The birthplace of Ca Tru singing
Every spring, when villages are bustling with festivities, many lovers of traditional art flock to the ancestral home of Ca Tru singing in Dong Mon village (Hoa Binh ward). The ancient atmosphere of the temple comes alive as the sounds of the zither, the drums, and the voices of the female singers blend together in the early spring singing sessions.
In the memories of many elders, ca trù (traditional Vietnamese singing) flourished in Dong Mon. Each family there was practically a small singing establishment, with "the grandfather playing the instrument and the grandson singing, the father playing and the son singing," the sound of the clappers echoing from the beginning of the village. Children grew up surrounded by the sounds of the instruments, many of them later becoming famous singers and musicians, traveling with performing troupes throughout the northern provinces.
Not only Dong Mon, but also Cung Chuc village (Vinh Thinh commune) was once a famous center for Ca Tru singing in the region. According to the elders, there was a time when the female singers and male musicians of Cung Chuc were invited to perform in many localities. However, due to historical upheavals and wars, many relics and documents related to Ca Tru have been lost, causing this art form to gradually decline.
Mr. Tran Ba Su, former Chairman of the Dong Mon Ca Tru Club, shared: "We were born in the world of Ca Tru, so the sounds of the zither and percussion have become an integral part of our lives. Every time we sing, I always feel the breath of our ancestors, of an entire region with a long-standing culture."
Ca trù is not only a musical genre but also a unique form of cultural activity. In the setting of temple performances or casual singing, listeners not only hear the singing but also appreciate the artistry of the đàn đáy (a type of stringed instrument), the trống chầu (a type of drum), and the performance style of the female singer. The đàn đáy's sound, sometimes deep and sometimes resonant, harmonizes with the rhythm to create an ancient and profound sound; while the ca trù singing is nuanced, graceful, and possesses the elegant beauty of scholarly art.
Today, Ca Tru singing performances in Dong Mon are held during the Spring Festival. More than just a traditional cultural activity, it's also an opportunity for the community to remember the origins of this unique art form from the coastal region.
Keeping the flame of heritage alive.
After many ups and downs throughout history, Ca Tru singing in Hai Phong is gradually being restored thanks to the joint efforts of artisans, the government, and the community.
In 1993, the first Ca Tru clubs in Hai Phong were established. To date, the city has many regularly active clubs such as Dong Mon, Xu Dong, Dang Giang, and the Hai Phong Ca Tru guild… Besides performing for the public, these clubs also actively teach the art to the younger generation.
One notable initiative is the introduction of Ca Tru (a traditional Vietnamese musical genre) into schools. Since the 2023-2024 school year, Hoa Binh Primary School has incorporated Ca Tru into its Local Education curriculum and established a club for students. According to Mr. Le Van Thai, a member of the Dong Mon Ca Tru Club, with the support of the local government and the school, students are given opportunities to participate in club activities, allowing them to quickly become familiar with this art form, which is traditionally selective in both singers and listeners.
Not only in schools, but many community cultural activities are also organized to spread the values of Ca Tru. Every year, Hoa Binh ward organizes the commemoration ceremony for the founders of Ca Tru with performances and the reconstruction of the traditional singing space at the communal house.
However, the preservation of Ca Tru still faces many difficulties. The number of artisans with deep knowledge of this art form is decreasing, the operating budget of the clubs is limited, while young audiences are not yet truly familiar with and appreciative of this scholarly art form.
According to Meritorious Artist Tô Tuyên, Chairman of the Đông Môn Ca Trù Club, for Ca Trù to develop sustainably, comprehensive solutions are needed. First, management agencies need to have a direction to make Ca Trù a professional art form, thereby creating favorable conditions for the preservation and promotion of the heritage's value. In addition, localities also need to have mechanisms to provide direct support to clubs and artists.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, the sounds of stringed instruments, percussion, and the melodies of traditional Vietnamese folk singing (ca trù) still quietly resonate, like a thread connecting the past with the present. Spring arrives not only with the colors of flowers but also returns in the songs of the ancestral home of ca trù.
THANH HOASource: https://baohaiphong.vn/hoi-sinh-ca-tru-tren-dat-cang-537611.html
Comment (0)