The ancient night song still resonates after a hundred years.

Exactly 106 years ago, on the night of the full moon in August 1919, composer Cao Van Lau composed "Da Co Hoai Lang" to express his wife's longing for her husband. For over a century, this immortal melody has lived on in the hearts of music lovers, cherished, preserved, and promoted by generations of artists.

• Provincial Folk Arts Association: Establishes the "Dạ cổ tri âm" Club
• Cao Van Lau Theatre has been recognized as a typical tourist attraction in the Mekong Delta.
• Cao Van Lau Theatre: A representative architectural work of the southern provinces and cities - 50 years of national reunification.
• Solemn ceremony commemorating the 49th anniversary of the death of musician Cao Văn Lầu.

The memorial area dedicated to Southern Vietnamese folk music and musician Cao Văn Lầu was built to honor the talented musician and to become a highlight in tourism development.

These days, numerous traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music and cải lương (reformed opera) artists from Ca Mau are gathering at the Memorial Area for Southern Vietnamese Folk Music and Musician Cao Van Lau to offer incense and pay tribute to the talented musician on the 106th anniversary of the creation of the song "Da Co Hoai Lang" (August 15, 1919 - August 15, 2025, lunar calendar). More than a century has passed, but with its poignant melodies and lyrics imbued with the emotions of the author's life, this masterpiece continues to endure, touch people's hearts, and be cherished and passed down through generations.

To honor his contributions, the People's Committee of Bac Lieu province (formerly) built the Memorial Area for Southern Vietnamese Traditional Music and Musician Cao Van Lau in Bac Lieu City (now Bac Lieu ward). Here, the "Echoes of Traditional Music" Club was established to preserve and spread the value of this heritage.

The Nighttime Melody Club performs for tourists.

After 8 years of operation, the club has more than 30 members, including artisans, civil servants in the health and education sectors, and many young people who love traditional Vietnamese folk music. The club maintains monthly activities, both to practice playing instruments and singing, and to create a playground to nurture a love for traditional music . Artisan Huynh Nhu shared: “Although I work in the education sector, I have always been passionate about traditional Vietnamese folk music. Joining the club helps me promote the values ​​left by our ancestors, and at the same time inspire students through practicing the song 'Da Co Hoai Lang'.”

A meeting of the Traditional Nightingale Music Club.

As its name suggests, the Nighttime Echoes Club always opens its performances with this timeless piece, followed by 20 foundational pieces of amateur folk art.

Artisan Lam Dung, Chairman of the "Echoes of the Nighttime Melody" Club, shared: "The name 'Echoes of the Nighttime Melody' was chosen with the hope that the melody and lyrics of this masterpiece will forever resonate. After its establishment, the Club composed an excerpt of the same name, recreating the story of the separation of love by musician Cao Van Lau, and performed it for tourists. This work has been performed by young artisans such as Chi Ngoan and Huynh Nhu in many amateur singing competitions and won high prizes. In addition to performances, the Club also built a stage as a place for activities, practice, and teaching singing and playing skills to the younger generation, creating a successor generation for amateur art."

The song "Dạ cổ hoài lang" will be performed at the "Come to Bac Lieu to Listen to Traditional Music" program within the framework of the Vietnam Salt Festival in March 2025.

Over the past 106 years, Dạ cổ hoài lang has not only been a heartfelt melody expressing personal emotions, but has also become a source of pride for the land and people of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu, leaving a lasting and poignant impression on visitors to the southernmost tip of the country.

Huu Tho

Source: https://baocamau.vn/tram-nam-da-co-con-ngan-vang-a122864.html