Folk in Word and Music
A sound journey into long-unheard music & epics of Jrai people, an extraordinary experience of indigenous culture in the Central Highlands. A night of music and talk named by Jrai artists R’Cham Tih and Ksor Sep. They will play traditional Jrai musical instruments such as the k'ni, ting ning and t'rung and will sing hri and tell audience their Jrai epic tales, called Khan.
The two artists R’Cham Tih and Ksor Sep took the guiding roles in Nguyễn Trinh Thi's video & sound installation entitled 'Landscape #4: How to Improve the World’ which is on display at Manzi Exhibition Space until 10 Jan 2021.
About the artists
R'Cham Tih
Born and grew up in Jut Village, Gia Lai province, started playing musical instruments from a very young age. R’Cham Tih is a talented musician and craftsman, master of many Central Highlands instruments such as Ting Ning, K’ni, T’rung and K’loong Put. Even named his children after the musical instruments, Tih devoted himself to the preservation and development of traditional music of Jrai and the Central Highlands as well. He is also a passionate teacher who becomes an inspiration for local young generation.
Ksor Sep.
born and upbringing up in Brel village, Gia Lai province, Ksor Sep started learning to tell Khan (epic) and sing Hri at the age of 15. It is the customs that the Jrai people gathered every night to sing Hri and tell Khan after their hardworking day on the fields. Nowadays this ancient tradition seem to disappear and there's hardly anyone who can sing Hri and remember any epics. Ksor Sep is probably the last person in his village. With a wonderful oral memory, Sep is indeed a treasure trove of indigenous knowledge of the Jrai people. Unfortunately, since his village has stopped to practice any traditional rituals, Sep no longer has a chance to gather with the villagers, drink some wine and tell them epics as before.
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