The "keeper of the flame" of Ca Tru art

As she approached the age of seventy, memories and recollections unfolded in the mind of singer Nguyen Thi Lien like a slow-motion film. It was the twists of fate that brought this girl from the Muong region of Hoa Binh province (formerly), now Phu Tho province, to marry into the Ma River region. And it was the kindness and affection of the land and people there that nurtured and fostered her burning passion for the art of Ca Tru singing.

Singer Nguyen Thi Lien (68 years old), Deputy Head of the Hac Thanh Ca Tru Club, has always been passionate about preserving and promoting the artistic value of Ca Tru.

Ca trù did not appear during the vibrant years of her youth, but rather came to singer Nguyen Thi Lien in her later years. The female artist recalls the poignant emotions she felt when she first heard People's Artist Quach Thi Ho sing the song "Pink Peach Blossom, Snow Peach Blossom." People's Artist Quach Thi Ho's voice, sometimes clear and melodious, sometimes soft and profound, guided listeners through a range of emotions. This love became the motivation for singer Nguyen Thi Lien to delve deeper into ca trù, beginning her arduous training with the cymbals and percussion instruments when she was over 50 years old.

Through close relationships with many famous artists in the Thanh Hoa theatrical arts, singer Nguyen Thi Lien had the opportunity to meet and become a student of the late artist Ngo Trong Binh. Nguyen Thi Lien shared: “Mr. Binh was not only a renowned and skilled dan day (a type of stringed instrument) artist, but also particularly dedicated to teaching knowledge and skills in ca tru (traditional Vietnamese singing) to his students. His greatest wish was to bring ca tru closer to the general public, so that this art form could endure in the flow of national culture.”

A Ca Tru performance requires at least three participants: the female singer (ca nuong), the male musician (kep dan), and the male drummer (quan vien). The female singer is responsible for singing and keeping the rhythm with the clappers. When singing, the emphasis, intonation, and embellishments must be smooth, emotional, and perfectly synchronized with her own rhythm and the rhythm of the instruments (dan and drum). This role demands many skills, requiring the artist to undergo a process of persistent, dedicated, and passionate training.

To master the rhythm and lyrics, singer Nguyen Thi Lien utilized every spare moment to practice. Even while working in the fields, she would break bamboo fences to beat the clappers; while chopping vegetables for the pigs, she would enthusiastically hum spoken songs and lullabies… “Just doing that makes life suddenly more joyful, and fills my heart with even more enthusiasm and passion. I came to the art of ca trù with all my excitement and passion. Those days of intense learning made me feel young again,” singer Nguyen Thi Lien happily recounted.

Previously, singer Nguyen Thi Lien spent many years participating in the Thanh Hac Ca Tru and Folk Song Club, founded by the late artist Ngo Trong Binh. Since the 2000s, the club has been actively involved, bringing the Ca Tru songs of Thanh Hoa province to a wide audience across the country. In addition to winning team awards, several club members participated in the national Ca Tru festival and achieved notable success.

Since the passing of the late artist Ngo Trong Binh, the activities of the Hac Thanh Ca Tru and Folk Song Club have gradually faded. Throughout that time, the female singers who were involved with the club from its inception often gather to reminisce, and have repeatedly considered reviving the club's activities, but many difficulties have hindered these elderly artists.

At the end of 2025, thanks to the dedicated connection and support of Mr. Le Viet Dung – a man with a burning passion and strong awareness of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation, and the "owner" of the unique Vietnamese Traditional Costume space – a gathering of female and male singers and performers of Ca Tru (traditional Vietnamese singing) took place at Hoi An Park, receiving enthusiastic participation from the public. Following that meeting and performance, the dedicated members unanimously agreed to change the name to Hac Thanh Ca Tru Club. Female singer Nguyen Thi Lien assumed the position of Vice Chairman of the Club.

Singer Nguyen Thi Lien shared: “Our greatest wish is to expand the club's activities, focusing on opening classes to pass on the art of Ca Tru singing to future generations. In the context of many difficulties and limited resources, we sincerely hope to receive more attention and support from all levels and sectors, and the collective efforts of the community to contribute to the preservation and promotion of the value of this traditional art form and intangible cultural heritage.”

Text and photos: Hoang Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nguoi-giu-lua-nbsp-nghe-thuat-ca-tru-281993.htm