Folk art in festivals: Identity needs to be fueled

The women's drum team of Giao Hai commune (Giao Thuy) performed at the historical and cultural relic site of Kien Hanh communal house - temple - pagoda.

In traditional festivals in Nam Dinh , the "festival" part is always bustling with familiar folk melodies. At the Tran Temple Seal Opening Festival, Loc Vuong Ward (Nam Dinh City), besides the incense offering ceremony and the sacred seal palanquin procession, many cultural and artistic programs also take place. Every year, the art troupes of the residential groups of Loc Vuong Ward participate in performing many unique folk performances such as: singing van, singing cheo... contributing to creating a vibrant atmosphere for the festival. Ms. Tran Thi Bich Hong, a member of the Loc Vuong Ward art troupe, is a familiar face, having performed at the festival for many years, sharing: "Every time I participate in a performance at the Tran Temple Festival, I always feel moved and proud. Being present in an important cultural event is a way for local people to preserve and continue traditional artistic values ​​right in their homeland."

In Vu Ban district, the Chau Van singing festival is a highlight in the annual Phu Day festival. Typical singing performances such as Chau De Nhi, Chau Luc, Chau Be, Chau Be Thuong, Quan Lon Tam Phu, Quan Lon De Tam, Chua Dong Cuong, Quan De Tam, Chua Thac Bo... are performed by young musicians, with simple but skillful singing styles, bringing visitors sacred and profound artistic experiences. Through each festival season, Chau Van is preserved and continues to spread strongly, fostering the spirit of community solidarity and arousing the desire for sustainable development of the homeland and country. At festivals in the countryside of Xuan Truong, Nam Truc, Hai Hau..., the art of Cheo is an indispensable spiritual food. Classic excerpts such as "Thi Mau len chua", "Xúy Van gia dai", "Quan Am Thi Kinh" are vividly recreated by local art troupes and professional artists, evoking the pure Vietnamese village cultural space. In Xuan Truong, the Kien Lao Folk Song Club in Xuan Phuc Commune was established to enrich the activities of the Kien Lao Temple - Pagoda Festival; not only performing for the village festival, the team was also invited to participate in many other cultural programs, with creative, self-composed Cheo excerpts close to life. In Hai Hau, people consider Cheo as an indispensable part of their spiritual and cultural life. During the Luong Pagoda Festival, Hai Anh Commune annually organizes a Cheo singing and Van singing competition that attracts a large number of viewers. In Hai Chau Commune, the Phu Van Nam Cheo show, with a history dating back to 1958, still maintains regular activities on every holiday, New Year, and village festival, bringing the audience soulful Cheo melodies.

In addition to folk songs, many localities in Giao Thuy, Nghia Hung, and Y Yen districts have established women's drum teams. The drum pieces are built with specific themes such as opening the land, protecting the country, building villages, etc. On the drum background are the rhythmic, graceful dance steps of the members in traditional costumes, creating a performance that has both sound and vivid images. A typical example is the women's drum team of Giao Hai commune (Giao Thuy), established with a force of middle-aged women who share a passion for traditional music . Drum pieces such as "Bringing water", "Opening land", "Advancing", "Building villages"... are performed by the team with a heroic and strong spirit but still maintain a soft and graceful appearance. "Good news travels far", the team is invited to participate in festivals and major events inside and outside the district, leaving many impressions in the hearts of the audience. The activities of the Giao Hai women's drum team in traditional festivals are a living testament to the spirit of preserving heritage in the new era.

A positive sign in many localities in the province is that the organization of folk art competitions and festivals has become an annual activity. Not only is it a place for amateur artists and actors to show their talents, these playgrounds are also an ideal environment for traditional melodies to be passed down and continued through generations. From excerpts of Cheo imbued with love for the countryside, sacred melodies to the bustling drum beats, all are recreated by mass art troupes with serious investment. In particular, the participation of a large number of young people in the roles of actors, musicians, logistics, etc. has affirmed the widespread vitality of folk art, showing the proactive spirit of continuing the heritage of today's young generation.

An important contribution to the success of mass art movements is the accompanying role and professional support from professional art units, typically the Nam Dinh Traditional Art Theater. In recent years, in addition to performing genres such as Cheo singing, Van singing, and festival drums at major festivals such as Khai An Den Tran, Phu Day, etc., the theater has also directly participated in teaching folk performance skills to grassroots clubs. From 2015 to present, many short-term training courses have been organized in districts and communes, providing systematic guidance on drumming techniques, basic Cheo singing, and how to coordinate musical instruments in Chau Van, etc., helping grassroots art teams improve their skills and become more confident when performing in festivals and competitions. Meritorious Artist Dieu Hang, Director of the Provincial Traditional Arts Theater, shared: “We always keep in mind that in addition to performing for the people, artists also have the responsibility to spread the passion for their profession. Each training session, each time going to the grassroots is an opportunity for folk art to be "closer to the people", living in life, not just on stage."

In practice, it can be seen that folk art is the soul that creates the unique atmosphere for each festival season. Without the sound of the drums to open the way, without the singing of the folk songs in the bronze drums or the profound cheo performances in the communal house yard, the festival would not be complete. Folk art contributes to beautifying the festival space, helping each person return to their roots and deeply feel the source of national culture. To fuel folk art today, the consensus and cooperation of the whole society is needed. In particular, the close attention from the government and the continuity from the younger generation are the key factors to preserve and promote identity in the modern context.

With its unique cultural traditions and rich festival system, Nam Dinh is a bright spot in preserving and promoting folk arts in the modern context. Each drum beat, each folk song, each folk opera in the communal house yard… is a fire. And when those fires are lit from the hearts of the people - those who love their homeland and their identity, folk arts will certainly continue to shine brightly in the flow of festivals, in the minds of today's and future generations.

Article and photos: Viet Du

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202505/van-nghe-dan-gian-trong-le-hoi-ban-sac-can-duoc-tiep-lua-e685be1/