Keeping the Xoan melody alive

In recent years, Phu Tho province has synchronously deployed many solutions to preserve and promote the value of Xoan singing, creating a new step in preserving the "original songs" of the nation.

Artists perform Xoan singing to serve tourists at community tourism sites.

Not only fulfilling the commitment to UNESCO but more importantly making Xoan singing truly become a part of community life, a unique cultural and tourism product of the homeland.

Teaching systematically, forming a solid successor team

Immediately after the People's Committee of Phu Tho province issued the Project to preserve and promote the value of Xoan singing in the period of 2020-2025, departments, branches and localities developed specific plans, considering this a key political task on culture of the province.

Propaganda work has been promoted on all types of press, digital platforms, and social networks; more than 500 news, articles, and reports on Xoan singing have been produced and broadcast in the past 5 years.

Not only stopping at communication, heritage education work in schools has been widely deployed. 100% of music teachers at all levels have participated in Xoan singing training courses organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; heritage content is integrated into the main and extracurricular programs, forming hundreds of Xoan singing clubs in schools.

In 5 years, the whole province has organized 14 training classes in the original Xoan wards with 226 students; 1 training class for next generation artisans with 52 talented students. Training classes at schools, agencies, and clubs were organized with nearly 1,000 students participating, creating a regular and widespread practice force.

In recent years, heritage leadership and management work has been widely deployed to each residential area. The government has closely coordinated with artisans and the community to maintain the practice, linking conservation with traditional festival activities, creating a sustainable "cultural ecosystem" for Xoan.

Of which, Van Phu ward has 4 original Xoan wards of the province, has organized more than 100 activities, heritage performances at the relic; opened 5 classes for students and union members, youth, attracting about 250 students. Artisan Bui Thi Kieu Nga, head of Xoan Thet wards said: "Our ward regularly maintains 2 activities per week, focusing on training next generation artisans and teaching to the community. Every summer, the classes are full because students are more passionate about Xoan singing than before."

People's Artisan Nguyen Thi Lich, head of Xoan An Thai guild, shared: "Each course lasts 10 sessions, held in the evening because during the day people still do farming.

But it is that atmosphere that has nurtured the love of Xoan singing so that we see the younger generation increasingly attached to the ancient singing." Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Van Phu Ward, Vu Thi Thu Hang, said: "If the government intervenes, the heritage will have an administrative life; if the community is united, the heritage will have a natural life. That combination creates a strong vitality for Xoan singing today."
Up to now, the original space of 4 Xoan guilds has been renovated and embellished, including An Thai, Thet, Kim Dai communal houses and Lai Len temple. This is an important condition to fully restore the rituals, customs and ancient songs in the most traditional environment.

In particular, the custom of “ket nuoc nghia”, a typical Xoan singing custom associated with the worship of Hung Kings, has been restored in 5 villages in the area. The restoration of this custom not only has cultural value but also rebuilds community ties, in line with the ancient Xoan spirit: “Singing to form relationships, strengthen village and neighborhood ties”.

Heritage spreads to the community

From 2020 to 2025, Phu Tho organized 4 provincial-level Xoan singing and folk song festivals, attracting nearly 2,500 artists and actors; 2 mass art festivals on the occasion of Hung Kings' death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival 2024-2025, attracting thousands of tourists. Many Xoan singing performances have been included in tourism activities such as "Xoan singing in ancient villages", "Hung Temple night tour", "Heritage Night"..., becoming special highlights for domestic and foreign tourists.

In recent years, the province has issued regulations on awarding the title of Phu Tho Xoan Singing Artist; provided annual financial support to 4 original Xoan wards such as equipping facilities, performance and display equipment; investing in infrastructure at relic sites associated with Xoan space with a total budget of more than 1 billion VND in the period 2021-2025.

Along with that, localities also mobilized socialization, such as Van Phu, which mobilized more than 200 million VND from businesses and people to buy costumes, musical instruments, organize classes and performance activities. Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Pham Thi Minh Loi said: "In recent years, the province has made efforts to make Xoan singing a typical tourism product of the homeland, creating a strong attraction for domestic and international tourists.

Performance spaces, exhibition areas and relic sites associated with the original Xoan guilds have been gradually invested in and exploited effectively, both serving tourists and harmonizing the two goals of heritage conservation and community tourism development. Looking back at the 2020-2025 period, it can be seen that Xoan singing is not only preserved in its original state but also strongly revived.

From village communal houses, schools to tourist spaces, heritage is present as a lasting "cultural lifeblood". In the coming period, the province aims to build a comprehensive digital platform, expand teaching in the community, perfect policies for artisans, more strongly connect heritage conservation and tourism development, and make Xoan singing a "cultural brand" of the homeland.

Article and photos: NGOC LONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giu-lua-lan-dieu-xoan-post928325.html