Dan Nhi

Dan Nhi is a sort of vertical violin with two strings, a long handle and a sound box, held in front of the player like a small cello and played with a bow. Itis popular among several ethnic groups in Vietnam such as: Muong, Tay,Thai, Gie Trieng, Khmer. It is also refered to as Dan Co in southernprovinces of Viet Nam. Dan Nhi comprises a tubular body made of hardwood with snake or python skin stretched over one end and a bridge. Theneck of the Dan Nhi has no frets. Made of hard wood, one end of theneck goes through the body; the other end slants slightly backward.There are two pegs for tuning. The two strings, which used to be madeof silk, are now of metal and are tuned in fifths: C-1 D-2; F-1 C-2; orC-1 G-1. The bow is made of bamboo or wood and fitted with horsehair.The hair goes through the space between the strings. The tones of theDan Nhi range over two octaves, from C-1 to C-3. In drawing the bow,the player uses various techniques, including legato, vibrato,staccato; combined with his fingering of the strings he can producetrills, glissando, rapid runs, etc.

TheDan Nhi is a highly expressive instrument which plays an important soloand orchestral-role. According to archaeological documents found out inVan Phuc pagoda (Phat Tich - Thanh Son - Ha Bac), an orchestra wascarved on a pedestal used as a pillar of the pagoda with musicalinstruments coming from India and China. The orchestra consisted of 10instrumentalists wearing costumes like the Cham ethnic group andplaying the musical instruments, one of which was similar to cello withtwo strings (Dan Ho), which was the former form of the currenttwo-stringed fiddle. From such evidences, it is predicted thattwo-stringed fiddle Nhi entered Vietnam through the Cham ethnic groupor China depending on different periods and places. (According to musichistory by Professor Tran Van Khe and Van Thong). Nhi takes part inorchestras, such as Nha nhac, Bat am (orchestra of eight traditionalmusical instruments), Tai tu band, Chau van, orchestra for Tuong stage,Cheo... The sound of the Dan Nhi is said to imitate that of a singer.It can be played in either short staccato notes or longer chords andcan be played slow or fast to suit any composition.

Thanks to its diversified use, Dan Nhi is a simple instrument that can achieve miracles.A folksong of the North, a lullaby of the Central region, or a cailuong aria of the South will lose much of its charm if not accompaniedby the Dan Nhi, a traditional instrument capable of a great variety ofexpression.