Bringing Gia Lai identity to the Central region's Bai Choi festival

(GLO)- The 2025 Central Region Bai Choi Singing Festival is scheduled to take place over two days (November 14 and 15) in Da Nang City. To bring unique performances, demonstrating the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of their homeland, artisans of Gia Lai province are actively practicing.

Gathering the "flavors" of Bai Choi

The festival has the theme "Fragrance and Colors of Central Vietnam 2025", with the participation of delegations representing 7 provinces and cities: Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang , Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Dak Lak.

The festival focuses on performing traditional melodies/pieces of Bai Choi such as Xang Xe, Ho Thai, Xuan Nu... expressing love for the homeland, country and the resilient and compassionate people of the Central region.

Along with that are performances praising the Party, Uncle Ho, honoring the tradition of revolutionary struggle; reflecting the beauty of labor, family affection, love between couples; conveying moral lessons, criticizing bad habits; retelling folk tales, ancient tales and meaningful historical events.

Artists and musicians practice to prepare for the Bai Choi Singing Festival in the Central region. Photo: PL

The program for each participating troupe is no more than 30 minutes, consisting of 2 parts: Greetings to the homeland and Homeland Festival. In addition, the troupes also participate in performances for the people and tourists in public spaces in Da Nang City.

To prepare for the Festival, the Provincial Cultural Center (Quy Nhon Ward) invited 16 artisans, actors, and musicians from communes and wards in the province, who have been practicing enthusiastically since October 26.

People's Artist Minh Duc (75 years old, from Ngo May commune) travels nearly 30 km every day to practice. Despite her advanced age, her singing voice is still full of power, allowing listeners to feel the unique characteristics of the ancient Bai Choi.

People's Artist Minh Duc, 75 years old this year, is still passionate about participating in activities to preserve and promote the heritage of Bai Choi. Photo: PL

She confided: "Having been attached to folk bai choi for more than half a century, the flame of passion still burns inside me.

Participating in the Festival is an honor and also an opportunity for us to introduce the unique features of our hometown's Bai Choi to everyone."

Regularly monitoring and encouraging the artists to practice, Mr. Huynh Hiep An - Director of the Provincial Cultural Center - said: The festival is organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to create opportunities for localities to exchange, learn, and share experiences in preserving and promoting the value of the art of Bài Chòi in Central Vietnam - a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity recognized by UNESCO.

The Organizing Committee also hopes to raise public awareness of the meaning and role of heritage in today's life, thereby arousing pride, awareness of preservation and promotion in the heritage community and in the whole society.

Promoting the new Gia Lai homeland

The program scripts of the Gia Lai delegation participating in the Festival, written by Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Phu (Tuy Phuoc commune), received enthusiastic contributions from participating artisans.

“I have composed many Thai verses that are closely related to the local reality, from the people, the landscape to the unique cultural features of Gia Lai province. Thanks to that, the singing part becomes closer and more lively, both preserving the spirit of the old Bai Choi and breathing into it the breath of today’s life” - Meritorious Artist Nguyen Phu shared.

“Hehe… A few words of introduction about Gia Lai/There are forests, mountains, long rivers, open seas/The love for the homeland is steadfast and strong/Gia Lai - Binh Dinh come together as one family…” - the opening lyrics of the song “Greetings to the homeland”, expressing joy and pride in the beauty of the (new) Gia Lai province as a “miniature Vietnam”.

Gia Lai artisans also skillfully incorporate simple yet profound verses, closely associated with local cultural and historical traditions such as: Quang Trung Museum, the image of Hero Nup, Can wine, Bau Da wine, traditional martial arts...

In the "Homeland Festival" section, the group of artists performed all forms: Opening ceremony, presenting cards, calling out the fetus, offering rewards... with unique Bai Choi melodies.

During the practice, the conductors, who are experienced artists, keep the rhythm, guide and inspire the members of the group.

The lyrics, verses and melodies are edited and supplemented to both preserve the traditional spirit and be close to today's life.

Musician Tran Kim Van, an officer of the Cultural Affairs Department (Provincial Cultural Center), said: "The troupe has chosen four traditional musical instruments including drums, two-stringed fiddle, two-stringed zither and monochord to perform.

Before practicing, we together chose the appropriate tone, melody and rhythm. The goal is to maintain the rustic, folk quality of Bài Chòi while still creating a unique highlight for Gia Lai's performance."

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/dua-ban-sac-gia-lai-den-voi-hoi-bai-choi-trung-bo-post570994.html