Go first, come back later.
The rhythmic, lively drumming of the "Watering the Pond Under the Moonlight" performance by the Hai Duong Cheo Theater troupe at Thanh Ky communal courtyard still lingers in the memory of Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh from An Thanh commune (Tu Ky district). That day's performance at Thanh Ky communal courtyard was packed with people. It had been a long time since the locals had been able to enjoy such captivating traditional Cheo melodies.
Mr. Thanh said that he had loved traditional Vietnamese opera (cheo) since he was a child and had asked his parents to let him learn to play the zither so that he could join the provincial cheo troupe in the future, but they refused. "My mother said that after each performance, the audience only knows about the actors, and hardly anyone mentions the musicians; they have no fame or status."
This is also the concern of many musicians at the Hai Duong Cheo Theatre. Musician Trinh Van Luyen, nearly 60 years old, one of the oldest members of the Hai Duong Cheo Theatre orchestra, said: “Musicians always have to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. Before each performance, we have to arrive very early, prepare the stage, the power supply, and check the equipment and instruments. Missing or forgetting even a few instruments means the performance is unsuccessful. When the artists finish the performance and can happily leave, we have to stay behind to put away the instruments along with the other logistics staff to clean up the stage.”
Mr. Le Van Hien, in charge of the orchestra at the Hai Duong Cheo Theater, shared that behind the curtain, there are always smiles and sweat from the musicians. The Hai Duong Cheo Theater's orchestra currently has 8 members, each proficient in playing 1-2 instruments. In each performance, the musicians also experience both funny and frustrating moments. "Once, during a performance, it suddenly started raining heavily. The entire orchestra rushed to carry their instruments under the stage. While the artists performed above, the musicians under the stage were soaked to the bone, yet they were still passionately following every note and beat of the drums," Mr. Hien recounted.
To master traditional musical instruments, besides natural talent, musicians must practice diligently for a long time. Most of the musicians at the Hai Duong Cheo Theatre belong to the 70s and 80s generations. Passionate about and dedicated to Cheo, the traditional art of their homeland, many jokingly say, "Making a living is no joke for musicians," because the meager monthly salary and the decline of Cheo art make it difficult for them to alleviate their worries.
Help the art of traditional Vietnamese opera shine.
Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) has become a familiar cultural and artistic form in Hai Duong. Hai Duong is famous for "Chieng Cheo Dong" - one of the famous Cheo troupes of the ancient Thang Long capital. Hai Duong Cheo is famous not only for its renowned artists such as Pham Thi Tran, Trum Thinh, Trum Bong, Ca Tam (Trinh Thi Lan), Minh Ly, Kim Ly, Thuy Mui, Hong Tuoi... but also for its diligent orchestra of musicians.
The traditional opera of the Eastern region has gone through many ups and downs and changes, but to this day it still retains certain values and appeal in the hearts of the public. To continue helping the traditional opera of the Eastern region shine, the role of the musicians cannot be overlooked.
According to artist Vu Kim Hoan, former conductor of the orchestra at the Hai Duong Cheo Theater, musicians are the ones who create the soul of each Cheo performance. When the performance begins, the sound of the orchestra helps to connect each act and scene. Music also helps to express the characters' emotions, creating the atmosphere, rhythm, and pace of the performance.
According to Nguyen Van Cuong, Deputy Director of the Hai Duong Cheo Theater, each performance is the product of a collective effort. The musicians also contribute significantly to the flourishing of Cheo art. Without them, it would be difficult for the artists to successfully portray their roles.
The role of musicians in traditional Vietnamese opera (cheo) is so important that the leadership of the Hai Duong Cheo Theatre is constantly worried about finding successors. The current musicians at the theatre are all getting older. If they don't find successors soon, it will be difficult to give young people the opportunity to experience and hone their skills in the cheo art environment before they fully mature.
Mr. Le Van Hien, in charge of the orchestra at the Hai Duong Cheo Theater, added that the orchestra is currently understaffed and needs 3-4 more people to better meet the demands of the job. The theater's leadership has traveled to specialized music schools in Hanoi and to various localities within the province to find successor musicians, but it remains very difficult. The reasons, besides the meager salaries, include the fact that young people today have little passion for traditional musical instruments, making recruitment challenging. Many talented and well-trained young people prefer to stay and work in Hanoi rather than return to Hai Duong.
The government has authorized Thai Binh province to coordinate with 14 provinces and cities in the Northern Delta and Midlands, including Hai Duong, to build a dossier on Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) to submit to UNESCO for recognition as an intangible cultural heritage. In the journey to becoming an intangible cultural heritage and to help Cheo spread, Hai Duong also needs a good team of musicians to maintain and develop the "Eastern Cheo" brand.
HUONG LANSource
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