Then Stream flows on forever

In Dong Tay village, Xuan Van commune, Tuyen Quang province, the paved roads are wide, clean, and beautiful, with fruit trees laden with blossoms. In the distance, the sounds of the Tinh lute and Then singing can be heard. From young children as young as 9 or 10 years old to middle-aged and elderly people, everyone is passionately preserving the cultural identity of their ethnic group.

Mr. Luong Van Cuong, head of the Then singing and Tinh lute playing club in Dong Tay village, guides the members in their practice.

The head of department is "passionate".

When asked about the Then singing and Tinh lute playing club in Dong Tay village, Mr. Luong Van Cuong, the club's chairman, enthusiastically recounted that his father was of the Tay ethnic group, his mother was Kinh, and since childhood he had loved listening to Then singing, but had never been taught or guided by anyone. Driven by passion, he taught himself from those who knew how to sing, learned from social media, and actively encouraged people in the village to establish a club to preserve the cultural identity of his ethnic group. In 2011, the village established the club with 15 core members. He and the club's management board proactively invited artisans from Lam Binh, Tuyen Quang City (formerly) to teach and guide members in practicing Then singing and playing the Tinh lute. Then, those who knew how to sing taught those who didn't, and gradually the members became better singers and more skilled at playing the instrument.

Not only did the club members learn on their own, but they also voluntarily contributed funds to organize activities, maintain the movement, and regularly travel to provinces such as Cao Bang, Yen Bai, and Bac Kan (formerly) to learn from their experiences in Then singing and Tinh playing. In 2022, Mr. Cuong was elected Chairman of the Tuyen Quang Province Then Singing Enthusiasts Club, with nearly 100 members. The club proposed and sought the opinion of the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize two annual expanded Then singing and Tinh playing exchanges, attracting clubs from within and outside the province to participate, creating a healthy and meaningful playground for Then lovers to interact and express their passion.

The Then singing and Tinh lute playing club in Dong Tay village contributes to preserving the ethnic cultural identity in the residential area.

In 2022, the club organized its first Then singing and Tinh lute playing exchange in Tan Trao commune, attracting 400 artisans and performers from within and outside the province. In 2023, the club organized exchanges in Lam Binh and Chiem Hoa districts (before the merger); in 2024, it will be held in Na Hang and Ham Yen districts; and in 2025, it will be held in Xuan Van commune. Mr. Cuong shared that with each exchange, the club members learn a great deal. Although they are all Then songs, Then in Bac Kan (now Thai Nguyen), Cao Bang , or Tuyen Quang has its own unique characteristics. Thanks to these exchanges, he can now distinguish the Then songs from different localities just by listening to them, and he can also sing Then songs from various regions.

Notably, he now not only sings Then songs, but he and other members of the club are also independently learning and crafting Tinh lutes to provide people with opportunities to practice playing. Thanks to social media, the Tinh lutes they make are also sold to many people in need in localities both within and outside the province.

A training session for the club members.

Nurturing green sprouts

Watching the young members of the club sing and perform so professionally, few would know that the club members have been guiding them in their training since they were just budding talents. Mr. Luong Van Cuong, the club's chairman, shared that for the club to operate long-term, it's necessary to train the younger generation in Then singing and playing the Tinh lute. As the older members grow older, their time available to participate decreases. Therefore, from the age of 6 or 7, during club activities, grandparents and parents bring their children along to learn about Then singing and practice playing the Tinh lute. Then, during the summer break, the club organizes advanced training and performances to further hone their skills. Learning also depends on each child's ability; some sing well, some are better at playing the lute, and some have a talent for dancing or playing musical instruments. Thanks to this, each young member is very enthusiastic to participate and freely express their talents.

Tô Văn Thành, a 5th-grade student at Quang Trung Primary School in Xuân Vân commune, shared that since first grade, he has been learning Then singing and playing the Tinh instrument with the elders. His parents are very supportive, buying him an instrument to practice and encouraging him to participate in performances. Now, he can both sing and play the instrument with others.

Members of the Then singing and Tinh lute playing club in Dong Tay village, Xuan Van commune, Tuyen Quang province.

For Be Tuong Lam, participating in training with the club has helped her develop her talents and become more confident in her studies and school activities. Be Tuong Lam, a 9th-grade student at Xuan Van Secondary School, said that since 3rd grade, she has been going with her grandmother to practice Then singing and playing the Tinh instrument with the club. This year, her mother also joined. She finds it very enjoyable to learn at the club with her grandparents and friends, as well as at home with her grandmother and mother. She will try her best to study well, play the instrument well, and sing well, hoping to pass the entrance exams to art schools in the future so she can pursue her passion and further develop her talents, and spread the cultural identity of the Tay ethnic group in the community.

What impressed us most during our visit to the Then singing and Tinh lute playing club in Dong Tay village, Xuan Van commune, was the club's approach over the years: nurturing and cultivating ethnic culture among the younger generation. Only in this way will the stream of Then melodies continue to flow in the veins of future generations, ensuring that the melodies will always resonate far and wide.

Huyen Linh

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/du-lich/202604/suoi-then-chay-mai-e471d90/