Preserving national folk songs

Thai Singing Club, Group 3, Chieng An Ward, activities.

Currently, Chieng An ward has over 90% of Thai ethnic people living, folk songs are closely associated with the spiritual life of the people since the beginning of the village, becoming a precious heritage passed down from generation to generation. In group 3, Chieng An ward, to preserve ethnic folk songs, in 2020, the Thai Singing Club was established, attracting over 85 members to participate. Ms. Lo Xuan Huong, Chairman of the Club, said: Since its establishment, the Club has actively practiced and brought ethnic songs and performed at the group's and village's art programs, participated in cultural exchanges at events inside and outside the province, contributing to the preservation of ethnic folk songs.

In each region, Thai folk songs have different melodies, but they all originate from daily life. Many Thai singers can look at the surrounding scenery to compose lyrics, with simple, familiar words that captivate people's hearts. Genres of Thai folk songs include: "Khập xứ" (poetry singing, reciting poetry); "Khập chom mang" (welcome singing); "Khập báo sao" (love song); "Khập long Tông" (song along the fields); "Khập chíu, rẻ bắc" (improvised singing). Of these, "Khập báo sao" or love song is a favorite and quite popular melody.

Member of Thai Singing Club, Group 3, Chieng An Ward, sings Thai folk songs.

Meritorious Artist Hoang Mai, Group 4, Chieng An Ward, shared: "Kháp báo sao" is a male-female duet, talking about life, love, often sung during holidays, New Year, marriage, moving to a new house... With pure lyrics, praising human feelings, encouraging each other in life. The love songs are arranged in rhyme and rhythm like poems. Thai lyrics do not need to be set to music to be able to be sung smoothly, but if there are additional sounds of pi pap and erhu in harmony, it will make the song more lively and attractive.

To preserve and promote the value of Thai ethnic folk songs, Chieng An ward always improves the quality and effectiveness of mass cultural and artistic activities; encourages socialization and mobilizes capital sources to build cultural institutions, creating favorable spaces for people to practice; guides and supports the creation of works of artistic value. In particular, focuses on maintaining the activities of Thai ethnic cultural clubs in the area.

Mr. Tran Cong Chinh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chieng An Ward, said: The ward has 17 Thai ethnic cultural clubs, with 1,014 members participating, regularly practicing ethnic dances and folk songs. The ward has invested in the art troupes in terms of facilities, and provided financial support to maintain cultural and folk performances. It regularly pays attention to recreating cultural and literary works, ethnic folk songs, especially songs adapted from famous Thai poems such as: Khun Lu Nang Ua, Hien Hom, Song Chu Xon Xao.

Thai ethnic folk culture is rich in content and diverse in genres. In that treasure, folk songs always hold a central position. Although modern life has many changes, Thai ethnic people in Chieng An ward always preserve and promote traditional folk songs, contributing to enriching the national cultural treasure, fostering love for the homeland in the young generation.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/van-hoa-van-nghe-the-thao/gin-giu-lan-dieu-dan-ca-dan-toc-rMnHD08HR.html