Just a few decades ago, Ca Tru was facing the risk of extinction as the generation of veteran artists became increasingly scarce, audiences became indifferent, and stages were deserted. Thanks to the persistent efforts of researchers, artists, and the attention of the government, Ca Tru has gradually returned to the capital's artistic life.
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| Lo Khe Ca Tru Club participates in the Hanoi Ca Tru Festival 2025. (Photo: Khanh Huy) |
Bringing heritage back to life
Since 2009, when Ca Tru was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent protection, Hanoi has initiated many preservation programs.
Ca tru clubs were born, associated with familiar places such as Thai Ha, Lo Khe, Kim Duc, Ngai Cau... with the aim of teaching and nurturing the love of Ca tru for the young generation.
Special performance spaces, such as communal houses and temples, are also restored, so that singing and playing can find their source again.
The 2025 Hanoi Ca Tru Festival brings together nearly 20 clubs with hundreds of artists, singers, and actors participating, making it the most crowded festival ever.
According to People's Artist Tran Quoc Chiem, Chairman of the Jury of this year's Festival, the appearance of many young actors with good technique is a welcome sign.
“In the past, we were worried because the number of double-stringed players was too small, but now there has been a clear change, with many contestants playing monophonic and polyphonic instruments, blending with singing and drumming,” he shared.
Not only stopping at recreating traditional styles such as hat noi, muou, ngam, rowing boat..., many clubs also compose new lyrics for spoken songs, praising the homeland, country, leaders and the beauty of the times. This is a testament to the effort to create and renew heritage to be closer to today's public.
Ms. Le Thi Anh Mai - Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports , emphasized: "The festival has contributed to preserving and promoting the value of Ca Tru, encouraging teaching activities at the grassroots level, and at the same time discovering and nurturing young talents. Hanoi is also implementing Resolution 23/2022/HDND to create a mechanism for rewarding artisans and supporting intangible heritage clubs, including Ca Tru."
Artists persistently keep the fire of their profession
Born into a family with a tradition of singing ca tru in Kham Thien street, Hanoi and starting to sing ca tru at the age of 12, artist Nguyen Thi Chuc, when alive, hoped to have someone to take over the profession, because ca tru is not something that can be learned in just a few months, it requires artists to be dedicated for life.
Sharing the same wish, for many years now, the artists have quietly kept the fire of Ca Tru alive by opening free classes, calling on young students, and even using their own funds to organize performances. In traditional Ca Tru villages, such as Lo Khe (Dong Anh), Ngai Cau (Hoai Duc), etc., the elderly artists are still diligently teaching their children and grandchildren.
As the cradle of the art of Ca Tru in the whole country, Ca Tru Lo Khe is still preserved and developed in the modern life. According to Mr. Nguyen The Dam, Chairman of the Ca Tru Lo Khe Club, since the 15th century, there has been a specialized guild performing in all the towns and districts of Kinh Bac region and the entire Thang Long citadel. During the two national defense wars, people in Lo Khe opened singing halls in the central neighborhoods of the capital.
The first half of the 20th century is considered the prosperous period of the art of Ca Tru Lo Khe. Many famous singers, actresses, and actors were born here such as Pham Thi Mui, Nguyen Thi Diem, Nguyen Thi Tinh; famous actresses and actors Nguyen Thi Van, Nguyen Thi Nam, Nguyen The Bam, Nguyen Van Tieu...
Established in 1995, the Lo Khe Ca Tru Club currently has 58 members and about 15 student collaborators participating in performances.
Mr. Nguyen The Dam hopes that the Ca Tru Festival will be held every two years so that clubs will have more playgrounds, contributing to preserving and promoting the value of Ca Tru.
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| Ca tru is seeing more and more young faces. (Photo: Bui Trong Hien) |
Awakening love of heritage among young people
Not only artists, Ca Tru also has more and more young faces looking to traditional art as a way to connect with cultural roots.
Mr. Hoang Hai Dang (Thuong Mo Club) has only been a member of the Club for two months but has felt the ancient, nostalgic beauty of Ca Tru and feels very proud to contribute to preserving this traditional art.
Ca Tru also began to enter the classroom, becoming a research topic for students of conservatories and art schools. Many high schools invited artists to perform, helping students “see and hear”.
Some contemporary art projects have also experimented with combining ca tru with fine arts, electronic music, multimedia performances, etc. Although controversial, they have also opened up new approaches.
The Hanoi Ca Tru Festival is not only an art festival, but also a strong message that heritage can only last when it is loved, practiced and passed on.
Hanoi City has determined to make Ca Tru a unique cultural product, associated with heritage tourism , so that every visitor to the capital can once listen to the sound of clappers and strings.
In the context of integration, when modern music is widespread, Ca Tru still has a place if we know how to renew our approach like the enthusiasm of researcher Nguyen Quang Long in many projects that contribute to promoting Ca Tru's development again; aiming for the future of removing Ca Tru from the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in need of urgent protection to become a representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ca-tru-ha-noi-trong-hanh-trinh-bao-ton-va-lan-toa-329611.html
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