Shong Keng Her (right) with his apprentice and brother Boua Sou Her.
Photo by Vungping Yang
The Qeej is a free-reed multiple pipe bamboo instrument used in the ritual practices of the Hmong. Replicating the tones and vowel sounds of the Hmong language, the qeej-player uses his instrument to communicate with the spirit world. Shong Keng Her is often called to play the qeej at wedding and funeral ceremonies, for he is well known in his community in Fresno as the Master player of Green Hmong songs on the qeej. Her learned to construct the qeej and to play the ritual songs as a teenager in Laos. He now hopes to teach his youngest brother Boua Sou Her his repertoire of Green Hmong wedding and funeral songs. Though White Hmong community members in Fresno have recorded and translated their qeej songs, the Green Hmong have not yet done so. While working with his brother, Shong Keng Her plans to record and translate his music so that the repertoire of Green Hmong songs will also be preserved. Boua Sou Her recently constructed his own qeej under his brother’s tutelage. He is already an accomplished qeej player and he is eager to learn his brother’s repertoire so that he can teach others.
Apprentice Boua Sou Her shown playing the Qeej.
Photo by Vungping Yang
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