Within the biosphere shaped by the soul and rhythm of life of Nghe An and the people of Nghe Tinh, the folk songs of Nghe Tinh (Vi and Giam) further affirm their enduring vitality in the development of cultural life; they are increasingly appearing on stages and major events, creating new values.
The performance of the "ví phường vải" folk song was held at the celebration of the birthdays of three prominent figures of the Nguyen Huy family and the reception of the UNESCO certificate recognizing the Han Nom texts of Truong Luu village as a documentary heritage of the Memory of the World Programme for the Asia- Pacific region.
2023 can be considered a year with many cultural and artistic events, marked by four main milestones: the celebration of the birth anniversaries of three prominent figures of the Nguyen Huy family and the recognition of the "Han Nom Texts of Truong Luu Village" as a world documentary heritage (June 2023); the celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Dong Loc Victory and the commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the sacrifice of the 10 female Youth Volunteer Heroes (July 2023); the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep (October 2023); and the Elderly Singing Festival for provinces and cities in the North, held in Ha Tinh (October 2023).
At these events, art programs using the folk melodies of the Ví and Giặm styles, along with new songs influenced by Ví and Giặm, truly moved people's hearts, effectively recreating the historical and cultural atmosphere of a bygone era. They highlighted the talent, dedication, and immense contributions of prominent figures, the courageous fighting spirit and sacrifice of the people of Hà Tĩnh , and the forces that fought at the heroic Đồng Lộc Crossroads.
These included excerpts from the folk operas of Nghe Tinh: "The Radiant Land of Learning in Truong Luu" (lyrics written by Meritorious Artist An Ninh), "The Weaver's Village on a Moonlit Night" (ancient melody composed by Quoc Dung)... The art program "Sacred Land of Dong Loc - Connecting the Thousand-Year Line" deeply moved tens of thousands of viewers, especially the folk opera excerpt: "A Time and Forever" (script: Nguyen Si Dai; folk song adaptation, melody and direction: Meritorious Artist An Ninh).
For the first time, the image of Mr. Tran Quang Dat - former Vice Chairman of the Administrative Committee of Ha Tinh province, a dedicated, responsible, and insightful leader with many innovative ideas on the battlefields of Dong Loc Crossroads and K130 Village - was recreated. The reunion of historical witnesses on stage, some still alive and some deceased: Hero Nguyen Tien Tuan, Mr. Tran Quang Dat, Hero Uong Xuan Ly, and the story of 55 years ago at Dong Loc and Tien Loc, conveyed a message to future generations through the folk melodies of Vi and Giam, brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience and filled them with pride for the sons and daughters of Ha Tinh.
A scene from the art program "Scholars of La Son Land" at the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of La Son Phu Tu Nguyen Thiep (October 2023).
In October 2023, the people of Ha Tinh had another opportunity to enjoy the art program "The Scholar of La Son" (script by Meritorious Artist An Ninh) at the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of La Son scholar Nguyen Thiep. Besides the opening segment sung by singer Dang Thuat using the Ca Tru style, the rest of the opera used the Vi and Giam styles, recreating the life of Nguyen Thiep, his virtues, character, and his great contributions to the national culture and education, as well as his role as advisor to King Quang Trung.
The aforementioned programs were performed by professional artists such as Dang Thuat, Thu Ha, Tien Hung, Quynh Anh, Thanh Tai, Thanh Quy... and actors from the Ha Tinh Traditional Arts Theatre. Thanks to innovations in the creative team, as well as in the arrangement, performance style, script investment, lyric writing for excerpts of folk songs, choreography, etc., the Ha Tinh Traditional Arts Theatre has left a deep impression on the audience, conveying the content of the artistic programs in a vivid way. Singers such as Huu The, Quang Hung, Thanh Nguyen, Cong Manh... not only sing well but also portray historical characters very effectively. The dance troupe has been "rejuvenated," meeting the quantity and quality requirements, making the artistic space vibrant, evocative, and clearly reflecting traditional colors.
The performance "Farmers' Folk Song Festival" was presented by the Thuan Loc Commune Folk Song Club (Hong Linh Town) at the 2023 Ha Tinh Province Folk Song Festival.
Meritorious Artist Ngoc Cam - Director of the Ha Tinh Traditional Arts Theatre shared: “With the function of preserving and promoting traditional art heritage, we pay great attention to the scripts, music, and adaptations of Nghe Tinh folk songs and excerpts. Meritorious Artist An Ninh is a writer of folk songs with very tender, sweet, and heartfelt lyrics, so we always trust him with our work. The theatre is also aiming for a new artistic style, bringing the breath of folk art into contemporary life to create diversity and richness in the scripts, making them both youthful and rich in identity to enhance the value of the works and satisfy the tastes of the audience.”
Also in October, the 2023 Ha Tinh Elderly Singing Festival and the regional festival for provinces and cities in the North were held. An exciting and vibrant atmosphere prevailed, attracting not only elderly people from all over the country but also drawing in a large number of people from all walks of life to participate and follow along.
The melodies of the Ví and Giặm folk songs were sung again, praising the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, the homeland, the country, and the traditions of the elderly. Through the competition rounds, the Ha Tinh delegation selected an art program titled: "The Elderly of Hong Lam Land Obeying President Ho Chi Minh's Teachings" to participate in the Northern regional and national festivals. The focus of the program remained the Nghệ Tĩnh folk song medley written by Meritorious Artist Hoang Ba Ngoc, with performances by singers: Thai Bao, Trong Tuan, Thu Huong, Mai Nguyet, Huu Vy, Van Hanh... and a dance troupe. Amidst the diverse melodies and styles of folk songs from all over, the Ví and Giặm folk songs evoked emotion and affection in the hearts of the audience. The farewell performance by the Ha Tinh delegation at the provincial, regional, and national competitions received numerous rounds of applause and praise.
Musician Vu Huy from Ha Nam province commented: "The folk songs and melodies of Nghe Tinh become more poignant, nostalgic, and emotional the more you listen to them, making everyone want to get closer..."
Meritorious Artist Pham The Nhuan and artist Hoai Thu (Cam My Commune Folk Song Club, Cam Xuyen District) with witty call-and-response singing performances through the ancient lyrics of "O Luc Soan".
The advantage of modern folk songs like "ví" and "giặm" is that they can be written on a wide variety of themes and in different settings due to the numerous melodies. They can also incorporate dramatic elements (song scenes, song dramas) to convey the content. The "ví" and "giặm" stage can also accommodate a wider range of scenes and props. Along with this, folk dances, modern dances, costumes, etc., make the artistic space more attractive and rich in cultural identity.
The values of the Ví and Giặm folk songs are increasingly flourishing in the cultural life of Ha Tinh. The love for the songs of their ancestors, deeply ingrained in their blood, is the source and driving force behind the artists and performers bringing moments of enchantment and excitement to the audience. Ví and Giặm folk songs are present in the lives of the people of Nghe An as an indispensable spiritual nourishment. From amateur art stages to large, professional stages; from festivals to celebrations of the Party and the New Year, Ví and Giặm songs resonate, making those born in the land of Nghệ Tĩnh, the land of folk songs, love life, work, their homeland, and their country even more...
Bui Minh Hue
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