Preserving the soul of the Phuc Lam drum-playing heritage.

Four generations cherish the traditional drum melody.

Visiting Phuc Lam village (Dai Xuyen commune, Hanoi ) these days, Meritorious Artisan Kieu Thi Mach (born in 1956, Head of the Phuc Lam Village Drum and Song Club) is still diligently practicing with the members, preparing for local events. In our conversation, Artisan Kieu Thi Mach always expressed her concern about preserving and promoting the traditional drum and song singing of the village.

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Artists perform the traditional drum-singing song at Phuc Lam communal house. Photo: Hong Nhung.

Ms. Mach shared that her family is one of the few families with many generations involved in the traditional drumming tradition. Her mother, the late Meritorious Artist Kieu Thi Chai, was the one who preserved and passed on the melodies to her descendants. Ms. Mach and her husband, Meritorious Artist Dao Anh Chen, have continued, cherished, and passed on that flame to the next generation. For her family, the traditional drumming is not just a form of folk art, but also a memory, a way of life, and the very soul of their village.

Artist Kieu Thi Mach became familiar with the drum and troupe melodies from the age of 5-6, through the songs taught by her grandmother and mother. The lyrics, rhythm, and drum beat gradually seeped into her soul over the years. The drum and troupe have accompanied her throughout her life, through difficult times, becoming an indispensable part of her existence. Later, when she participated in youth and women's organizations, Ms. Mach maintained the habit of "wherever there is a meeting, there is singing."

Their love for the traditional folk songs of the Mách family began with the drumming and singing of the folk music. Mrs. Mách and her husband have three grown children, each with their own career, but they all share a passion for this traditional music. Every time they gather, the whole family sings together. Their daughter, Đào Thị Tuyến (born in 1982), is a member of the Phúc Lâm Drumming and Singing Club, and their granddaughter, Đào Ngọc Minh Châu (15 years old), despite working far away, regularly participates in folk song competitions and performances in the commune and Hanoi. Notably, Minh Châu, whom her grandparents teach whenever she returns home, sings the drumming and singing songs very well and shows great promise.

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The Phuc Lam Military Drum and Singing Club is growing stronger. Photo: Hong Nhung.

Ms. Mach explained that the drum-singing tradition in Phuc Lam village originated to alleviate the hardships and fatigue of farmers after working in the fields. On clear, moonlit nights, young men and women in the village would sing love songs and riddles until late at night. The unique feature of Phuc Lam drum-singing is that the lyrics always include the word "time" and are always in rhythm with the drums...

Efforts to restore folk cultural heritage

According to artisan Kieu Thi Mach, in the past, during village festivals (10th day of the 3rd lunar month), the Mother Goddess commemoration (12th day of the 8th lunar month), the Mother Goddess procession (12th day of the 8th lunar month), and the Lunar New Year, the village organized a drum-singing competition in the communal courtyard. After 1945, due to the war, drum-singing gradually fell into oblivion.

When peace was restored in 1975, the "drumming and singing" tradition was only mentioned again in village festivals. By then, those skilled in this tradition were all old and frail, and the risk of it disappearing was very high.

Unwilling to let their heritage be lost, Mrs. Mach and her husband, along with several other dedicated individuals, went from house to house, meticulously recording the melodies and ancient songs. Over 50 lyrics for the "Trong Quan" drum songs were collected and composed for the villagers to perform. "There are no textbooks or standard musical scores; the only documentation about the 'Trong Quan' drums exists in the memories of the elderly villagers. Each phrase, each rhythm, was recorded and pieced together, becoming the foundation for the reconstruction of the Phuc Lam 'Trong Quan' drums," Mrs. Mach explained.

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Distinguished artisan Kieu Thi Mach teaches the traditional drum-accompanied folk songs to the younger generation. Photo: Hong Nhung.

In 1997, the former Phu Xuyen district organized a folk song festival, and Phuc Lam village participated and won a high prize, marking the return of Phuc Lam's drum-singing troupe. Since then, the troupe has continuously increased its membership and improved the quality of its performances.

In 2014, Professor To Ngoc Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, visited Phuc Lam to research the "Trong Quan" folk singing tradition and concluded that it was an intangible cultural heritage in urgent need of preservation. That same year, People's Artist Thuy Ngan also spent three days in Phuc Lam to work with artisans in compiling and staging several performances, laying the foundation for Phuc Lam's "Trong Quan" to participate in professional city-level competitions.

