Darlong Music
Origin
& History
The origin of Darlong Music is a
mystery. It is therefore, difficult to trace the origin, and to arrange the
chronological sequences of the heritage of Darlong Music. Besides, there are no
documental records. However, we have seen some couplets were developed during
the settlement of Thantlang in Burma estimated between 1300-1400 AD. As
recorded by B.Lalthangliana, the folk songs developed during this period were
Dar hla (Songs on gong); Indoi hla (War
chants), Hla do (Chants of hunting); Naiin-awi hla (Cradle songs). A greater
development of songs can be seen from the settlement of Lentlang in Burma,
estimated between late 15th to 17th Century AD1.
Classification
The Darlong's are fortunate enough
in having traditional way of classification of their folk songs. A study of
their folksongs on the basis of the indigenous system of classification shows
that the Darlong's are having about one hundred different types of folksongs.
But it can broadly be classified into the following categories:
Indoi
Hla(War chants)
This is the chant or cry raised by
the warriors when returning from successful raid. The warriors chant Indoi Hla
to show his superiority over the enemy, and in order to let his people know
that a successful raid has taken place. No other members of the warriors except
the killer of the enemy can chant Indoi Hla.
Hla
do( Chants of Hunting)
This is the chant or cry raised by
the hunters when a successful hunting has taken place. Chanting Hlado can be
done on the spot, or on the way home, or just before entering the village, or
on the celebration. Any one who witnesses his success can chant Hlado at any
time and place.
Thiam
hla and Dawi hla(Invocation & Incantation)
: These two verse forms are chanted
by the Priests and the witch while performing ceremonies.
Dar
Hla(Songs on Gongs)
These are named after musical
instruments. These songs are not sung by human voice, it is meant for musical
instruments. Dar hla means ‘song for gong’. There are several songs named after
the instruments; but Dar hla is the most popular and greatest in number. So it
is commonly known as Dar hla. It has three musical notes.
Puipun
Hla
These are songs named after merry
and festive occasions. These songs are the most popular among the folksongs.
People sung together with dancing at the time of merry and festive occasions.
Lengzem
Zai
These are love songs. It has no
distinctive form but it was named after the theme.
Songs
named after individuals
A great number of Darlong folksongs
are named after individual. Most of them are named after the original composer
of the music as well as the verse tunes. But some of the songs are named after
a beautiful women or the hero of the tribe.
Musical
Instruments
From time immemorial, the Darlong’s
have been using different musical instruments. Even though we cannot date the
origin, the “Darlong’s of Kabaw Valley during
late 10th to 13th century AD had developed their music as nearly as they have
done today”. The traditional Darlong musical
instruments are very simple and crude in comparison to other Indian musical
instruments and very out-dated to Modern Musical instruments. They can broadly
be divided into three categories: Beating or Striking instruments; Wind
instruments and String instruments.
Striking
Instruments
Most of the Darlong musical
instruments used at the time of festivals and dances are striking instruments
such as different types of Khuang and Dar, Bengbung, Seki, Talhkhuang.
Khuang
(Drum)
It is Darlong indigenous instrument
which occupies a very significant place in Darlong social and religious life. ‘Khuang’
is a must on all occasions. It is made of hollow tree, wrapped on both sides
with animal skin. The Darlong gives different names according to its size and
length. The big sized one is call Khuangpui (Big drum), the middle one is
called Khuanglaglaw; and the small sized, Khuangte (little drum). If it is
longish, they called it Kawlkhuang. As far as the history of Darlong is
concerned it is commonly concluded that the Darlong ancestors started using
drum as far back as when they sung and composed song.Mr. Lianhmingthanga
believes that it has been received drum
from Chinese civilization through cultural diffusion. The process of that
cultural diffusion might have passed through the Burmese with whom the Darlong,
Hmar and Mizos had a close cultural
contact which took place from the middle of the 9th century AD until the end of
Pagan period at the close of 13th century. Khuang is the only Darlong traditional
musical instrument that is popularly used in the 20th and 21st century. In the
olden days, Khuang has no role in the religious functions; but today the use of
drum is a must in every church service.
Dar
(Gong)
Another popular musical instruments
are various sizes of brass-gongs viz-Darkhuang, Darbu and Darmang.
Darkhuang
Darkhuang is the biggest type.
Darkhuang is very costly and is one of their most valuable possessions. In the
olden times, it was sometimes used as a means of exchange; and sometimes the
parent of a bride demanded Darkhuang for the price of their daughter. In one of
the oldest folksongs we have the following lines: “Chawngvungi her price so
high I gave necklace hut they refused, I gave a gong and they refused. They
demanded our Darkhuang, Chawngvungi, her price unsurpassed”.
