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One night listening to the singing at the temple gate.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, there remains a space where time seems to slow down – An Bien Temple (An Bien Ward) – a place of worship for the female general Le Chan. On the evening of the 15th day of the 4th lunar month, the An Bien Temple courtyard glows brightly in soft yellow light. Under the ancient temple roof, lovers of Ca Tru (traditional Vietnamese singing) quietly gather. The sacred, tranquil space seems to stand apart from the outside noise.
The performance begins with solemn rituals of offering incense to the Holy Mother Le Chan. Then, the first notes of the zither are played. The rhythmic clappers mark the leisurely beat, the resonant drums echo, blending with the clear, soulful voices of the female singers, transporting listeners back to a cultural space of centuries past.
In that setting, each lyric seemed to touch the listeners' emotions. The performances included acts of ceremonial incense offering, the song "Giving Birth to a Child and Sending Them to School," and songs about the female general Le Chan and love for the homeland. There was no noisy electronic sound, no brightly colored stage, but it was precisely this simplicity that created a special appeal.
Sitting among locals, tourists, and artisans, the most striking feeling is one of peace. The singing, sometimes soft and melancholic like a heartfelt confession, other times lingering and poignant like recounting stories of ancestors. Each song is not just music , but also contains the history, culture, and soul of a region.
What surprised many was the appearance of very young faces. Students from Nguyen Van To Primary School (An Bien ward) confidently performed Ca Tru melodies, which are considered difficult to learn and sing. The image of these young children enthusiastically playing the clappers and singing in the ancient temple space created a beautiful and hopeful picture for the future of this heritage.
Ms. Phung Ngoc Lan, a lover of traditional art who frequently attends the traditional singing performances at An Bien communal house, shared: "Every month I try to arrange time to go to An Bien communal house to listen to the singing. There are songs I've heard many times but still find them moving. In the midst of a busy life, sitting quietly and listening to the sounds of the zither and percussion makes my soul much more relaxed. I hope that more and more young people will get to know and love Ca Tru."
More than just an artistic performance, the temple gate singing is also a meeting point between the past and the present. In the songs echoing under the ancient temple roof, listeners can feel the breath of history, of cultural values preserved through generations.
A place to preserve and spread Ca Tru (Vietnamese traditional singing).
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If it were limited to just regular performances, the An Bien communal house singing tradition would hardly be able to achieve lasting vitality. What is valuable is that behind these performances lies the joint effort of the artisans, schools, and local authorities in the journey of preserving this heritage.
Ca trù has gone through many ups and downs. As an art form requiring sophisticated performance techniques and extensive cultural knowledge, ca trù faces the risk of extinction as the number of artisans decreases. Therefore, preserving the performances at communal houses and expanding the space for practicing this heritage is of particular importance.
Since 2023, the Xứ Đông Ca Trù Club (Lê Chân Ward) has collaborated with the An Biên Ca Trù Club (Nguyễn Văn Tố Primary School) to organize Ca Trù performances at the communal house. Along with teaching Ca Trù in schools, this activity plays a significant role in achieving the goal of preserving, promoting, and developing the artistic value of Ca Trù.
Thanks to this approach, melodies that were once considered difficult to access have become more accessible to the younger generation. Many students not only learn to sing but also gain a deeper understanding of national history and culture through each lyric and rhythm.
Ta Minh Duong, a member of the An Bien Ca Tru Club (Nguyen Van To Primary School), shared: "Initially, I found Ca Tru quite difficult because it has many unfamiliar melodies. But the more I learned, the more I found it enjoyable. Each song has its own meaning, helping me understand more about my homeland and the cultural values of our nation. I am very happy and honored to perform in the Ca Tru performances at the communal house."
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham, Principal of Nguyen Van To Primary School, introducing Ca Tru (traditional Vietnamese singing) into the school helps students better understand the national heritage, thereby fostering love and responsibility for preserving the precious values left by their ancestors.
The collaboration between schools, artisans, and cultural clubs has created an effective heritage preservation model. From small classes to regular performances at communal houses, Ca Tru is gradually regaining its place in contemporary life.
Amidst the flow of modernity, the rhythmic sounds of clappers and zithers still regularly resonate under the roof of An Bien communal house. Ancient songs are passed down from generation to generation. And there, the art of Ca Tru singing is not only preserved but also continues to live and spread through the love of those who safeguard this heritage.
CONFIDANTSource: https://baohaiphong.vn/ve-an-bien-nghe-canh-hat-cua-dinh-544833.html
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