Qeej

The qeej is a traditional six piped instrument that is used in different settings in the Hmong community such as New Year celebrations, weddings, and funerals. It is also known as a mouth organ. Specifically, the use of qeej in a funeral setting plays a main role in the passage of a traditional Hmong funeral. The queej songs signify guiding the soul. The use of the qeej for funerals also comes in different songs which can mark various times of the process such as each meal time and the leaving of a home. Paired with the qeej is the drum which is carried out by another person close to the one playing the qeej. The performance of the qeej has been preserved over many generations along with its transcriptions with the Hmong language. However, the skill of playing the qeej has declined as younger generations have steered away from learning to play.