Singers and musicians perform the Van Trinh Opera at the temple of King Chieu Van Tran Nhat Duat.
Ms. Hoang Thi Ky is one of the people who actively participated in the restoration of Van Trinh Theatre, mobilizing members to join the Van Trinh Theatre Club in Quang Hop commune from the early days of its establishment. Born and raised in the "cradle" of heritage, the generation of women only heard and knew about Van Trinh Theatre from the stories of their grandmothers and mothers. Because, for a long time, along with the complete destruction of the temple, the Van Trinh Mountain Festival and the Tran Nhat Duat Temple with the "soul" of Van Trinh Theatre also gradually faded away.
In order to restore the beauty and precious traditional cultural values of our ancestors and meet the aspirations of the majority of people, in 2005, the temple of Chieu Van Vuong Tran Nhat Duat was started to be built. At the same time, the local government coordinated with specialized agencies to invite Meritorious Artist Bach Van to open a class to teach Nha Tro Singing. Based on careful research of history and documents, especially the book Nha Tro Singing Van Trinh by the late researcher Hoang Tuan Pho, they began to select female students to attend the class. In addition to the singing standards, the selected female students must also meet many other requirements such as: being local, living in the locality for a long time, wholeheartedly serving the saint and the people.
Ms. Ky said: “The villagers and communes participated in the class in large numbers, with a variety of ages. Everyone was happy and excited because for the first time they knew, thoroughly learned and had the opportunity to practice Hat Nha Tro”. After a period of screening, the class had about 20 people left, aged from 32 to 48, to continue practicing. In 2007, the Van Trinh Hat Nha Tro Club was established, the students of the training and transmission class were also the core members of the Club.
At the time of the class, there were still some elderly people in the village who had known and seen Hat Nha Tro performances. Therefore, after the students had grasped the basics of the tunes, they performed them for the elderly to listen to and give their comments and additions. Then, under the guidance of Meritorious Artist Bach Van, the students absorbed and adjusted to improve themselves in each verse and beat.
Ms. Ky confided: “Singing at the Van Trinh Theatre is really difficult, requiring many factors. The singer must concentrate and skillfully combine singing and clapping. When singing, how to emphasize, chant, and play smoothly and emotionally, matching the rhythm of the beat and the instrument and drums.” Therefore, singers like Ms. Ky had to learn “singing a cappella” for several months before being able to hold the clapper and sing with the band. “Back then, I sang and practiced the clapper by tapping my thighs. Many days, my thighs were red and sore,” Ms. Ky recalled.
If singer Hoang Thi Ky stands out with poetic and poetic melodies, singer Nguyen Thi Tam specializes in singing and dancing. Each melody in Van Trinh's Hat Nha Tro has its own unique, interesting features, difficulties, and characteristics. The names of the melodies are actually based on the content of the song and the genre. Therefore, the music does not determine the content of the lyrics, but the content of the lyrics determines the musical form. In which, Hat Noi is one of the most important melodies, composed the most. And Hat Noi is not simply a musical melody, but also a literary genre. Singer Nguyen Thi Tan, a member of the Van Trinh Hat Nha Tro Club, added: "Practicing Hat Nha Tro is difficult, "picky", but we still tell ourselves not to give up, we must try to restore the cultural heritage of our homeland". Coming because of love, respecting and trying our best, Ms. Tan's seriousness and dedication have been duly rewarded. When Mrs. Tan sings, listeners can feel the soul of the song, the love of the singer, the smoothness and depth that has been cultivated and trained over the years.
Although the organization was established on a voluntary basis, with operating costs contributed by its members, the singers, musicians, and drum troupes are still enthusiastic and passionate about Hat Nha Tro Van Trinh. On major village holidays or occasions when they are able to participate in political and cultural events of the province or district, the club members gather in the temple yard to practice to have the best and most impressive performances to present to him and serve the people in and outside the village and commune. People who are only used to working with hoes and plows, speaking to each other with simple, rustic words, but when they start practicing, everyone is serious, focused, sings, plays well, and is a very good "drummer". Because, deeply engraved in the hearts of each person is love, pride, and respect for the traditions and cultural beauty of their homeland.
Not only are they direct performers, singers Hoang Thi Ky, Nguyen Thi Tan and members of the Van Trinh Singing Club have been actively passing on their skills to the next generations. Recently, the People's Committee of Quang Hop commune opened a training class for singers and instrumentalists with 63 students from villages in the commune participating. The students were taught the skills of playing instruments, singing and dancing by the singers and instrumentalists of the Van Trinh Singing Club, and at the same time passed on to the next generations the melodies of the Singing Club such as speaking songs, backing songs, incense offering dances, and sacrificial dances... After being enthusiastically taught by the singers and instrumentalists of the Van Trinh Singing Club, the students have mastered the basic skills in singing, and have become familiar with various instruments and dances. In this class, a number of outstanding factors were discovered, and they continue to be mentored and trained with the hope of nurturing and developing the next generation, continuing to light the flame of heritage.
From existing only in memories or old nostalgic stories, after many efforts and attempts of the authorities at all levels, the dedication, enthusiasm and responsibility of the people, the singing mixed with the sound of instruments, drums and dances is bustling again in the temple yard. Recently, in Decision No. 1182/QD-BVHTTDL of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hat Nha Tro Van Trinh has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Despite being at the age of “thất thập cổ lai hy”, singers like Mrs. Ky and Mrs. Tan are still happy and enthusiastic in bringing their songs and voices to serve local and public events, actively teaching younger generations to foster their passion, arouse love, and raise awareness of responsibility to preserve and promote the value of the heritage of Hat Nha Tro Van Trinh.
“We hope that after the new commune is established, we will continue to pay attention and create conditions for cultural activities in general, and preserve and promote Van Trinh Singing and Performing Arts in particular. Because it is a common “asset” of the nation and people,” said Ms. Hoang Thi Ky, Vice President of the Van Trinh Singing and Performing Arts Club.
Article and photos: Thao Linh
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhung-ca-nuong-nbsp-cua-hat-nha-tro-van-trinh-253495.htm
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