Artists who preserve the "soul" of Then in Binh Lieu

Born, raised, and attached to Binh Lieu for most of their lives, the elderly artisans here have become the “living treasures” of the village. They not only wholeheartedly cherish and preserve each sweet and mellow Then and Tinh tune, but also strive every day to pass it on to the younger generation with the desire to preserve and promote the precious, long-standing traditional cultural values ​​of their homeland.

Despite his old age, Meritorious Artist Luong Thiem Phu is still enthusiastic about teaching the Tinh lute and Then singing to the young generation.   Photo: La Lanh (Contributor)

According to artisans in Binh Lieu, then singing of the Tay people has existed since ancient times. Then singing is not simply a form of expressing content through melody, a way of communication and lovemaking between men and women, but is also associated with religious and spiritual activities by the ancient Tay people. Ancient Tay families often prepared offerings to invite a then master to their home to perform a ceremony to ward off bad luck, pray for blessings and health to start a new job. Over time, then singing has gone beyond those rituals, becoming a way of communication between families and lovemaking between men and women of the Tay people in Binh Lieu.

At the age of nearly 86, Meritorious Artisan Luong Thiem Phu (Chang Na area, Binh Lieu town) is known as the only person making Tinh lute in the province today. Since he was a child, he often followed the adults in his family to watch and listen to Then singing performances. He often hummed along, and gradually learned to sing by heart. Passionate and nurturing his love for Then, when he was a little older, he began to practice composing new Then songs. To date, artisan Luong Thiem Phu has collected nearly 10 ancient Then songs, composed more than a hundred new Then songs, and opened 16 classes to teach Then singing and Tinh lute to 360 people of all ages in the locality.

Not only collecting and teaching Then, he also researched and bought materials to produce unique two-stringed Tinh instruments in Binh Lieu. Perhaps many Tay ethnic people in Binh Lieu know how to make Tinh instruments. However, perhaps only Mr. Luong Thiem Phu can make beautiful instruments with standard sound that can be turned into commercial products.   Not only does he make đàn tính for performances, he also makes small, pretty đàn tính to serve the needs of tourists coming to Binh Lieu, contributing to promoting and spreading the cultural beauty of his homeland.

Meritorious Artist Hoang Thi Vien teaches Then singing to children.   Photo: Pham Hoc

Ms. Hoang Thi Vien (born in 1957, Na Lang area, Binh Lieu town) is also one of the elderly artists who still actively participates in teaching Then singing, performing Then singing at festivals and art exchange programs both inside and outside the province. Listening to Ms. Vien teach Then singing to children, we can fully appreciate her love for the folk songs of her homeland. Each finger of the artist skillfully plucks the Tinh strings, blending with her gentle voice, making the listener captivated and strangely attached. And it is not surprising that Ms. Vien's passion for Then singing has spread to her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Meritorious Artist Hoang Thi Vien said: My husband did not know how to sing Then before, but only listened to me sing. He listened so much that he "absorbed" it without realizing it, so he forced me to teach him how to sing and play the Tinh lute. For many years now, my husband and I have been participating in the local Then singing club, regularly participating in the district's art festivals together and teaching Then singing to children in the neighborhood and town, especially during the summer holidays.

Having spent more than half of her life passionately devoted to each sweet and gentle Then tune, Ms. Vien has also actively collected ancient Then tunes and composed hundreds of new Then songs. The new Then songs she composed all praise her homeland, villages, ethnic minority regions and the cultural beauty of the Tay people such as praying for good fortune, ancestor worship, Lau Then...

Hoang Tuyet Ngoc, 15 years old, Na Lang area, Binh Lieu town, a student who has studied with artist Hoang Thi Vien for 8 years, shared: We are very lucky to have been taught Then singing by Mrs. Vien since we were young. Both grandparents taught us very enthusiastically and meticulously. Thanks to Mrs. Vien, we understand more, love more and sing better the folk songs of our homeland.

Meritorious artist Hoang Thi Vien (first row) participates in a performance of Then singing - Tinh lute at the 2022 Binh Lieu Golden Season Festival.

Each passionate, smooth Then melody bearing the beauty, identity and character of the Tay ethnic people in Binh Lieu has been and is constantly reaching far and wide. And with their passion and love for the folk songs of their homeland, the elderly like Mrs. Vien and Mr. Thiem are still diligently "preserving the soul" and "passing on the fire" for the Then singing and Tinh lute melodies to shine more and more, lasting forever with time.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nhung-nghe-nhan-giu-hon-then-binh-lieu-3320912.html