Hmong Music

Music from Vietnam 3: Ethnic Minorities

For more information about this CD, please contact:

Svenska Rikskonserter
Schönfeldts gränd 1
Box 1225
111 82 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: 08-7914600

or you may purchase it online through Amazon.com.

Track 4
Ru con
(256K AIFF)
Traditional Lullaby (Trãng group) The pentatonic scale used resembles the North Vietnamese sa mac, i.e., "translated" into a western scale beginning with C becomes C, Eb, F, G, Bb.
The wind instrument with the ethereal sound, the trãng lu, is one of the many types of wind instrument in Vietnam called the Hmông flute. Strictly speaking it is more like a clarinet, though with a free reed. The soloist belongs to the White Hmông sub-group.
Track 17
Ru con trên nu'o'ng
(568K AIFF)
Lullaby Hmông (Den group) A lullaby for the child one is carrying over the mountains on the way to work:
Au... oh...
I carry you astride my hip to the terrace field,
when the mountain looks dim in the dew
Let you sleep well my child
Ah... oh...
The gill and terrace field are yours
and the whole affection
I give you.

Track 22
Tó tinh (Luon tron)
(208K AIFF)
Hmông (Den group)
The Black Hmông have their own form of mouthorgan, the khèn meò, with six pipes. This is a love song which is normally played for dancing, and the instrumentalist also performs as spirit of the dance. Otherwise it can be used to accompany songs, for ceremonies of different kinds or for amusement and entertainment.

Track 4 Ru con (256K AIFF) Traditional Lullaby (Trãng group)	The pentatonic scale used resembles the North Vietnamese sa mac, i.e., "translated" into a western scale beginning with C becomes C, Eb, F, G, Bb. The wind instrument with the ethereal sound, the trãng lu, is one of the many types of wind instrument in Vietnam called the Hmông flute. Strictly speaking it is more like a clarinet, though with a free reed. The soloist belongs to the White Hmông sub-group.
Track 17 Ru con trên nu'o'ng (568K AIFF) Lullaby Hmông (Den group)	A lullaby for the child one is carrying over the mountains on the way to work: Au... oh... I carry you astride my hip to the terrace field, when the mountain looks dim in the dew Let you sleep well my child Ah... oh... The gill and terrace field are yours and the whole affection I give you.
Track 22 Tó tinh (Luon tron) (208K AIFF) Hmông (Den group)	The Black Hmông have their own form of mouthorgan, the khèn meò, with six pipes. This is a love song which is normally played for dancing, and the instrumentalist also performs as spirit of the dance. Otherwise it can be used to accompany songs, for ceremonies of different kinds or for amusement and entertainment.