Music in the art of Cheo

Music is one of the central elements that contributes to the unique appearance of Cheo stage art. In the overall structure of a Cheo play, music not only serves as a background for the performance but also guides emotions, opens the scene and promotes the progress of the play, making the story vivid, profound and rich in lyricism.

Cheo melody and music always blend together.

Cheo music consists of two main elements: the singing melody and the accompaniment. If the lyrics are the means to help the characters express their thoughts, personalities and dramatic situations, the accompaniment is the "language" that supports, opens the way for the development, evokes the atmosphere and regulates the rhythm of the stage. Each performance, each scene has corresponding music, creating continuity, flexibility and richness of poetry.

The artists all affirmed the uniqueness of the Cheo orchestra. Meritorious Artist Ha Bac, Head of the Cheo Stage Department, Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Group, shared that each instrument in the orchestra has its own color and expressive power, when combined together it will be “like the voice of the character, leading the story through each performance”.

Cheo is not just singing, but a journey with musicians, directors and colleagues to make the story on stage vivid and full of emotion.

The traditional Cheo orchestra is structured in the style of a color orchestra, in which each instrument has its own musical characteristics, but has in common the closeness to the human voice, the center of Cheo art.

Some typical musical instruments include: the moon lute with its clear, soft sound, often accompanies lyrical melodies; the two-stringed fiddle with its soulful, profound sound, capable of expressing subtle moods; the soaring bamboo flute, creating a vague, magical space for the stage; drums and clappers, creating rhythmic sounds, creating highlights for dance movements and lyrics.

In the current context of integration, preserving and promoting Cheo music has become an important task. Many art units, such as the Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Group, have focused on investing in traditional orchestras, training young musicians and restoring ancient melodies.

Young musician Tran Van Bang of the Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Troupe confided that every time he steps on stage, he feels like he is contributing to preserving "a treasure of his ancestors".

When playing the instrument to the melody, he listens to every breath, captures every emotion of the artist to help the story on stage sublimate.

For each play, the musicians, director and actors must practice diligently for one to two months, so that the music and lyrics blend together like a common breath, making the audience feel drawn into every moment and every emotion of the character.

Musician Thanh Son practices with colleagues.

Musician Nguyen Thanh Son, Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Group, also shared that the path to pursuing Cheo music is not easy. The difficulties and hardships do not make him falter; on the contrary, each round of applause from the audience is happiness, adding strength and love to his profession. Each note, each melody that he sings is not only a performance, but also a word of gratitude, a preservation and continuation of the soul of the national art that previous generations have worked hard to cultivate.

Music in Cheo art is not only a means to support the stage but also a part of the soul that creates the identity of the national art form. Preserving and promoting Cheo music today is therefore not only preserving heritage, but also the responsibility of the young generation in the process of building an advanced Vietnamese culture, imbued with national identity.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202511/am-nhac-trong-nghe-thuat-cheo-09647af/