'Living heritage' singer Hoang Trong Kha passes away at the age of 102

Artisans Hoang Trong Kha and Trinh Ngoc Minh - Photo: Provided by Nguyen Quang Long

The memorial service for artisan Hoang Trong Kha took place on the afternoon of February 17th at the funeral home of Viet Xo Hospital, Hanoi .

The memorial service and funeral procession took place that afternoon, with burial at the Hoan Vu crematorium in Hanoi.

Music critic Nguyen Quang Long informed Tuoi Tre Online that the number of outstanding artisans of the traditional Vietnamese folk singing tradition is not large, and Mr. Hoang Trong Kha was one of the few. Therefore, "the news of his passing still leaves me feeling melancholic and empty," he said.

According to Mr. Long, artisan Hoang Trong Kha is a practitioner of traditional Vietnamese folk singing.

Speaking about the musician Hoang Trong Kha, Mr. Long said, "Mr. Kha played the instrument very meticulously, adhering to the rules and styles of each region." Anyone who studied with him knew he was a very strict teacher. He taught his students systematically, from how to sit and cross their legs.

Long recounted that at the end of last year, Mr. Kha had become frail, unable to play musical instruments, sing, or even speak.

However, when talking about playing musical instruments and singing, about how his life was intertwined with the enchanting sounds of folk singing, Mr. Kha gradually became more alert, his face brightened, and he spoke more.

When Trinh Ngoc Minh, a young artist, sang a few words as prompts, the old man immediately sang along.

On previous visits to Mr. Kha, he talked about playing musical instruments, singing, and passing on his skills. He also showed me ancient texts on folk singing written in Han Nom script, reading, translating, and explaining them to young artists.

"He has ascended to heaven and will continue to sing and play music to offer to the gods and saints. We bid farewell to him - a living legacy of folk singing," said Nguyen Quang Long.

Meritorious Artist Hoang Trong Kha was born in 1923 in Hanoi into a family with a musical tradition.

His father was a traditional folk singer, so from the age of 10, he began to be taught classical Chinese and musical instruments.

Having dedicated almost his entire life to the art of folk singing, he traveled extensively and performed in numerous temples, shrines, and palaces.

In March 2012, veteran folk musician Hoang Trong Kha was officially awarded the title of "Outstanding Artisan" by the Folk Arts Association.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/di-san-song-hat-van-hoang-trong-kha-qua-doi-tho-102-tuoi-20240217155801891.htm