Resonance of the national treasure instrument

I met Nguyen Duy Thao, a stone instrument master from Loc Ninh commune in Dong Nai province, who has devoted his heart and soul to awakening and sharing the soul-stirring sounds of the Loc Hoa lithophone, a national treasure of Dong Nai province. Meeting him, I felt his simplicity and sincerity, qualities that seem to match the very tones of the stone instrument he plays. Thao is not just a performer but also a quiet cultivator, planting the seeds of ancient music in the hearts of younger generations…

Touching the lithophone, touching pride

*The tones of the Loc Hoa lithophone echo the sounds of ancient times, of stone and mountains. What drew a young person like you to this ancient instrument? Was it a unique “call” from this national treasure?

- In 2018, when the Loc Hoa lithophone was recognized as a National Treasure, the former Binh Phuoc province organized a training workshop on the instrument, and that was where my journey began. The very first time I touched those stone bars, I immediately felt the deep, resonant tones of the earth, of the highlands. The more I listened, the more curious I became, and the stronger my urge grew to understand and give voice to the spirit of the stones.

Nguyen Duy Thao performs the lithophone at the Exhibition on Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Achievements, held in celebration of the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 - 2025)

As a music instructor with years of experience, I have dedicated significant time to studying the traditional arts of various ethnic groups, including the S’tieng, Thai, Tay, and Khmer. Through this journey, I discovered that the lithophone is an ancient instrument crafted with remarkable sophistication by prehistoric peoples. That made me even more appreciative and eager to help preserve and promote it. Honestly, at that time, I noticed that many modern musical instruments attracted numerous learners and admirers. I couldn’t help but wonder: Why is a national treasure, such a precious cultural heritage, not more widely known? It was this very urge that has inspired me to dedicate myself to the lithophone to this day.

*Reviving the sound of the lithophone couldn't have been easy, especially given the national treasure’s long history and unique structure. Could you share how you first learned to “understand” these seemingly lifeless stone slabs?

- The biggest challenge in learning to play the lithophone is that there are no official records or scientific methods explaining how it should be played. The Loc Hoa lithophone is especially unique, fully structured, and offers the widest range of tones. When I first started, I had to figure out everything on my own through experimentation and research. Naturally, I experienced failures during both practice and performances. At that time, I divided my learning into three stages. The first was experimentation: touching, striking, and listening carefully to each stone bar to understand its timbre and tonal scale, while developing basic exercises. The second stage involved correcting errors, playing repeatedly to become familiar with the stones, identifying mistakes, and refining posture and technique for practice and performance. The third stage was practice and mastery, involving the application of melodies and exercises in full performances to enhance skill and musicality. During this process, I created my own exercises, which I now use to teach my students.

Once I understood the “soul” of the stones, I explored the playing techniques of the S’tieng, Thai, Tay, and Khmer peoples to incorporate their musical characteristics into my own exercises. My greatest joy came when I finally discovered the “voice” of the stones, and the music born from stone began to blend naturally into the rhythm of life.

*Now that the Loc Hoa lithophone has been recognized as a national treasure and performed at major national events, such as the Exhibition on Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Achievements celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025). That must be a source of great pride. But surely, like many other patriotic artisans, your greatest aspiration must be to bring the sound of the lithophone back to the community and to younger generations?

- For me, a national treasure is not meant just to be displayed - it must live and resonate in people’s hearts. Since 2018, when Binh Phuoc province organized the first lithophone training class, I have cherished a dream: to make the instrument more accessible and ensure its melodies continue to echo through time. Later, I opened lithophone classes at the Loc Ninh Children’s Center and Thien Hung commune (formerly Bu Dop district). My goal is to simplify the learning process so that playing the lithophone no longer feels unfamiliar or complex, allowing it to reach more schools in the future. Students can now get to explore and play on scaled versions of the lithophone, learning the most basic techniques, combined with the piano and organ lessons. My greatest joy is seeing these young learners not only study but also participate in competitions and win top prizes, for example, student Nguyen Thai Hoa recently won the first prize in a solo performance competition. I genuinely believe that as these young talents grow, their love for the lithophone will become an integral part of them. This, I believe, is the most sustainable and effective way to keep the heritage alive.

