Painful with heritage
Ca Tru has been in Hiep Hoa since the 16th century, as evidenced by the image of a young girl playing a stone zither at Lo Hanh communal house that is still preserved to this day. The carving not only shows the talented hands of ancient artisans, but also serves as evidence that this type of learned music was once popular and became an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the people here.
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Hiep Hoa commune Ca Tru club practices performance at Lo Hanh family national relic. |
On an autumn afternoon in the quiet space of the ancient Lo Hanh communal house, the sound of the stone zither vibrates in harmony with the lyrics and crisp beats, leading the listener into a fascinating and seductive world of art. The slightly clumsy makeup faces of the singers who have been working in the fields all year round still radiate pride and happiness when they can sing, contributing to preserving and spreading the beauty of their homeland's culture.
Hurrying to the meeting place to practice ca tru after harvesting rice to avoid the storm, singer Ngo Thi Thanh prepared her clothes and confided: “We farmers are busy harvesting rice before storm No. 10 makes landfall. The work is busy but my sisters and I still try to arrange it so as not to miss the opportunity to promote the beauty of our homeland. After nearly 20 years of diligently practicing breathing and practicing the beat, ca tru has seeped into our blood, so wherever we are, whatever we do, we are always mindful of the lyrics and the beat. Preserving and promoting this traditional art form is the wish not only of enthusiasts but also of most of us local people.”
Cherishing her homeland, Mrs. Tran Thi Bon, 66 years old in Khoat village, also studied Ca Tru since the club's establishment, but due to family circumstances, she could not maintain regular activities. In recent years, when her children and grandchildren grew up, she returned to active activities, diligently practicing day and night the singing styles of speaking, sending letters, singing Muou... "Learning a Ca Tru tune is very difficult, but no matter how difficult it is, I am determined to practice. As long as I have health, I will still learn to sing Ca Tru" - Mrs. Bon confided.
The enduring love of those simple, honest farmers has been quietly extending the life of Ca Tru in the lowland area of Hiep Hoa. During the off-season, especially on the 15th and 1st of every month, the deep bass sound of the zither, the crisp clappers, and the singing voices of the singers resound in the ancient space of Lo Hanh communal house. Originally farmers with "muddy hands and feet", when stepping onto the flower mats, they become dignified singers, officials, and leisurely musicians, immersing themselves in the ups and downs of Ca Tru art.
Singer Dang Thi Nam, Vice President of the Ca Tru Club of Dong Lo Commune (formerly) shared: “Ca Tru is an academic and scholarly music form, so it is very selective of singers and listeners. Learners must not only have passion but also have a high determination because learning is very difficult, sometimes it takes a whole year to master a tune. From 2010 until now, every year we have participated in Ca Tru teaching classes, no matter how much we learn, it is never enough. It is so difficult, but we teach as much as we know, those who know a lot teach those who know less, those who know less guide those who do not know. During the summer, we also teach students, some of whom won third prize in the Youth Singing Contest!”. These voluntary teaching activities have been and are contributing to nurturing the next generation, nurturing love and lighting new hope for the heritage.
Forever the beauty of Ca Tru at Lo Hanh communal house...
According to researchers, from the 17th to 18th centuries, Hiep Hoa land was a "bright spot" on the map of Ca Tru in the North, where many guilds, singers, and musicians gathered. During the spring festival seasons, the singing of communal houses, singing competitions, and worshiping songs echoed throughout the villages, creating an elegant and unique cultural space. Historical changes caused Ca Tru to fade away and sink into oblivion for a period. But after the Ca Tru heritage was recognized by UNESCO, in 2010, Khoat, Chung, Hung Dao villages and then Cham village of Hiep Hoa commune established Ca Tru clubs, attracting the participation of nearly 40 members of many ages. Each person has different circumstances and conditions, but they all share a passion and a deep love for the precious Ca Tru heritage.
After 15 years of efforts to revive and maintain regular activities, ca tru activities in Hiep Hoa have become a cultural highlight closely associated with the community. The core members actively participate in performing in festivals and local political and cultural events. In recognition of the dedication of the singers and actors, in 2019, the Dong Lo commune Ca Tru Club was honored to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of the Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee. In 2022, four ca tru clubs of four villages in the commune were consolidated and merged into the Dong Lo commune Ca Tru Club, now Hiep Hoa commune. The club has established a working regulation and maintains regular practice twice a month, creating an environment for exchange and regular learning for heritage lovers. In 2024, the club won the A prize for the entire group at the district-level Folk Singing, Dancing and Music Festival, affirming the new vitality of the ca tru heritage.
According to Ms. Pham Thi Hai Yen, an officer of the Department of Culture and Society of Hiep Hoa commune: Although there are still many difficulties and challenges, with the attention and practical support in both material and spiritual terms from the local government, along with the community's dedication to preserving the heritage, Ca Tru activities in Hiep Hoa have gradually revived and affirmed their position in contemporary life, contributing to preserving the identity and enriching the spiritual life of the people. In the coming time, the specialized agency will continue to advise on opening training classes, restoring ancient melodies, documenting typical performances, and at the same time linking the preservation and promotion of Ca Tru with the development of community tourism.
Currently, the number of young people studying Ca Tru is still modest, the work of preserving heritage also faces many challenges because the successor team is thin, the training is mainly spontaneous, and there is a lack of standard curriculum. In addition, limited operating budget, the audience who loves Ca Tru is not much, making it difficult to expand the performance area... However, when witnessing the Hiep Hoa farmers passionately practicing, the older generation teaching the younger generation, refining each beat and finger, the more confident we are that the vitality of Ca Tru here will continue to be preserved over the years.
Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/nhung-nong-dan-giu-nhip-phach-ca-tru-postid429352.bbg
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