But this song (dor hla) is played
with Darbu. Darkhuang is played on all occasions.
Darbu
Darbu is a set of three different
sizes of brass-gongs, producing three musical notes. Darbu is usually played by
three experts. Some experts played individually by tying the two gongs, one on
each sides of his body with rope and hung one gong by his left hand, produce
three distinct, rhythmic notes by simultaneous beating. Darbu is meaningfully
used on certain occasions like Khuallam and other traditional group dances.
Darmang
Darmang is the smallest type of
gong. It has no effect without other gongs or instruments, but it is used in
the traditional dances to keep timing. All these gongs appear to be Burmese in
origin, and therefore, it is tempting to conclude that Darlong’s got them from
the Burmese while they were living in the Kabaw Valley during 9th to 13th
century.
Bengbung
Benghung is another Darlong
indigenous instrument which has some similarity with Xylophone. It is a musical
instrument consisting of a series of flat wooden bars, producing three musical
notes. Bengbung is usually played by girls it their leisure.
Talhkhuang
The process of making Talhkhuang is
almost the same with that of Bengbung but Talhkhuang is much bigger than that
of Bengbung. It is made of three wooden pieces which are curved out, the depth
of the curves being made vary so that the sound produced when beaten are
different in notes. It is played with a wooden hammer. The Darlong’s would
never take Talhkhuang to their houses or anywhere else except to ‘Lungdawh’, The
great platform at the entrance of the village. It is played when a chief or the
village erected memorial stones.
Seki
Seki is the domesticated Mithun’s
horn. The two hollow horns are beaten to lead or to keep timing for the other
musical band like Darbu, etc. It was commonly used at the time of group dances.
Wind
Instruments
The Darlongs have six varieties of
Wind-instruments such as Rawchhem, Tumphit, Mautawtawrawl, Phenglawng,
Buhchangkuang, Hnahtum.
Rawchhem
It is a kind of Scottish “Bagpiper”
or Chinese “Snag”. Nine small Bamboo pipes or hollow reeds, Having different
sizes and lengths are inserted to the dried gourd. One of the pipes serves as a
mouth piece. Small portions of the pipes are struck out so that it can produce
sound when the instrument is blown. The Musician blows in to the mouth piece,
and by controlling the holes with his fingers, he can produced various musical
notes.
Tumphit
‘Tumphit’ is made of three small
Bamboos having different sizes and length. The types are tied and plated in a
row with strings. The upper ends are cut open at different length so that each
tube has different notes. The Players put the open tube against his lower lip
and then blows down. This musical instrument was used during ritual ceremonies.
Mizos use this instrument particularly on the occasion of a ceremony called
Rallulam and chawng festival.
Tongtawrawt
This is a Bamboo trumpet. Different
sizes of bamboo tubes are cut off. The smaller tube is inserted to the bigger
tube and so on. Many bamboo tubes are joined one after another till the last
tube happens to be the size of a forefinger from where the trumpet is to be
blown. A dry empty gourd, the bottom part is cut off and joined with bigger end
of the bamboo tubes. The whole length can be more than five feet.
Phenglawng
It is the Darlong flute made of
bamboo. Originally, Phenglawng had only three holes producing three different
sounds. Flute is popular among the other Indians.
Buhchangkuang
This is another flute made of reed
or a paddy stalk. This simple instrument was usually played by girls.
Hnahtum
The Darlong boys can skillfully turn
leaves of many trees into simple but indigenous musical instruments. They can
produce interesting sound by blowing deftly folded leaves. This is called ’Hnahtum’.
Stringed
Instruments
The Darlongs have only three kinds
of stringed-Instruments such as Tingtang; Lemlawi and Tuiumdar:
Tingtang
This is Darlong guitar. Darlong
tingtang is a kind of fiddle or violin having only one string. A piece of
bamboo shaft is fixed in the gourd to carry the string made of Thangtung, the
fibre of the Malay Sago palm. The hollow gourd is cut open and covered with a
dry bladder of animal.
Lemlawi
Lemlawi is the family of jaw harp
but the shape and size are different. It is made of small pieces of bamboo.
From the piece of bamboo, the craftsman took out a small portion with knife for
its string. The sound it produces is controlled by the mouth.
Tuium
dar
This simple musical instrument is
also made of bamboo having three strings producing three different notes. From
the outer covering of the bamboo, three pieces of cane like strings are curved
out. The strings are then raised up by inserting two pieces of bamboo. It is
played like a guitar.
Artiste
Popular female Artiste include
Zarmawi, Zaithanga, Hmingliana, Jarson and Hebron and many others.
