 A set of Prak gongs of the Mnong in Lam Dong province (Photo: Thi Doat/VOV-Central Highlands) |
Prak gongs are made from a bronze–silver alloy, which makes them different from other ordinary bronze gongs. A set of Prak includes three knobbed gongs, each 15–20 cm in diameter. The Prak gongs produce clear, resonant tones similar to lithophones, with sounds that echo solemnly and powerfully across the forests and mountains. In performances, they are often used as the opening instrument for gong ensembles and other traditional musical instruments.
A set of Prak gongs can be worth as much as many buffaloes or cows. They are regarded as priceless treasures, owned only by wealthy families and handed down through generations.
“Now very few people can play this gong. My father taught me, and now I’m teaching my children and other young people about their values and meanings when we play them,” said artisan Thi Mai from Lam Dong province, whose family has a few Prak gongs.
Before a performance, the players must hold a ritual for the Gong Deity, offering him a jar of liquor and a rooster. The player holds the gong suspended by a string and strikes at the knob with a wooden mallet, creating a resonant sound, according to artisan Thi Mai.
“Unlike ordinary gongs, Prak gongs only appear at major occasions such as community gatherings, harvest celebrations, or village rituals. Before performing, the villagers must hold a ceremony to worship the Gong Deity to express their reverence for the sacred treasure,” said Mai.
As Vietnam promotes its culture to the wider public, the Mnong people have performed Prak gongs to tourists. As very few Mnong people can play the instrument, mostly elderly people, each time the Prak gongs resonate, it is the sound of a priceless spiritual heritage.
 Artisan Thi Mai teaches children playing Prak gongs. (Photo: Thi Doat/VOV-Central Highlands) |
“The Prak gongs are very precious. Whenever I play it, I feel as though I can hear the voices of our ancestors. We are doing our best to preserve it and pass it on to future generations,” artisan Thi Don, a member of a gong troupe in Lam Dong province, said.
Each Prak gong melody is played for specific occasion, presenting the harmony between humans, deities, and nature. For the Mnong people, gongs in general are symbol of social status and family prestige. The Prak gongs are important assets for very wealthy families and are regarded as heirlooms to be cherished and preserved for generations to come.