kèn bầu
The kèn bầu (lang) is one of several types of kèn, a double reed wind instrument used in the traditional music of Vietnam. It is similar in construction and sound to the Chinese suona and the Korean taepyeongso. It comes in various sizes and is a primary instrument of the former royal court music of Huế. • Illustration — A kèn bầu
Also recorded as ken bau
kèn bầu
Badagnani · CC BY 3.0
- Field
- double reed instrument
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wikidata · Q1128412 · wikipedia · Kèn bầu
In this article
Construction
Construction
The instrument has a conical hardwood body with seven finger holes. Unlike its Chinese and Korean counterparts, the kèn bầu has a detachable bell made of jackfruit wood, carved in the shape of a gourd (originally it was probably made out of an actual dried gourd, but wood is more durable). Into the playing end is fitted a small brass tube onto which a small double reed is placed. This type of musical instrument are quite familiar in Asia, the Indian analogy being Shehnai.
Playing
Playing
• Illustration — Kèn bầu (far left) in a Vietnamese traditional funeral The instrument's technique involves the use of circular breathing as well as a wide variety of ornamentation including wide vibrato and sliding tones.
Etymology
Etymology
Kèn means oboe and bầu means gourd, referring to the instrument's bell. The Vietnamese monochord zither called đàn bầu, which also formerly had a gourd as part of its construction, shares the use of this word in its name.
Performers
Performers
One of the most prominent kèn bầu players is Trần Thảo, who leads the nhã nhạc (royal music) group of Hue and has toured internationally. He is part of a hereditary lineage of court musicians.
Video
Video
• Video of four kèn bầu, with percussion
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Kèn bầu, revision 1253874737 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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