The Dan Tranh (Thap luc) has sixteen metal trings, is a traditional Vietnamese string musical instrument in the zither category. The word "Tranh" is a Sino - Vietnamese tone of the Chinese "Zheng". It has a lot of congenial musical instrument at Asian...
The Dan Tranh (Thap luc) has sixteen metal trings, is a traditional Vietnamese string musical instrument in the zither category. The word "Tranh" is a Sino - Vietnamese tone of the Chinese "Zheng". It has a lot of congenial musical instrument at Asian countries, as "Koto" in Japan, "Gayageum" in Korea…and as same as the Vietnamese Dan Tranh.
The Dan Tranh as well as the Gayageum musical instrument, having an advantage as nice sound and form together with the high development on playing technique and the abundant quantity of score. Now both of them have an important role, existed at many musical genres, become a typical musical instruments unable to be lacked in the traditional musical instrument treasure of one’s country.
The theme of thesis is "Comparison between the playing technique of Sanjo Gayageum and Vietnamese Dan Tranh". It is includes three principal chapters.
Chapter one, I introduce first some trait about Vietnamese music and its Dan Tranh.
Chapter two, I introduce three traditional music genres symbolized to three regions of Vietnam as Vietnamese traditional Operetta music of the North (Nha.c che`o), Hue music of the Centre (Nha.c Hue~) and Amateur reformed theatre of the South (Nha.c ca^i lu'o'ng) playing by Dan Tranh.
Chapter three is the principal chapter of thesis, in which, I introduce cursorily on structure of two musical instruments, its tuning system, position and playing technique. Through that introduction, i can make detailly a fact finding on differentiated and similar points between these two musical instruments.
On material, both musical instruments are made out of Paulownia wood and using the Movable bridges to measure the interval between every string are possible to be moved for readjusting the sound height. Dan Tranh uses soft and small metal string, so when using vibrating, pressing technique...not needing to spend many forces but creating clear and pure sounds. In contrary, Gayageum uses silk material for bigger string, so, when using vibrating, pressing technique it requests a more force of left hand and the musical sound is more solid and warm bass than one of Dan Tranh.
Right hand technique of both instruments are considered as the place which creates the sound such as plucking, tremolo, flicking…but in Dan Tranh, musicians used three pluctrums (Mong dan) are put on the top of fingers for plucking, while Gayageum plucking by their own finger to puck. Gayageum uses much flick manner with index finger and middle finger, but this technique is not existed in Dan Tranh. This is special different point between Dan Tranh and Gayageum.
And the left hand is the place creating the spirit part of the instrument. The left hand contributes its part by creating clearly the sound effect through the vibrating, pressing…Dan Tranh using three fingers (index finger, middle finger and ring finger) to slightly press on the string, while Gayageum using only two fingers (index finger and middle finger) and some time using the thumb to press the string, it make the sound effect is very different.
Through the studying process on playing technique between two instruments, I realize that, beside similar points as plucking or pressing string, there are some different techniques and there are also techniques that one in two instrument did not have. I think the principal cause is that Dan Tranh used three pluctrums to pluck. Apart from the difference on musical instrument faculty, it should pay attention to the difference on musical special traits of every region, every country.
I am sure that my opinions do not shun of short comings because of my limited capacity. So, I wish to receive contributing opinions of Professors, reasoning researchers with the hope that our music and traditional musical instrument, in which, Dan Tranh and Gayageum are existed will more and more contribute worthily in the spiritual living of one's country as well as, toward international friends.