Folk Bai Choi Club – a place to connect passions and preserve heritage

VHO - To preserve the unique traditional culture of the nation, many localities in Quang Ngai province have made efforts to establish Bai Choi Clubs. The smooth lyrics, imbued with love for the homeland, are being preserved by dedicated people, and are being passed on to the younger generation.

Member of folk song club, performing bai choi

The folk song and bai choi club under the provincial Culture and Arts Center was established in September 2024 with 30 members. Each person has a different job and profession but shares the same passion and dedication to preserve and promote the art of bai choi.

Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Nga (39 years old), who teaches Music at Tinh Tho Primary School (Son Tinh district) also actively participates in the activities of the Folk Song and Bai Choi Club.

“The club is a bridge that helps me communicate with members who share the same passion. Tinh Tho Primary School has established a Music Club. In the near future, we will try to teach folk songs of Bai Choi to talented students, to pass on the passion to students who love Bai Choi,” Ms. Nga shared.

Quang Ngai currently has 7 folk song and bai choi clubs established with the support of the government, along with many teams and groups with about 500 participants. Among them, 1 artist was awarded the title of People's Artist by the State, 9 people were awarded the title of Meritorious Artist.

Singing Bai Choi to serve locals and tourists

To nurture the passion for Bai Choi in the community, the cultural sector regularly organizes teaching classes, regular club activities and performances to create a playground.

Head of the Folk Song and Bai Choi Club of the Provincial Culture and Arts Center, Meritorious Artist Tran Tam said that the unit regularly organizes many training classes, teaching Bai Choi singing skills; integrating Bai Choi playing festivals into some local art programs; and introducing Bai Choi to be taught at some schools in the province.

“Training in calling and singing Bai Choi will motivate those who love this art to have more confidence, improve their performance skills, especially attract young people, and create more "nuclei" to practice the folk Bai Choi heritage in localities,” Mr. Tam emphasized.

Meritorious Artist Tran Tam (right), Head of the Folk Song and Bai Choi Club of the Provincial Culture and Arts Center

To preserve and promote this unique form of the nation, the government and generations of artisans, artists and researchers have worked together to overcome difficulties, bringing new vitality and influence to Bài Chòi.

“One solution to preserve and promote the value of the heritage of Bài Chòi is to organize competitions to compose and write Bài Chòi scripts associated with the rhythm and breath of contemporary life. At the same time, the locality organizes talks and free Bài Chòi classes for tour guides to arouse their passion, awareness of learning, and raise their sense of responsibility in preserving and promoting the great value of this art form,” said Meritorious Artist Trần Tám.

Quang Ngai strives that by 2030, each district, town and city will have a Bai Choi art performance venue to serve the people and tourists.

Director of Quang Ngai Province Culture and Arts Center Tran Nhu Tuan shared that in recent years, implementing the Project to preserve and promote folk art and Bai Choi of the province, the Department has directed the Center to establish a Bai Choi folk song club. Every year, it organizes performances at many tourist attractions and schools.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/cau-lac-bo-bai-choi-dan-gian-noi-ket-noi-dam-me-gin-giu-di-san-144664.html