Song loan explained

A song loan, (pronounced as /vi/) or song lang or song lan) is a percussion instrument (idiophone) used in Vietnamese traditional music.^{[1] [2]}

Construction

The song loan consists of a hollow wooden body about 7 cm in diameter attached to a flexible curved metal piece ended with a wooden ball.

Playing

It is put on the ground and can be played by using the foot to force the ball to beat the body of the instrument.

Performance

The song loan is mostly used to keep the beat in Vietnamese traditional chamber music such as ca Huế), and theatrical music such as nhạc tài tử and cải lương.

See also

• Castanets

Notes and References

1. Asia Folklore Association The values and diversity of Asian folklore in the global integration - Page 423 2006 "... sometimes replaced by "song loan" to accompany and keep rhythm);"
2. Experimental musical instruments Volumes 12-13 1996 - Page 15 "The nhac tien (Example 5) is a variation on the traditional song loan and senh tien."