Thanks to the efforts of the artisans and the support of the local government, in 2016, the Phuc Lam Drum and Song Club was officially established with 18 initial members. That same year, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports recognized the drum and song as a city-level intangible cultural heritage. This gave the club a boost both materially and spiritually. The number of members increased, and activities became more organized. Phuc Lam drum and song performances not only appear in communal courtyards but also participate in district and city-level festivals and cultural exchange programs, gradually asserting its position among many other folk melodies.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thoan, a member of the traditional drum club and an artisan who has been involved with the drumming tradition since the age of 9, emotionally recounted how Ms. Mach's efforts in reviving and restoring it have helped many people like her "rediscover their spiritual vitality." "The traditional drumming tradition gradually revived from joyful singing sessions at the beginning of the village, and then became more organized and spread widely. Today, the club is not only a place for cultural activities but also a source of pride for the entire village," Ms. Thoan stated.

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The People's Committee of Dai Xuyen commune has compiled a scientific dossier on the "Drum Singing of Phuc Lam Village" heritage to propose its recognition as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports also plans to develop and evaluate the scientific dossier to submit to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for inclusion in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2026, contributing to the preservation and promotion of long-standing cultural values in the locality.
Head of Culture Department
- Society of Dai Xuyen commune, Nguyen Xuan Quynh

Passing on the tradition of drum and folk singing to the younger generation.

Ms. Mach confided, "The Phuc Lam military drum is not just a sound, but the rhythm of life, the very breath of the countryside." Therefore, for her, passing on the tradition is not only a responsibility but also a heartfelt aspiration. She hopes that today's young generation will continue the tradition so that the flow of the military drum will not be interrupted in modern life.

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The "Hát trống quân" (Drumming and Singing in Military Style) performance is not only a cultural activity but also a source of pride for the entire Phuc Lam village. Photo: Hong Nhung

For many years, Ms. Mach and other artisans have persistently kept the tradition alive, going from house to house to encourage students to participate in weekend and summer activities.

To date, the club has enrolled over 100 children. Classes are held regularly on weekends, ensuring both academic learning and fostering a love for heritage.

In addition, schools also invite Ms. Mach and other artisans to perform and talk about the cultural heritage of Phuc Lam's drum-singing tradition during extracurricular activities. For Ms. Mach, this is a way to bring the drum-singing melodies closer to the younger generation, helping students not only know but also understand and love the cultural heritage of their homeland.

Dao Thanh Hoa (13 years old), who has been involved with the "Trong Quan" folk singing style for three years, always expresses joy and excitement whenever she participates in club activities. Hoa says that "Trong Quan" has very distinctive songs that require persistent practice. "My grandmother is a 'Trong Quan' folk singer and has always instilled in me a passion for this style. I feel very happy that I can contribute a small part to preserving and promoting the cultural values of my locality," Thanh Hoa shared.

What artisan Kieu Thi Mach always hopes for is that the drum-accompanied folk singing of Phuc Lam village will receive more attention from relevant authorities, especially that this art form will soon be recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, thereby promoting its preservation.

“Phuc Lam drum-singing has gone through many ups and downs, but now it has a firm place in the hearts of the people. However, we still have one concern, which is to request that the State soon recognize Phuc Lam drum-singing as a national intangible cultural heritage, in order to preserve this precious value from ancient times,” Ms. Mach expressed.

Dao Thi May, Secretary of the Party Branch of Phuc Lam village, affirmed that the "Trong Quan" singing tradition is a long-standing source of pride for the village. When the city initiated the restoration and preservation of this tradition, Phuc Lam village clearly recognized its responsibility to preserve and pass it on to the younger generation.

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Members of the Phuc Lam village's Military Drum Singing Club. Photo: Hong Nhung

Acknowledging the contributions of Meritorious Artisan Kieu Thi Mach and other artisans in the village, Ms. May emphasized: “The Club's Management Board and artisans are very enthusiastic, creative, and dedicated to teaching the younger generation. Many children aged 8 to 15 regularly participate in club activities on weekends, especially during summer vacation. This activity helps them understand and appreciate precious folk melodies, while also creating an environment for fun and mental training. The club also aims to attract younger generations aged 14-30, with the goal of expanding membership and contributing to spreading the value of the traditional drum music.”

According to Nguyen Xuan Quynh, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Dai Xuyen Commune: Currently, the Phuc Lam Village Drum and Song Club has 29 members, belonging to three generations: senior citizens, middle-aged people, and young people. The oldest member of the club is over 90, while the youngest is only 8 years old. Notably, the club has 6 outstanding artisans who have been awarded titles. Since its establishment, the club has participated in many competitions and achieved proud awards, such as the Special Prize at the Phu Xuyen District Folk Song and Dance Festival (before the merger) and the First Prize at the Hanoi City Folk Song and Dance Festival in 2017...

For her contributions, Meritorious Artisan Kieu Thi Mach was honored with the title "Good Person, Good Deed" from the Hanoi People's Committee in 2023 and the title of Outstanding Woman of Hanoi from the Hanoi Women's Union in 2023.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/giu-hon-di-san-trong-quan-phuc-lam-744140.html