Keep the fire of Vi and Rang for life

Born in 1940 in Lai Dong commune, Ms. Ha Thi Song - Meritorious Artist of Vi and Rang singing is one of the typical faces who devoted her life to preserving and spreading traditional folk songs of the Muong ethnic group.

Born into a family with a tradition of singing Vi and Rang, since childhood, she had heard the smooth, soulful songs resounding during festivals, Tet holidays or on moonlit nights in the peaceful Muong village. Those sounds penetrated deep into the soul of the young girl Ha Thi Song, becoming an indispensable part of her life.

Meritorious Artist Ha Thi Song.

In 1968, while being the President of the Women's Union of Lai Dong commune, Ms. Song actively participated in the movement and spent time learning from the elders in the village. She traveled to each village and each house to record, collect, and learn how to sing and improvise from her ancestors, with the desire to preserve and conserve the Vi and Rang melodies - the typical cultural and spiritual values ​​of the Muong people of Phu Tho .

Thanks to her rich vocabulary and innate ability to improvise, Mrs. Song can sing and compose Rang and Vi lyrics in any situation. From village festivals, wedding receptions, housewarmings, to local propaganda events, she can sing sweet, witty, and creative songs.

She has composed many Rang lyrics with the content praising the homeland and country, promoting population, congratulating the new daughter-in-law or celebrating the locality receiving the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. Her songs all have the breath of contemporary life, but are still imbued with Muong identity, captivating the hearts of listeners.

Meritorious artist Ha Thi Song introduces the newly composed song Rang to the cultural officers of Lai Dong commune.

Enthusiastically sing the newly composed song praising the prosperous country.

Sharing the secret of singing Vi and Rang, Meritorious Artist Ha Thi Song said: “When singing, the artist must demonstrate the ability to sing with vibrato, pronounce words, emphasize, take a breath, and hold the breath so that the song has soul and is in tune. The sounds must be connected, without interruption, creating a soft, smooth voice - like the soul of the Muong people in each lyric.” For her, each melody is not only music , but also the voice, the culture, the spiritual life of an entire community.

Through the ups and downs of life, Rang and Vi singing have become her soul mates, helping her overcome difficulties and challenges. At the age of 80, she still maintains a clear, sweet voice and is always ready to teach it to her children and grandchildren, to the younger generation in the village. The notebooks where she meticulously recorded the old lyrics, singing methods, improvisation methods... are a precious archive that she devoted her heart to preserving, with the wish " to let Rang and Vi singing forever resonate with her hometown Muong village".

Artist Ha Thi Song shares her experience of singing Vi and Rang with her children and grandchildren.

With great contributions to the work of preserving and promoting the intangible cultural heritage of the Muong ethnic group, in 2019, Ms. Ha Thi Song was awarded the title "Meritorious Artisan" by the State, recognizing a life of quiet but persistent dedication.

Now, amidst the changes of modern life, her voice still resonates with simplicity and sincerity, evoking many beautiful memories of her homeland and village. Mrs. Song is not only the keeper of traditional Rang and Vi songs, but also a symbol of love for culture and pride of the Muong people in her homeland of Phu Tho, rich in identity.

Le Thuong

Source: https://baophutho.vn/ca-doi-giu-lua-vi-rang-241362.htm