Traditional Music

| Music and Dance | Mouth Reed | Xylophone | Upright Flute | Shou-chin (Lute) |

Truku Music and Dance

The Truku loves to sing and dance. Broadly speaking, their music and dance includes ritual songs, wine songs, and work songs. Normally, they sing and dance together. Ritual songs are performed outdoors when a whole chorus of people are singing and dancing. Both the introduction and finale of the song are low and long. The lyrics of the song are repeated very often. Sometimes, the stanzas are repeated alternately. The tone of the songs is sad and simple. Wine songs are sung as solo, chorus, or troll when drinking wine indoors. Work songs are sung when people are working in the field or pestling the rice; likewise, there are weeding and pestling songs.

Traditional dance		Lubu Class

Aboriginal people tend to adjust the tempo of their dances in accordance to that of the songs. There are two kinds of dances: ritual dance and wine dance.

Born in the mountains and valleys, the Truku is embraced by nature. Likewise, their personality is pure and simple, with exceptional aesthetic perspectives, they are serene, elegant, and attractive. According to Japanese documents, the Truku uses the mouth piece (also known as mouth reed) and upright flute (also known as head hunting flute), and shou-chin (lute).TOP

Lubu Performance		Xylophone Performance

Note: *Upright flute (alias head hunting flute): According to Truku customs, it is a taboo for people to play              this instrument at a festival, rituals, or feast.

         *Shou-chin (Lute) (alias 4-string or 5-string lute): No one in Truku knows how to make it any longer             because the method of making it has been lost,

Traditional Musical Instrument – Mouth Reed

There are two kinds of mouth reeds: bamboo reed and copper reed on bamboo rest. Bamboo reed on a bamboo rest is the most primitive kind of musical instrument. The mouth reed is very different from the harmonica as well. When the player plucks or pulls the reed, the bamboo or copper reed vibrates; then, it produces sound. Meanwhile, the volume of air breathed in and breathed out will control the pitch and tone of the music. Then, we can perform ancient tunes on this instrument.

Single-reed Lubu		Triple-reed Lubu

There are two kinds of methods to prepare the materials for making the mouth reed:

1. Bamboo reed on bamboo rest: Slice the bamboo into halves vertically to prepare two arc-shape bamboo plates of 13cm long and 2-2.5cm wide. Cut the reeds out of the bamboo plates and carve the reed into a rectangular shape with an aboriginal dagger. The left of the reed should be cut off completely; meanwhile, leave the right side intact. In addition, the top and bottom of the reed should be cut off completely too. When tuning, keep 3cm of the reed as the “reed tongue” and trim the thickness of the reed to ideal tone. Then, drill a small hole on the right and left of the reed to facilitate playing.

2. Copper reed on bamboo rest: Slice the bamboo into halves vertically to prepare two arc-shape bamboo plates of 10cm long and 1.8-2cm wide. Punch a triangular hole in the middle of the bamboo plate. Tie a narrow copper reed through the triangular hole so that it can vibrate, leaving its right side free for vibrating. Tie both ends of the reed with thin strings. It is possible to tie up to 8 reeds on a bamboo plate. However, the skill of performing this 8-reed instrument has not been passed down. When playing the instrument, the player will put the concave part into her mouth. Then, she can pull the strings lightly, accompanied with the volume of air inhaled and exhaled, to produce the sound similar to a Pipa. With the pulling of the strings and the breathing of the air, the player is able to perform music with different pitch and tone. According to the elders, in ancient times, Truku young people would use the reeds as instruments for conversation or expressing their love, instead of spoken words. Likewise, the mouth reed does not use for the accompaniment of songs and dances for recreation only, but also exchanging the words of love. The elders Chang Yin-mei, aged 76, and Lu Chi-mei, 76, say, “People use tweezers to fasten the copper reed on the bamboo rest. It sounds greater than tying the bamboo reeds with any other things. The sound is clearer and more elegant.”TOP

Traditional Musical Instrument—Xylophone

It is a musical instrument unique to the Truku. To make a xylophone, we need shi-chu-yi, Haloxylon ammodendron Bunge, red cypress, byugu, plux, Tung tree (Aluerites Fordii), and maple. Haloxylon ammodendron Bunge gives crisp and clear sound; meanwhile, Tung tree gives thick and mellow tone. Before making the xylophone, the wood should be let dry for a long period otherwise the instrument will warp. First, cut two round logs with the diameter of 5.5cm and the length of 36.5cm as base. Then, we should cut four other chunks 5.5cm in diameter each as keys: the one with the length of 36.8cm long will be key 1 for “Re”, 6.5cm long as key 2 for “Mi”, 5.2cm long as Key 3 for “Sol”, and 4.8cm long as key 4 for ‘Ra”.

Xylophone Structure		Xylophone

There are four tones, Re, Mi, Sol, and La in the scale of this xylophone. The player can hammer the keys with a single hand or two hands. When playing the xylophone, men will sit on the floor with their legs crossed; meanwhile, women will kneel on the ground. The purpose of playing the xylophone is to tell the friends and relatives to come and enjoy gourmet food, and accompany the dances. It is an entertaining instrument for all the people in the tribes.TOP

Traditional Musical Instrument—Upright Flute (Bamboo Flute)

A bamboo, about 1 foot long and 3 to 4 inches in diameter, is used to make an upright flute, which is not played Ordinarily. When they won in battles with other tribes (coming out of grass) and returned victoriously, the villagers would play the upright flute to welcome and celebrate their triumph. (Report upon the Investigation of Sajeq, Vol. 2, Taiwan Temporary Ethnographic Investigation Association, June 30, Daisho 30, p. 99.) There are three to four holes in the front and one at the back. Reverend Tien Shin-te, the elder, told us that when the warriors returned from a battle (coming out of the grass) or returned victoriously, the priest would play the upright flute to celebrate their triumph.TOP

Traditional Musical Instrument—Shou-chin (Lute)

Reverend Wu Chin-cheng, 70, told us during the interview that he saw an elder play this instrument some 50 years ago. The scale he used was exactly the same with Truku scale, which consist of four notes Re, Mi, Sol, and La. He lamented that nobody in the tribe could play shou-chin anymore. Another elder, Reverend Tien Shin-te told us he had made shou-chin and tried to play it before. According to Japanese documents, shou-chin was made with a board of about one foot long and 5 to 6 inches wide. On the “lute,” four copper strings were tied on it. The length of the strings would determine the pitch, Re, Mi, Sol, and La, of the sound.TOP