Preserving the zither and the Then dance.

With the skillful hands and dedication of an artisan, Mr. Ha Van Nguyen in Kien Lao village, Quy Mong commune, has devoted his entire life to preserving and spreading the essence of Then singing and Tinh playing - a precious cultural heritage of the Tay ethnic group.

Born into a family with a rich artistic tradition, with both his maternal grandparents being artisans and craftsmen of the đàn tính (a traditional Vietnamese stringed instrument), Mr. Hà Văn Nguyện developed a passion for the đàn tính at the age of 12.

Not only did he learn how to tune and adjust the instrument according to ancient Then melodies, but from a young age, Mr. Nguyen practiced crafting simple parts of the instrument, along with learning Then rhythms and chants.

Making a zither requires patience and skillful hands.

To date, although he can't remember the exact number of instruments he's made, his greatest joy and happiness is having donated about 100 Tày folk instruments to Then singing clubs and relatives, contributing to the preservation, performance, and dissemination of the Tày ethnic culture.

For artisan Ha Van Nguyen, crafting the Tinh lute is a process of learning and research. Making the instrument requires meticulousness and skillful hands.

Making a đàn tính (a traditional Vietnamese stringed instrument) involves many steps, from creating the wooden blank to shaping the neck, and then crafting the soundboard and body. Every step in the making of a đàn tính requires meticulous attention to detail.

Artisan Ha Van Nguyen, Kien Lao village, Quy Mong commune.

The zithers crafted by artisan Ha Van Nguyen are famous in the region for their lightness, accurate tone, and resonant, rich sound, making them popular with many customers. All stages of production are done by hand, with precise carving and sculpting.

In particular, tuning the holes in the instrument requires a keen ear and good sound perception; the strings must be of the correct type and size for all three strings. Therefore, to have a good instrument with accurate sound, the craftsman must know how to sing Then melodies and understand the basic intervals and music theory.

According to Mr. Nguyen, this is a special profession because the work of the craftsman is to preserve, conserve, and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation.

Not only is Mr. Nguyen a talented artisan, but he is also a dedicated teacher, passing on his love for the zither and Then singing to many generations. Mr. Ha Minh Hop in Dong Cat village is a prime example.

Now nearly 70 years old, Mr. Hop is still diligently playing the zither and performing Then melodies. Although he started learning the instrument at the age of 12, he hasn't received formal training, so he doesn't know many of the melodies.

In 2014, he was invited by the commune to participate in a class teaching Then singing and Tinh lute playing led by Mr. Nguyen. Thanks to his dedicated teaching, Mr. Hop has now memorized the Then melodies, mastered the Tinh lute, and deeply understands the value of ethnic culture.

Artisan Ha Van Nguyen guides members of the Then singing and zither playing club in performing the zither.

Mr. Nguyen also actively instilled a passion for the zither and Then folk melodies in the younger generation.

Mr. Bui Hoang Luc from Kien Lao village shared: "The sound of the zither is very beautiful, making me want to learn to preserve and promote the beauty of my ethnic culture."

For many years, Mr. Nguyen's music has been a highlight in local festivals, provincial and commune-level performances, and has been warmly received by the public. Besides his talent for singing and playing musical instruments, Mr. Nguyen also has a knack for composing. He adapts Then songs to themes praising his homeland, love, and labor, making them relatable and easy to remember for members of the commune's Then singing and zither club.

Ms. Ha Thi Huyen Trang shared: "I've only recently joined the club, but I've already fallen in love with the songs and music, and gained a deeper understanding of our ethnic culture. I regularly participate in exchanges and performances to spread the values ​​of Tay culture to tourists."

In Mr. Nguyen's stilt house, the sounds of the zither and the Then dance still echo every day.

For artisan Ha Van Nguyen, Then singing and playing the Tinh lute have become a passion and a responsibility towards national culture. He is always committed to passing on his knowledge to the younger generation to preserve the cultural heritage left by their ancestors, helping the Tinh lute and Then melodies continue to thrive in the spiritual life of the people.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giu-gin-dan-tinh-dieu-then-post886402.html