Kèn

The kèn is an instrument used in traditional Vietnamese music. It has a double reed and a conical wooden body. It produces a powerful and penetrating high-pitched sound, similar to the Chinese suona, the Korean taepyeongso, and the Persian/Indian shehnai.

The best-known player of the kèn is the award-winning musician Nguyễn Ngọc Khánh (b. 1956), who is acknowledged as a "national treasure" in Vietnam, where he is known as "Khánh of the kèn."^[1]

Varieties

Kèn bầu - with a wooden bell carved in a gourd shape; comes in several sizes
Kèn đám ma - with a metal bell; used for funerals in northern Vietnam

References

↑ http://www.lotusandlightning.com/music/khanh.html

External links

http://www.lotusandlightning.com/music/khanh.html (A page with streaming audio samples of Nguyễn Ngọc Khánh playing the kèn)

Double reed instruments

(also includes those with quadruple and sextuple reeds; does not include bagpipes)

European classical (modern)	Piccolo oboe Piccolo heckelphone Oboe Oboe d'amore Cor anglais (English horn) Bass oboe Heckelphone Lupophon Contrabass oboe Tenoroon Bassoon Semi contrabassoon Contrabassoon Contraforte Contrabassophone Reed contrabass Sarrusophone Rothphone Tromboon

European classical (historical)	Aulos Baroque oboe Bassanello Cornamuse Cromorne Crumhorn Dulcian Hirtenschalmei Kortholt Oboe da caccia Pommer Rackett Rauschpfeife Shawm

African traditional	Algaita Rhaita Zukra

Asian traditional	Balaban Duduk Guan Gyaling Hichiriki Hne Kèn Kèn bầu Kèn đám ma Kuzhal Mizmar Nadaswaram Ottu Pi Piri Shehnai Sundari Sorna Sralai Suona Taepyeongso Tangmuri Zurna/Surnai

European traditional	Aulos Bifora Birbynė Bombard Catalan shawm Dulzaina Graïle Gralla Musette Piffero Sopila Tárogató Zurla Surma-horn

American traditional	Chirimía Trompeta china