Passionate about folk songs and folk songs

Immersed in the melodies of the Ví and Giặm folk songs from their grandmothers and mothers, many young artisans in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces have a burning love for these tunes. For them, contributing to the preservation of their homeland's Ví and Giặm folk songs is a special mission.

Ms. Pham Thi Huyen (born 1988, Vi and Giam Folk Song Club of An Hoa Thinh Commune, Huong Son, Ha Tinh): Passionate about passing on folk songs.

After graduating from Nguyen Du College, Ms. Pham Thi Huyen became a music teacher. Currently, she is a teacher at Nguyen Khac Vien Secondary School (An Hoa Thinh commune). From here, she has more opportunities to pass on her love of the Vi and Giam folk songs to her students. Ms. Huyen shared: “Vi and Giam folk songs are a special 'dish' of the people of Nghe Tinh. Over time, young people are less interested in this art form. Therefore, as a teacher, I have been and am trying to make Vi and Giam folk songs more accessible to my students.”

To inspire the students, Ms. Huyen has incorporated folk singing into extracurricular activities, team activities, competitions, and music lessons. Thanks to Ms. Huyen's many enthusiastic and active efforts, the folk singing movement at Nguyen Khac Vien Secondary School in particular and An Hoa Thinh commune in general has increasingly developed and gained popularity among the people.

Le Huu Truong (born in 2001, member of the Folk Song Club of Cam My commune, Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh province): Aspires to contribute to the preservation of folk melodies.

Born and raised in Cam My, Huu Truong was lulled to sleep by the folk songs of his hometown from a young age. His love for the music of his homeland grew, and he chose to apply to the Hanoi College of Arts. After four years of training, Huu Truong returned to Ha Tinh with the desire to contribute his singing talent to the people of his hometown.

Huu Truong shared: “For me, my homeland is a sweet and warm cradle that nurtured me as I grew up, cultivating in me a love for the lyrical and profound folk songs of Vi and Giam. Therefore, having the opportunity to sing for the people of my hometown makes me feel happy and proud. I hope to have more opportunities to continue contributing to my homeland and spreading the love of Vi and Giam to everyone.”

At the Cẩm Mỹ Commune Folk Song Club, Hữu Trường is a young talent with many active participations and outstanding achievements. With his own efforts, it is hoped that Hữu Trường will soon achieve even more success on his path to pursuing the folk songs of Ví and Giặm.

Nguyen Thi Thu Ha (born 2002, Nguyen Cong Tru Folk Song Club, Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh): Striving to hone her skills to best perform the folk songs of the Vi and Giam genres.

Having always loved the sweet melodies of the Ví and Giặm folk songs, and being born and raised in the hometown of the renowned figure Nguyễn Công Trứ, Thu Hà has loved these melodies since childhood. For Thu Hà, singing and immersing herself in the Ví and Giặm tunes brings her a strange sense of peace.

Thu Ha confided: "Because I love the folk songs of the Ví and Giặm genres, my family has given me the opportunity to practice singing them since I was 5 years old. When participating in big stages, I hope to hone my skills so that I can sing the Ví and Giặm folk songs of my homeland as best as I can."

At the Nguyen Cong Tru Folk Song Club, Thu Ha is also an active member. She has performed with the club in many places inside and outside the province, winning many major awards. Most notably, recently, at the provincial folk song festival, Thu Ha and the club won first prize overall.

Le Thao Nhi (born 2015, Dong Hieu Folk Song Club, Thai Hoa Town, Nghe An Province): I love the folk songs of my hometown!

As the youngest participant in the 5th Nghe Tinh Folk Song Festival, Cluster IV - 2023, Le Thao Nhi won the "Best Young Performer" award. In addition, she also won the A prize for her performance of "Mother's Song".

Considered to have innate talent, a good sense of music, and a quick learning ability, Thảo Nhi showed her talent early on. Despite being only 8 years old, Thảo Nhi has already achieved many outstanding accomplishments in folk singing competitions.

Thảo Nhi said: “Meritorious Artist Trần Văn Hồng - Deputy Director of the Culture, Sports and Communication Center of Thái Hòa Town - discovered my talent and taught me many skills in folk singing, igniting my passion and guiding me to pursue the Ví and Giặm folk songs. Now, I can confidently say that I truly love the Ví and Giặm melodies of my homeland.”

Le Anh Quan (born in 2007, member of the Vi Giam Folk Song Club of Ha Huy Tap Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province): My hometown and family have nurtured my love for Vi Giam folk songs.

With his father, the Meritorious Artist Le Tien Huy, who has a deep affection for the folk songs of Nghe Tinh, Le Anh Quan was taught to sing these special melodies from a young age. Anh Quan has participated in many folk singing programs and competitions, from which he has accumulated a wealth of experience.

Anh Quân is currently a 11th-grade student at Ha Huy Tap High School (Vinh City). Besides excelling in his academic subjects, Anh Quân is also pursuing an intermediate-level vocal music program at the Nghe An College of Culture and Arts.

Anh Quân shared: “My hometown and family, especially my father, have inspired and nurtured my love for the folk songs of Ví and Giặm. Therefore, I always aspire to study vocal music professionally. Even if I pursue a different career later, my love and passion for music, for the melodies of Ví and Giặm folk songs, will never fade from my heart.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu (born in 1989, member of the Folk Song Club of Chau Nhan commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province): Forever a cultural bridge between Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

Having a natural talent for music, after graduating from Nghe An College of Culture and Arts with a major in vocal music, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu participated in activities and programs featuring folk songs and traditional melodies.

As the head of the Chau Nhan commune's folk singing club with 36 members, Ms. Thu hopes to contribute as much as possible to the development of folk singing. Together with the club members, Ms. Thu has revived the folk singing movement in the locality.

Ms. Thu shared: “The essence of the Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghe Tinh has ignited in me a passion for this art form. I hope that I, along with young artisans on both banks of the Lam River, will be positive bridges to connect the cultures of the two provinces, thereby rekindling the love of folk songs among all segments of the population, helping Ví and Giặm to be passed on to future generations.”

Mr. Thuy

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