Artist Ho Thi De with her A Map horn playing

Map is the name the Cor people use for a type of fern that grows abundantly in the mountainous region of Quang Ngai province, which is used as the material to create this special musical instrument. The harmonica is about 25cm long and as thin as a chopstick. One end is open, the other is sealed with beeswax, and inside is a small reed that produces sound. When the player blows air into it, the reed vibrates, producing a very unique and unmistakable sound. What makes it unique is that this instrument is only for Cor women; men don't know how to play it and aren’t allowed to.

Don’t assume that because the harmonica is simple to make, it’s easy to play; achieving a full range of tones requires finesse and experience from the player. The trumpet can only be used for a few days; before playing it, it must be soaked in water to make the sound louder and softer. A Map can perform alone, the player using his hand as a resonator, or two people in harmony, one person blowing, the other holding the other end and “singing” to the rhythm of the trumpet. That blend creates a unique melody that only Cor people can fully feel.

Having learned to play the trumpet at the age of 15, artisan Ho Thi De has been dedicated to the A Map trumpet for over half a century. Her trumpet playing accompanied the Quang Ngai Folk Artists Troupe on performances in many places both domestically and internationally, contributing to introducing the image of the Cor people and culture to friends around the world.

During the war years, the sound of the A Map horn was constantly played as a message of encouragement and motivation for the people to increase production, contributing to the resistance. When the country is at peace, the horn becomes a means for Cor women to express their feelings, sharing joys and sorrows and providing motivation in life.

According to Mr. Ho Van Luan, a cultural and social affairs official in Tra Hiep commune, the Cor people are a music-loving ethnic group. Besides A Map, the Cor also have many rich folk melodies and traditional musical instruments, such as: xa ru, a gioi, ca dao dance, brook lute, ta lia flute, gongs, drums… However, folk dances, music, and especially the methods of crafting and using the A Map horn are becoming increasingly rare. This unique musical instrument is facing the risk of extinction if it weren’t for artisans like Ms. Ho Thi De.

Fearing that the sound of the A Map horn would soon only remain in the memories of the elderly, every afternoon after the work in the fields was finished, Mrs. De would call the children of the village to gather around the porch of her stilt house. She held the small trumpet in the palm of her hand, cradling it like a young sapling. She didn’t teach the children to play the flute right away, but started by telling them about the A Map tree that grows on the mountainside, about how to choose the right age for the trunk, how to heat it over a fire and how to seal it with beeswax so that the reed vibrates in the correct rhythm.

Her hands, marked by time, held each child's hand, correcting their lip placement and breath control. She said that playing the trumpet wasn’t just about strength; it had to be “played from the heart, from the soul”. When the trumpet sound was still muffled, she patiently encouraged it. She sat and listened, occasionally nodding slightly, because for her, it was not just music, but a sign that the soul of her nation was still being carried on. Ms. De understood that teaching a folk musical instrument was not simply about passing on the technique. What she wanted to convey was pride in the Cor people, appreciation for the mountains and forests that gave birth to the A Map tree, and a sense of preserving what her ancestors left behind. Therefore, every time she picks up the trumpet to guide the young people, it's as if she’s passing on a part of her life.

Between the ever-changing pace of life, the image of the elderly artisan patiently tending to the children has become a quiet, beautiful tradition in Nguyen village. The sound of the A Map horn, through the hands and breath of the new generation is no longer alone. It continued to hum, tender yet hopeful, as a promise that the Cor people’s heritage would not be forgotten. And as long as there are artisans like Mrs. Ho Thi De, the sound of the A Map horn will continue to resonate, preserving the cultural soul of this mountainous region.