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| Mr. Dao Van Hoi spent his whole life engrossed in Then-Tinh singing. |
Having previously served as the head of the commune's police force, after retiring, Mr. Hoi did not choose the usual leisurely life of old age. Instead, he joined the Elderly Association of Phuc Luong commune (formerly) and devoted his heart and soul to preserving and conserving the Then singing melodies and the Tinh lute music, which are in danger of disappearing over time.
Born and raised in a land where the Tay people make up over 80% of the population, where the culture of Then singing and Tinh playing was once the voice and lullaby of grandmothers and mothers, Mr. Hoi has always been deeply concerned: "If no one steps forward to revive it, then the younger generation will only know Then singing and Tinh playing through stories, and it will gradually fade away, become vague, and eventually disappear completely..."
That sentiment became the driving force for him and the Executive Committee of the Elderly Association of Phuc Luong commune to establish the intergenerational Then singing and Tinh lute playing club in Phuc Luong commune in 2023.
Starting with just 7 members, mostly elderly people, but thanks to their sense of responsibility, dedication, and well-organized methods, the club has now grown to 20 members, including middle-aged and young people, and notably, 4 teenagers who are learning Then singing and Tinh playing.
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| Mr. Hoi regularly practices playing the Tinh instrument. |
With the approval of the Party Committee and the People's Committee of the commune, Mr. Hoi, who was then assigned to be in charge of the culture and arts of the Elderly Association of the commune, worked tirelessly day and night, going to each hamlet to find elderly people who knew how to play the Tinh lute and sing the ancient Then melodies, inviting and encouraging them to participate.
"We went to each house, talked, recounted memories, and rekindled a love for our national culture, and only then were we able to assemble the team," Mr. Hoi shared.
After its establishment, the club agreed on clear operating regulations and held regular meetings every Saturday. The initial training sessions were filled with excitement mixed with apprehension, but after three months, the members gradually mastered the techniques of Then singing, learned the basics of playing the Tinh instrument, and began to perform confidently.
To improve the quality of club activities, Mr. Hoi and the Club's Management Board proactively invited Then singers and Tinh lute players from within and outside the province to teach them the skills of playing the instrument, the style of singing traditional Then melodies, and modern Then tunes. As a result, many club members not only know how to sing but also confidently play the instrument and perform independently.
Several prominent members have been invited to perform at numerous major cultural events in the province. In particular, last year, the club represented the province at the 15th National Then Singing Festival in Tan Trao, Tuyen Quang , leaving a deep impression on the audience.
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| Members of the club perform Then singing and Tinh lute playing. |
For Mr. Dao Van Hoi, the greatest joy is not just the applause during performances, but also the sparkling eyes of young people when they hold a Tinh instrument for the first time, or the trembling, humming voice of an elderly person rediscovering childhood memories through the ancient Then melody.
From the successful operation of the Then singing and Tinh lute playing club, Mr. Hoi has drawn some valuable lessons: The establishment of the club should not be driven by trends but stem from actual needs, the people's love for the culture, and the existing cultural potential; regular and systematic activities should be organized, operating according to clear regulations, closely following the Party and State's guidelines on preserving and developing traditional culture; activities should be constantly renewed, from practicing, learning to play instruments and sing, to organizing exchange events, thereby attracting multi-generational participation…
At an age rarely seen before, Mr. Dao Van Hoi remains enthusiastic, fulfilling his role as a "seed sower" and "keeper of the soul" of Tay culture amidst the ever-changing modern life in the mountainous region of Duc Luong.
He proved that, for a musical style to be revived, it doesn't need grand gestures; all it takes is a heart full of love and a community working together to nurture it.
For Mr. Hoi, the Then and Tinh melodies are not just music; they are memories and an indelible source of pride. He has contributed to making the Then and Tinh melodies resonate and blend into the rhythm of people's lives, making life more joyful and vibrant.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202507/mot-doi-say-then-tinh-eab0d26/
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