Preserving and promoting the art of Hung Trach Tuong Boi singing

According to Chairman of Hung Trach Commune People's Committee Le Ngoc Son, Hung Trach Tuong Boi singing was born around the 16th century, when Quang Binh was a border area of ​​Dang Trong and Tuong Boi singing was brought by Dang Trong soldiers to guard the border along Gianh and Son rivers to perform for each other. Because of their passion for Tuong, people in the villages along Gianh and Son rivers, including people in Hung Trach commune, learned and from there transformed it to form the art of Tuong singing as it is today.

Some other artists in the opera troupes of Hung Trach commune said that the opera of Hung Trach commune was created by the elders who went to see opera in Ke Doi (now Hai Phu commune), a famous opera village in the song: "At night, listening to the sound of Ke Doi drums - The sound of Ke Hac bells, the sound of Ke Lau whistles" (Ke Doi drums are the sound of opera drums, Ke Hac bells are church bells, Ke Lau whistles can be the sound of hunters' horns). Because they were so passionate about and loved opera from other villages, after watching opera, some people of Hung Trach commune, such as: Mr. Tran Nghi, Tran Van Luong, later Tran Thi Que, Tran Dai, Tran Tuy... recalled and recorded, practiced and performed for each other, and the elders themselves transformed themselves into female singers, brave generals, and mandarins in the plays, gradually forming their own opera troupe.

Tuong Boi singing in Hung Trach commune (Bo Trach) is indispensable during local holidays and Tet.

Through the ups and downs of time, the Tuong troupes of other villages have gradually faded away, only the Tuong troupes in Hung Trach commune still survive, the sound of Tuong drums still resounds loudly and bustlingly in the spring nights or whenever the village has a festival; all blending into the excited atmosphere of the people here's passion for Tuong Boi. During the years of resistance against French colonialism and American imperialism, despite being bombed and bulleted, having to move from place to place many times to ensure safety, the people of Hung Trach still consider the notebooks recording Tuong plays as "inseparable objects". When they cannot bring them with them, they try to put the notebooks recording Tuong plays in the safest and most reliable place before leaving the village.

The war ended, life was full of worries, everyone focused on healing the wounds of war, so Hung Trach Tuong Boi singing somewhat faded away. Perhaps, this was also the period when the art of Tuong Boi in villages such as Ke Doi, Ke Hac and some other localities in Bo Trach district gradually became distant from the people.

After the renovation period, Tuong Boi singing has resumed but has also had many ups and downs. In recent years, implementing the Party's policies and the State's policies on culture and arts, Tuong Boi singing has gradually received attention, creating conditions for its recovery. Not only the artists practicing Tuong Boi singing, but also the people in Hung Trach commune and neighboring localities also wish to regularly enjoy the plays to dispel the stressful and tiring working days.

Vice Chairman of Bo Trach District People's Committee Nguyen Huu Hong affirmed: "The recognition of the folk art of Tuong Boi singing in Hung Trach commune as a national intangible cultural heritage is an important milestone, demonstrating the enduring vitality of this folk art form. This is also a clear affirmation of the stature and value of Tuong Boi singing in the national cultural treasure and spiritual life of the people of Quang Binh. To be worthy of that noble title, the cadres and people of Hung Trach commune need to pay attention to propaganda,education and promotion of heritage; focus on teaching and training the next generation, especially young students; pay attention to investing funds to support the activities of the Tuong Boi singing club...".

In 2008, some artists in the Tuong troupe of Hung Trach commune were invited by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to attend a training course on the art of Tuong singing at the Central Tuong Theater. Since then, Tuong Boi Hung Trach has been restored and truly revived. The Tuong Boi Club of Hung Trach commune was established, gathering artists who are still deeply involved in Tuong singing to preserve and find a direction for this art form.

Every year, at the beginning of the new year, the full moon of the first lunar month, and the major festivals of the commune, the performances of the Tuong troupe are indispensable. Not only performing in the commune, the Tuong troupe of Hung Trach commune also participates in exchange programs in the province and performs in major festivals of the homeland, contributing to arousing in each local resident the love for their homeland and the awareness of preserving the traditional cultural identity of the locality.

Mr. Tran Xuan Dinh, Head of the Tuong Boi Singing Club of Hung Trach Commune, said: “The recognition of Tuong Boi Singing in Hung Trach Commune as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage is our great pride and honor. The artists who are participating in the Tuong Boi Singing Club of Hung Trach Commune promise to always try their best to develop this art form and pass it on to future generations.”

Le Mai

Source: https://baoquangbinh.vn/van-hoa/202505/gin-giu-phat-huy-nghe-thuat-hat-tuong-boi-hung-trach-2226130/