Then singing on Lam Dong plateau

Then singing is a folk song genre with religious colors of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic communities. The word "then" is a misreading of the word "thien" in Tay language, which means sky.

Originally, Then singing is a song that tells the story of a journey to heaven to ask the Jade Emperor to solve a problem for the village or the homeowner. The Tay, Nung, and Thai people consider Then singing to be a way to worship Heaven, the Jade Emperor, to give thanks and pray for favorable weather and good crops.

SINGING TO HEAVEN

Then singing is a type of folk art that includes many cultural and artistic elements as well as spiritual elements. Then singing is deeply attached to the spiritual life of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups in some Northwestern provinces such as Lang Son, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Ninh, and Quang Ninh... As mentioned, the origin of "Then" comes from the people's belief in a mystical world , where there are magical characters and powers such as Buddha, Giang, and Heaven, and only Then women and Then men have enough courage and ability to reach that world. When Then women and Then men offer the products of human beings to Muong and Heaven, they sing. At first, Then singing had only one person: hands playing the instrument, mouth singing, feet shaking the music. The lyrics of the Then song, mixed with the gentle rhythm of the Tinh lute, along with the sound of the cymbals, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, will bring the Then ladies and Then gentlemen to the Heavenly Muong to pray for the gods to save people. Therefore, the Then singers during festivals and New Year are the ones representing the community to communicate with the gods, praying for good crops, a prosperous and happy life. Then singing has many songs, pieces, and melodies. The lyrics are in the form of a performance combining Tinh lute music, dance, and acting with many different situations. The performing artist takes on the role of a general actor. They sing, accompany themselves, dance and act to express the content of the song, sometimes even performing acts such as chewing bowls, raising eggs, raising swords...

Then singing in the life of the Tay, Nung, Thai ethnic groups in the northern highlands is considered a "fairy song", a song of "Heaven". This folk performing art contains and displays long-standing historical and cultural values. Although it has spiritual elements, the content of Then singing reflects stories from life, the village, to love, funerals, and weddings. Then singing not only solves the problem of beliefs, but also teaches people; praises morality; criticizes bad habits; expresses love between men and women or praises love for nature, country... When studying traditional Then ceremonies, researchers clearly see the philosophy of life, world view and cultural identity of the people. Therefore, on the occasion of important events such as: praying for crops, praying for peace, and coming to the position of rank..., the people use Then singing and Tinh lute to speak their mind and express their feelings...

CLOSE UP OF THEN SINGING AND TINH MUSIC CLUB

Currently, a large number of Tay, Nung, Thai people in the northern region have moved to live in new rural areas in the southernmost provinces of the country, including the Central Highlands, bringing with them this traditional art and there, Then singing and Tinh lute have had their own vitality. Coming to Phuoc Cat area (Cat Tien 2 commune, Lam Dong), we got to know the Then singing and Tinh lute melodies in a space with extremely attractive highland colors. That is the "Phuoc Cat Then singing and Tinh lute" Club. The club was established on the basis of the needs and interests of Tay and Nung people who have settled in a new, remote land. This is their second homeland, besides stabilizing the economy , the people also want to introduce, maintain and preserve the spiritual beauty of the national cultural identity.

In the 1990s, many ethnic minorities from the North settled and made a living in the Lam Dong plateau. Phuoc Cat is one of the areas where the Tay and Nung people live most concentratedly. After more than thirty years of development, economic stability, and gradual rise to wealth, people have adapted and begun to love their second homeland. Life gradually became more prosperous, and the Then singing and Tinh lute sounds resounded and were sung in the village life. Because they missed the Tinh lute, some people made their own Tinh lutes from gourds, fishing lines, combined with hand-held musical instruments, tried singing and thus a chorus resounded. They sang when they went to the fields, or at night around the fire. Singing at longevity celebrations, weddings, housewarmings… and then dozens of Tinh lutes appeared, many Tay and Nung costumes were brought from the north, contributing to the completion of a team of Then singing artists in Phuoc Cat. Operating for a long time, it was not until early 2014 that the “Then singing, Tinh lute” Club was born based on the proposal of dozens of artists who love this art form. The club consists of 36 members of many ages, initially led by Mr. Nong Viet Kin as the club’s Chairman and Ms. Hoang Thi Bien as the Vice Chairman.

Coming to Phuoc Cat, we were able to listen to the people's Then singing and the Tinh lute, which were passionate and gentle in their sophistication, simplicity and rusticity. A female Then singing artist shared: "We love the Then singing of our people very much, it seems to be indispensable in the lives of our Tay people, no matter where we live. Even now, even though we are in our fifties, sometimes husbands and wives are angry with each other and cannot talk to each other. At those times, the Then singing is the best center for reconciliation. When the Then singing is sung, all fatigue and hardship disappear, leaving only love...".

As outlined above, “then” means “heaven” - then singing is a fairy song praying to Heaven. Then is a spiritual bridge carrying people's requests and wishes to the gods, hoping for favorable weather, good crops, a prosperous life, and a happy family. Therefore, carrying the ancestral tradition from the north, then singing on the plateau is also bustling during festivals, weddings, and parents' longevity celebrations with many melodies of the đàn, the flute, phong su, the Phất lan, Giá hai, Nàng ới, and hát Nay Ri (Nùng ethnic group) in poetic form. Carrying then singing from the homeland, in recent years, the Phước Cát town's Then singing and đàn tính club has turned then into a spiritual food associated with the cultural and religious activities of the Tay and Nung people in their new homeland. Currently, the club is known to many people and many regions. They also regularly organize exchanges with neighboring regions, participating in district and provincial level performances. Through that, the close relationship between the Tay, Nung and other ethnic groups is increasingly promoted. At Phuoc Cat night, we were really impressed with the emotional Then melodies combined with the gentle and passionate melody of the Tinh lute. It was really fun when the singing and the lute were in harmony with the old and young voices. Along with Mr. Trieu Van Chau, Nong Van Hoan, Ta The Lin and Mrs. Tham Thi Nuom, Trieu Thi Moi were the continuation of the young children such as Ma Thi Trang, Nong Thi Ngoc Han, Nong Thi Thuy Tram. Little Thuy Tram was only 12 years old but her singing voice was already resonant, her lute playing was already proficient under the guidance of the men and women...

UONG THAI BIEU

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/dieu-hat-then-tren-cao-nguyen-lam-dong-389196.html