According to insiders, there are significant gaps in the training of human resources for traditional theater orchestras in Ho Chi Minh City, including Cai Luong and Don Ca Tai Tu (traditional Southern Vietnamese opera). If not addressed promptly, traditional theater will face a severe shortage of successors.
Expectations for the "training model"
From May 10th to 19th, the Department of Performing Arts, in coordination with the Departments of Culture and Sports of provinces and cities and other relevant agencies and units, will organize the "Training Course for Actors and Musicians of Traditional Tuong Opera - 2024" at the Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theatre, Da Nang City. This will then be implemented in other provinces and cities nationwide with the aim of investing in traditional orchestras for traditional theater.
A scene from the Cai Luong play "Teacher Ba Doi" - which tells the story of a man who brought Cai Luong music into people's lives and his desire to pass on traditional Vietnamese music to the younger generation.
Through the training program, in addition to actors receiving in-depth training in acting techniques, singing, and traditional opera dancing, the focus is on musicians receiving in-depth training in methods of performing ancient opera melodies, methods of playing traditional musical instruments in orchestras, and handling stage situations.
People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi said he looks forward to the training course being organized soon in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern provinces and cities to practically build a generation of standard and enthusiastic musicians for traditional orchestras, gradually overcoming the shortage of musicians.
"For a long time, due to a lack of successors, the traditional music ensemble has been replaced by organs, which greatly affects the value of Cai Luong and Don Ca Tai Tu music," lamented People's Artist Ut Ty.
Traditional music still holds appeal.
Music Master Vu Kim Yen (FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City) - who initiated and organized hundreds of sessions introducing traditional Vietnamese musical instruments to schools - believes that young people are not necessarily only interested in contemporary entertainment and dislike traditional instruments. In fact, students really enjoyed the presentations showcasing the unique features of instruments like the zither, lute, and pipa. "Especially when the traditional orchestra performed hit songs from today's pop music scene, the students cheered enthusiastically. From this initial inspiration, many schools have established clubs for traditional musical instruments and groups to familiarize themselves with traditional music," Ms. Vu Kim Yen stated.
Distinguished Teacher Pham Thuy Hoan also believes that with a suitable strategy and training curriculum, the human resources for traditional orchestras in Ho Chi Minh City will be abundant. "Every year, the Department of Performing Arts, the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, and the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music organize competitions and festivals on traditional musical instruments. This is a resource that needs to be trained and honed so that they can enter professional activities," said Distinguished Teacher Pham Thuy Hoan.
According to insiders, a long-term strategy and specific mechanisms for training professional musicians for traditional stages are urgently needed. Because most of the skilled artisans and musicians are elderly and frail, they will leave, taking their valuable experience with them, which would be a disadvantage for the younger generation of musicians.
"The current way of applying traditional music is very arbitrary and unconvincing, gradually leading to misunderstandings about how traditional orchestras should be used in cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera). This must be rectified soon, otherwise it will be too late and we will be failing our ancestors," said People's Artist Giang Mạnh Hà, Vice President of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association, expressing his frustration.
"Traditional music schools in cities and provinces are seeing a decline in students. If we don't strengthen them, seek out talented individuals, and create opportunities for them to learn and practice the profession, traditional theatrical music ensembles risk being wiped out," worried People's Artist Ngoc Giau.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/cham-chut-nguon-nhan-luc-dan-nhac-co-196240510213809797.htm
Comment (0)