To ensure that the sounds of music and singing continue to resonate far and wide, there are sons and daughters of Lang Son who tirelessly and passionately preserve this unique traditional art form. One of them is teacher Phung Van Thoi, currently the Deputy Principal of Van Quan Ethnic Boarding School for junior and senior high school students.
Mr. Phung Van Thoi was born and raised in Van Quan, a land rich in revolutionary traditions. Considering Then singing and the Tinh lute as his life's purpose, Mr. Thoi grew up with a passion for this art form, self-taught and dedicated to its pursuit. "From the age of 8 to 10, I was fascinated by Then songs broadcast on Lang Son radio. Back then, I just listened attentively and longed to have an instrument to play and practice singing along. When I had the seeds to grow and care for myself, and finally got a gourd, I dared to ask my father to make me an instrument. From then on, whenever Then songs were broadcast on the radio, I would sit attentively, practice playing the instrument, and hum along. No one taught me back then; I just listened and found each note to play," Mr. Thoi shared.
In 1990, Phung Van Thoi passed the entrance exam to the Viet Bac Teacher Training University, majoring in Literature. In 1994, after graduating, Mr. Thoi was assigned to Luong Van Tri High School in Van Quan district (formerly), where he laid the first foundations for his career in inspiring and nurturing young minds. Since around 2008, Mr. Thoi has invited artisans to organize many classes to teach Then singing to students and teachers. The Then singing group of students from Luong Van Tri High School has participated in and won many high prizes in the "Melodies of Youth" competitions organized by the Department of Education and Training of Lang Son province.
In 2020, Mr. Thoi took up his duties at Van Quan Ethnic Boarding School for junior and senior high school students. Having spent decades working with children, primarily from the Tay and Nung ethnic groups, he realized that most students did not know how to sing Then folk songs. Some knew how to sing but could not play the Tinh lute. As a result, traditional melodies were gradually absent from school activities and cultural events.
Concerned about the gradual disappearance of a traditional art form considered a symbol of his homeland's identity and pride, Mr. Thoi was determined to embark on a journey of revival, bringing Then singing back into the student community. Starting with collecting Then melodies with easily memorable structures and rhythms, incorporating them into school radio programs; promoting and encouraging students to learn about and participate in Then singing in cultural programs and group activities, Mr. Thoi determined that the first priority was to make the students feel familiar and comfortable with the art form, so that they would gradually come to love and understand this traditional art.
In the early days, with only 16 students registering for the Then singing club that he personally taught, the teacher still persevered, diligently borrowing musical instruments and percussion sets to equip the students for practice. As the students gradually became familiar with the notes and could sing the first melodies fluently, he continued to develop the club model to reach a larger number of students in Van Quan district (formerly).
Hoang Cong Chu, a 9th-grade student at Van Quan Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School, who diligently participates in the Then singing and Dan Tinh playing club led by teacher Thoi, said that through his studies from 6th grade until now, he has confidently performed songs in the Tang Boc and Tang Nam styles. Each Then singing and Dan Tinh playing lesson makes him feel relaxed and joyful. In his free time, playing the instrument makes him feel very relieved and deepens his love for his homeland and his people.
“Thanks to Mr. Thoi’s dedicated guidance, I gradually fell in love with this subject. Now I can perform the pây tàng dance, the chầu dance, and the khai hoa and khai bjoóc dances fluently,” shared Be Thi Minh Hong, an 8th-grade student at Van Quan Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School.
After six years, the Then singing and Dan Tinh playing club, led by teacher Thoi, has helped more than 70% of the school's students learn to perform at least one Then melody. They can now confidently sing Then and play Dan Tinh at major local events.
“The inclusion of Then singing in the Local Education subject in the general education curriculum, along with the dedication of teachers like Mr. Phung Van Thoi, has helped many schools in Lang Son province preserve Then folk songs and Tinh lute melodies; thereby passing on the beautiful traditional values and distinctive cultural features of the Tay and Nung people of Lang Son to future generations,” said Mr. Hoang Quoc Tuan, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Lang Son province.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/nguoi-giu-lua-hat-then-xu-lang-post943961.html
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