*For a person so deeply connected to the Loc Hoa lithophone, what do you believe makes its sound special to listeners? How has this instrument transformed your life and shaped your view of culture and heritage?

- The sound of the lithophone is unlike that of any other musical instruments. It carries within it the sounds of the mountains and forests, the breath of the earth, and the echo of our nation’s long history. When one listens to it, they are not merely hearing a melody; they are hearing the resonance of the ancestors, a sacred connection to the past. Its deep, powerful, and echoing tones evoke the feeling of standing amid the vast wilderness, revealing the most authentic and humble essence of both humanity and culture.

The lithophone has profoundly transformed my life and my understanding of art and heritage. I used to see myself simply as a music teacher. But since embracing this instrument, I’ve realized that my role goes beyond teaching notes; it is about preserving the cultural flow of history. The lithophone awakened in me a deep pride in my roots and an admiration for the creativity of Vietnam’s prehistoric people. It also made me recognize my greater responsibility, not only as a musician but also as a guardian of ancestral heritage. This instrument has taught me patience, deep listening, and boundless love for our national culture.

The lithophone tells the story of Vietnam

*For dedicated artisans like you, there is always a deep desire to bring Vietnam’s cultural heritage to the world to let this sacred sound resonate internationally. What efforts have you made to ensure that the Loc Hoa lithophone not only echoes on domestic stages but also steps onto the global scene, telling the story of Vietnam’s origins through the language of stone and music?

- That has always been my greatest aspiration. The Loc Hoa lithophone, which dates back over 3,000 years, is recognized as a fully developed instrument with the widest range of tones, holding immense value in musicology, ethnology, culture, archaeology, and history. What makes it even more special is its compatibility with modern musical instruments, enabling it to bridge the gap between ancient and contemporary art forms. Recently, I was deeply honored to perform the Loc Hoa lithophone at the Exhibition of Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Achievements, held in celebration of the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 –2025). The sacred sounds of the stones were heard by international guests, including the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. I also had the privilege of representing Vietnam in a performance at the ASEAN International Fair in Guangxi, China, and of organizing and directing a mass performance featuring 50 teachers and students to welcome the 1st Dong Nai Provincial Party Congress, for term 2025-2030, held in late September. These events created lasting impressions both at home and abroad, allowing the cultural essence of the national treasure, the Loc Hoa lithophone, to resonate far beyond Vietnam’s borders. Each performance, to me, is not just music but a way of telling the story of Vietnam’s ancient soul to the world.

Nguyen Duy Thao poses for a commemorative photo with student Nguyen Thai Hoa - the first prize winner at the 2025 Dong Nai Pink Age Melody Contest. Thao was the one who inspired and devotedly guided Thai Hoa from the very first days he began learning to play the lithophone

*What plans are you nurturing to ensure that the Loc Hoa lithophone is not merely a national treasure displayed in museums, but truly becomes a part of the community’s spiritual life - a “bridge” connecting generations in your hometown?

- I have two great aspirations: first, to ensure that the lithophone continues to “sing,” and second, to make its voice “resonate” far and wide. To achieve these goals, I have outlined specific plans. I hope to introduce the Loc Hoa lithophone at international cultural festivals and diplomatic events such as those organized by ASEAN or UNESCO. I also intend to compose new musical pieces, blending the lithophone’s ancient tones with other instruments and modern genres to make it more accessible to international audiences. Additionally, I plan to expand training programs to nurture new generations of young artisans. I genuinely believe that with love, community support, and especially the passion of the younger generation, the Loc Hoa lithophone will never become a “silent heritage.” Instead, it will forever remain a cultural bridge connecting the past, the present, and the future of our homeland.

*Thank you very much!

By Phuong Dung - Translated by Hong Van, Thu Ha