Preserving and promoting the uniqueness of music in lion-cat dance

The art of lion-cat performance is a combination of many elements, in which music can be considered as its soul. With its own characteristics, the music in lion-cat dance is exploited and applied in professional music by musicians inside and outside the province. Thereby, it not only creates a unique feature for their work but also contributes to the preservation and promotion of this art form.

In lion dance performance, music leads the way. Without music, dancers seem disoriented and do not know how to move and perform. Therefore, when participating in lion dance, the user of musical instruments, or the dancer, in addition to passion, they should also be knowledgeable about music, rhythm and have a good coordination with each other to perform and change the rhythm and movements in lion dance performances.

Lion-cat dance is staged at Tan Thanh Pagoda festival, Van Lang district

Mr. Hoang Van Huy, from Hoi Hoan commune, Van Lang district said: “While musicians can only make music, each member of the lion-cat dance team like us can  use traditional musical instruments to create music sounds for lions to dance in each performance, and even can  “replace” others to perform dances, even become “musicians” to create rhythms.”

The interesting thing is that with their musical sensibility and understanding, each person when playing each instrument can create different rhythmic percussion styles can match the rest of the instruments without losing the characteristic of music in the performances.

Normally, lion-cat dance performance requires at least 3 people using musical instruments to make music: one person playing drums, 1 or 2 people playing cymbals, 1 person playing gong. Currently, in the province, the music in lion-cat dance basically has 8 songs (ways of percussion) corresponding to dances and performances, including opening, staying, walking, na linh (monkey face), bao dong (orangutan), appearing, bowing, ending. These ways of percussion  have been passed down from one generation to another by the Tay and Nung ethnic groups of Lang Son.

In recent years, the music in lion-cat dance has not only appeared among the people but also “contributed” in many art programs and musical works in the province. Exploiting musical materials in lion-cat dance, some musicians inside and outside the province have researched and selected rhythmic sounds in some types of percussion in the process of creating their musical works, or combined this type of sound with ethnic musical instruments and other art forms to create vividness and richness on the professional stage.

Musician Dinh Quang Trung, Tam Thanh ward, Lang Son city (former Deputy Director of the Provincial Arts and Culture Center) said: “The use of music material in lion-cat dance in editing, mixing, creating was done by me many years ago, at that time I was still working at the Lang Son singing – dancing – acting performance union. Up to now, when being invited to be the music director in art programs serving major events in the province, the music in lion-cat dance has always been the inspiration that contributes to most of my musical works. During the creative process, I can keep a part of the rhythm intact, or adjust it flexibly, but make sure that when the sound is played, the listener will still recognize it as a lion dance rhythm.”

People who play musical instruments in the lion cat dance

Accordingly, mainly the rhythms in the opening, walking, and bowing performances are used by musicians because they are suitable for stage. With its vibrant nature, the music in lion-cat dance when applied to the professional stage creates a climax, making the works suitable for the modern rhythm of life but they still carry a traditional national identity.

Mr. Phung Van Muon, Deputy Director of the Provincial Arts and Culture Center said: “Since 2010 up to now, the combination of music in lion-cat dance with other ethnic musical instruments in art programs has been promoted more frequently than in the previous period, accounting for over 70% of the total number of art programs implemented by the Center in the year. Especially in programs serving early spring, major holidays, anniversaries of the province… this kind of music is always used..

Exciting and joyful music in lion-cat dance is the first element that creates an impression and attracts the attention of viewers. The introduction of lion-cat dance music into professional art in recent years not only creates success for art programs and musical works, but also contributes to preserving and promoting this art form in the province.