mooing in the same region have also been incorporating this kind of art form in
their spiritual lives.
