Dan Tranh History
Dan Tranh History
Dan Tranh is a part of the board-zither family in the
Far East which
includes the Chinese Zheng, the Korean Kayakum, the Japanese Koto and the Mongolian
Yatga.
Even thought these instrument may have a
common origin, the various board-zithers in China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and
Mongolia have been evolved into their own branch with characteristics and playing forms
which are somewhat related but mostly unique in their physical
appearance, art works, sound, timbre and playing style.
Dan Tranh appeared in Vietnam in the Ly or Tran dynasty
(around the 10th century) and since then have evolved into a unique instrument. Some of its characteristics compared to its relatives in the
Far East are:
Playing Dan Tranh
- Dan Tranh is smaller in size, more portable, easier
and faster to play to
enable the musicians to play more technical repertoires (Dan Tranh is only
90cm to 110 cm in length while the Koto is 180cm, the Kayakum is 160cm, the
Zheng 145cm and the Yatga 145cm long).
- Dan Tranh has 17 strings to 21 strings allowing for more tonal
range in such a small, portable body (its relatives are either too big or have
too few or too many strings).
- Dan Tranh uses metal strings for its
wonderful bright, clear, cheerful
sounds and the vibration of its metallic strings can be easily picked-up and
amplified for modern performance in larger spaces.
- The sound body curves more (than its
relatives) to facilitate the human hands and to allow for faster and more
natural playing techniques. The more curvature of the sound body also allow
for more space and resonant in a smaller instrument body
- The strings in Dan Tranh are pretty thin (most are
.20mm thick), have less tension and can be
easily bended to make all the notes required in modern Western music
Due to its portability, wonderful bright, cheerful sound and versatility,
Dan Tranh has become one of the dominant musical instruments in
Vietnam since the 10th century.
Dan Tranh is also frequently use in modern Vietnamese and Asian pop music. It's
bright, cheerful sound provides an attractive, exotic solo or accompaniment sound to the
modern guitar, keyboard, drum and bass sounds in a modern band.
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