About Binh Son to listen to Ba Trao singing

Hát bà trạo

Hát bà trạo

Distinguished Artisan Nguyen Van Thu welcomed us into his small house in Tuyet Diem 2 village, Binh Thuan commune, Binh Son district. At 57 years old, he still cherishes his love for folk culture. His small house is always filled with singing and laughter. And behind that passion is his wife, who has been his companion and shared every step of the way.

Born and raised in his coastal hometown, Nguyen Van Thu's childhood was filled with village festivals and Tet celebrations. He would accompany his father to the village temple or Lang Van to listen to elders sing traditional folk songs, offering sacrifices to the deities, especially the ceremony honoring the God of the South Sea. While in high school, he began learning to play traditional musical instruments such as drums, the two-stringed fiddle, and the trumpet, and singing folk songs from the coastal region.

In 1983, Nguyen Van Thu was admitted to the Music Department of the Thua Thien Hue High School of Culture and Arts (now the Hue Academy of Music). However, due to difficult family circumstances, he had to put aside his dream of becoming a musician.

Returning to his hometown, while making a living from fishing, he continued his passion for collecting folk songs, traditional theater songs, and learning to play traditional musical instruments. Not only did he preserve these traditions, but he also composed new lyrics for folk melodies, making these ancient tunes even more relevant to contemporary life.

In 2011, the Binh Thuan commune government established the Folk Song and Music Club (now renamed the Binh Thuan Commune Folk Song and Bai Choi Club), with artisan Nguyen Van Thu serving as the club's chairman from 2018 to the present. He has always been dedicated to preserving and promoting folk art, not only performing but also actively teaching Bai Choi singing to students in local schools. After 8 years as the chairman of the Binh Thuan Commune Folk Song and Bai Choi Club, he has led the club to perform in many provinces and cities nationwide, including Hanoi .

As someone with a deep understanding of the art of Bả Trạo singing – a form of folk music rich in identity with lyrics and gestures closely associated with the lives of fishermen – artisan Nguyễn Văn Thu is always willing to explain Bả Trạo to tourists and researchers. He explains that "bả" means the hand holding the oar, and "trạo" means the oar, representing the image of a fleet of boats venturing out to sea. The Bả Trạo singing troupe consists of 15 people, including three leaders: Tổng Tiền, Tổng Thương, and Tổng Lái, while the remaining 12 people hold oars – known as the 13 Trạo – together vividly recreating the atmosphere of labor and rituals of coastal residents.

In 2019, artisan Nguyen Van Thu was honored by the State with the title of Outstanding Artisan. This is not only a source of pride but also a motivation for him to continue his dedication and passion to the folk melodies of Bai Choi and Ba Trao.

Currently, the folk song club of Binh Thuan commune, Binh Son district, Quang Ngai province has 30 members and is expected to expand when it merges with neighboring communes. While a large group makes a difference, according to artisan Nguyen Van Thu, the most important thing in preserving and promoting local cultural values is to pass them on to the younger generation. He lamented: "In the midst of the noisy and bustling Dung Quat industrial zone, local culture must be preserved and protected. No matter how difficult, we must do it, because culture is the root of human life."

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