VA ~ Vietnam - Laos ☆ Gongs [Playasound, 2002]

PS 65256

01 johai hrap ~ announcement that buffalo are about to be sacrificed
02 mnong rlam ~ inauguration of a new house
03 gie trieng ~celebration
04 bahnar ~ sacrifice to the spirit of the communal house
05 lawae ~ celebration
06 jorai hrap ~ summoning the spirits
07 thai ~ celebration
08 bahnar ~ sacrifice to the spirit of the communal house
09 talieng ~ celebration
10 jorai hrap ~ sacrificing the buffalo
11 ede ~ inauguration of a new house
12 muong ~ celebration
13 banhar ~ sacrifice to the spirit of the communal house
14 thai ~ funeral
15 jorai hrap ~ funeral
16 nghe ~ sacrifice to the spirit of the communal house
17 lawae ~ celebration
18 banhar ~ sacrifice to the spirit of the communal house
19 talieng ~ celebration
20 jorai hrap ~ ceremony of leaving the grave
21 thai ~ funeral
22 banhar ~ funeral
23 mnong rlam ~ funeral
24 oy ~ celebration
25 bahnar ~ funeral

Recorded By, Liner Notes, Photography - Patrick Kersalé, 2001, Syrinx Academy



Flat gongs & bossed gongs played by ethnique minorities of Laos & Vietnam, where gong ensembles take part in various rites relating to the spirits [yang] & to the dead, but also in simple celebrations. The gongs have various functions. They may be used to summon, invite & satisfy beneficent spirits, serving as a means of communicating with them & as a musical offering, & they may be used to exorcise evil spirits. They are also used to create a mood of conviviality, providing a lively accompaniment for the ritual dances [themselves offerings to the spirits] & bringing people closer together. The inauguration of a new house, a funeral, the 'ceremony of the dead leaving of the grave' [a rite accompanying the departure of the deceased person's soul to the dead], the welcoming of a guest, family reunions & so on all provide opportunities to bring out the gongs. With the changing of beliefs over the years & the assimilation of imported religions, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the function of communicating with the beyond & that of pure festivity. The various ceremonies are generally accompanied by the drinking of copious amounts of rice beer, a slightly alcoholique drink kept in traditional jars.

Each ethnique group has its own orchestral arrangement & its own style of playing. Some ensembles possess only flat gongs, others only bossed gongs & some use both types. The number of gongs in each ensemble varies from two to more than 20. It may therefore be said that the villagers in these regions of south-east asia have a veritable 'gong culture' & the reverberations punctuate their lives from the cradle to da grave.



get it ong. banga gong. just spent a good minute tagging & typing for my own arkhives so aye hope you appreciate this one as much as eye dew. desperately needed to banish some bickering bats from me belfry recently & this was a most efficacious soundtraq. equally great for sacrifice, funerals, celebrations & exhumations of every variety eyed imagine. masterfully ripped by brother Janas at a resonant 320k including the indispensible booklet