Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui: The storyteller of Quan Ho folk songs.

When people mention Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui, they immediately think of a talented and charming presenter. He is called the "Quan Ho storyteller," because he not only introduces but also explains to the audience the content of the songs and the cultural lifestyle of the Quan Ho people. With his extensive knowledge of Quan Ho culture and his simple yet profound storytelling style, he has made a significant contribution to bringing Quan Ho closer to the public near and far.

Learn Quan Ho folk songs thoroughly.

Speaking about how she came to be a presenter, Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui frankly stated: “I was one of the first performers of the Ha Bac Quan Ho Folk Song Troupe. Back then, I was only a ‘second-tier performer,’ meaning I only participated in the choir and wasn’t allowed to sing lead. Meanwhile, in the late 1980s, audiences in many places, especially in the southern provinces, were not yet enthusiastic about Quan Ho. After the troupe's performance in Ho Chi Minh City failed due to a lack of audience, we wondered: Why is Quan Ho so beautiful, yet the audience doesn't appreciate it? After much deliberation, I found the answer: Many lyrics are scholarly, conventional, and full of allusions and historical references that the audience doesn't understand. After that, I boldly suggested to the troupe leader that I become a presenter, introducing the content of the songs before the performance.”

Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui introduces Quan Ho folk culture.

“Although I was very hesitant about the feasibility of hosting the show, due to my persistent insistence, the troupe leader finally agreed. My first time on stage as a host was at a performance for the Agricultural Cooperative Congress in Ninh Hiep (Hanoi). The enthusiastic applause from the audience that day played a decisive role in securing my position as the official host for the troupe's subsequent performances,” recalled artist Xuan Mui.

To truly appreciate Quan Ho folk singing, audiences first need to understand it. Based on this understanding, artist Xuan Mui diligently researched the context of composition, the content of Quan Ho songs, especially the allusions, historical references, and performance styles, to introduce them to the audience before each performance. He also painstakingly studied audience preferences to find a suitable way of narrating. His storytelling style gradually became an indispensable part of many Quan Ho programs, eagerly anticipated by audiences just as much as the songs themselves. In this way, Xuan Mui, along with the leadership, actors, and musicians of the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre, contributed to Quan Ho's gradual conquest of audiences in the South, and then its spread to many other regions.

Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui, People's Artist Thuy Cai, and the young Quan Ho folk singers.

Showing us her ring, artist Xuan Mui smiled brightly: “This is a diamond ring given to me by an admiring fan through the organizing committee during a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City. This reward is precious, but it's not as precious as the large and thriving community of Quan Ho enthusiasts that has developed there. In October 2025, I will be a judge for the 3rd Southern Quan Ho Festival in Ho Chi Minh City. Hearing the Quan Ho songs sung there, I feel very proud and moved. From a time when audiences weren't enthusiastic about Quan Ho, now there are nearly 20 Quan Ho clubs in Ho Chi Minh City, each with dozens of members participating. How precious that is!”

Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui (far right) has served as a judge for the Literature Festival at Bac Ninh Specialized High School for many years.

Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui, whose birth name was Pham Dang Mui, was born in 1952 in Kieu village, Hien Van commune (now Lien Bao commune, Bac Ninh province). After being selected to join the Ha Bac Quan Ho Folk Song Troupe, for five consecutive years, Xuan Mui and other young artists were taken to the original Quan Ho villages to learn the customs, speech patterns, manners, and even the unwritten rules of Quan Ho singing.

Extracting silk from the intestines

From an actor, artist Xuan Mui gained public recognition as a presenter, and later rose to prominence in management, serving as Deputy Director of the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre. Together with the artists, he took Quan Ho folk songs to perform both domestically and internationally, contributing to affirming the heritage's position on major stages.

"In early October 2025, the Truc Xinh Quan Ho Club, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Culture Palace, will organize the 3rd Southern Quan Ho Festival. The Quan Ho community in the southern provinces is very grateful to the artists from Bac Ninh, including Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui, who have wholeheartedly contributed to making Quan Ho songs resonate far and wide in the South," - Artist Ngoc Quang, Chairman of the Truc Xinh Quan Ho Club, Ho Chi Minh City.

He believes Quan Ho folk singing should be a lifelong commitment. After retiring, he continues to appear regularly in various roles: hosting programs, judging Quan Ho festivals and competitions; and speaking at thematic talks on folk culture. As a judge, he doesn't focus on purely technical scoring. What he cares about most is how young people approach Quan Ho: Do ​​they understand the spirit of Quan Ho? Can they maintain the manners, style, and "emotion" of Quan Ho singers? As a speaker, Xuan Mui talks about Quan Ho not to show off his knowledge, but to spark curiosity and guide listeners into the world of this heritage. He recounts stories about customs, lifestyles, moral principles in Quan Ho singing, and the subtlety of the lyrics using everyday language, helping the younger generation understand that Quan Ho is not something distant, but an integral part of Bac Ninh's culture. Quan Ho folk singing is not just a heritage to be performed, but a system of living values ​​that needs to be passed on properly.

Choosing to approach Quan Ho folk music slowly and deeply, Meritorious Artist Xuan Mui has contributed to keeping Quan Ho alive in people's hearts through her understanding, love, and respect. This unique path is quiet but persistently dedicated, like a silkworm spinning its silk.

According to Baobacninhtv.vn

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nghe-si-uu-tu-xuan-mui-nguoi-ke-chuyen-quan-ho-a476920.html