Xẩm (a traditional Vietnamese folk music genre) is revived in a new creative space.

Recently in Hanoi, the art program "Sac Xam" (Xam Colors), organized by students of the Creative Writing and Journalism Faculty of Hanoi University of Culture, created a highly creative performance space, blending Xam singing art with contemporary fashion, lighting, and music.

Artists and researchers specializing in Xẩm (a traditional Vietnamese folk music genre) shared their insights in the program.

"Sac Xam," organized by a group of students from Journalism Class 13A, demonstrates the efforts of young people in finding new ways to approach national heritage, bringing traditional art out of familiar spaces to engage in dialogue with contemporary life.

Xẩm singing was once the voice of the impoverished people living by the riverside, in the village square, in the countryside, or on the old trams of Hanoi . Through many historical ups and downs, this folk performance art form faced the risk of extinction before being strongly revived in the past two decades and recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The artists performed as part of the program.

Drawing from that traditional material, "Sắc Xẩm" chooses a new storytelling approach, transforming the stage into a space where folk music and modern performance art intersect. The program is divided into two stages, "Transition" and "Beginning," like a journey from the traditional core to the contemporary spirit of Xẩm today.

The program opened with a video recreating the development of Xẩm singing art, from traveling troupes to modern artistic life. The Xẩm Hà Thành group, including music researcher and artist Mai Tuyết Hoa; music researcher and artist Nguyễn Quang Long; and young artist Trần Bá Nam Khánh, performed two pieces: "Xẩm Thập Ân" and "Stay Away From Vice".

In a minimalist yet visually rich stage setting, the sounds of the two-stringed fiddle and clappers, along with the ancient melodies of Xẩm (a traditional Vietnamese folk singing style), captivated the young audience. Many, encountering Xẩm for the first time, were still drawn in by its narrative quality, folk elements, and profound humanistic depth in each song.

The program was organized on a large scale and in a systematic manner.

Music researcher and artist Nguyen Quang Long shared that the special thing about Xam lies in the fact that this art form simultaneously contains many cultural elements: literature, music, national character, and the optimistic spirit of the Vietnamese people.

The artist said that more than 20 years ago, when artisan Ha Thi Cau was almost the last remaining "Xam seed," those in the profession began the journey of reviving traditional Xam. From restoring traditional Xam songs, they continued to create new works with a contemporary feel, such as "Stay Away From Vice," "Drugs,"... and then proceeded to experiment with combining Xam with EDM and rap from around 2015.

The show combined fashion collections inspired by both classic and modern styles.

"Xẩm is very Vietnamese because it originated from the poorest class of society in the past, but each song still has an optimistic spirit. It is this vitality that allows Xẩm to endure in today's era," artist Nguyen Quang Long expressed. Accompanying the journey of Xẩm's renewal, artist Mai Tuyet Hoa said she faced many strong reactions when incorporating rap and EDM into Xẩm.

"Many people said we were destroying Xẩm. But in the end, with our professional skills and belief in traditional values, we persevered. And today, that spread shows that Xẩm can absolutely continue to thrive in modern life," she shared.

The highlight of "Sắc Xẩm" lies in the fashion show set to Xẩm music. Instead of viewing Xẩm as a "specimen" to be preserved in its original state, the show places this art form in interaction with contemporary design, electronic music, and runway performance language.

Foreign tourists are fascinated by Xẩm (a traditional Vietnamese folk music genre).

During the "Transitional" phase, collections inspired by conical hats, four-panel dresses, lotus flowers from the Le Dynasty, and imagery of Vietnamese rural life appeared on the stage. Traditional Vietnamese two-stringed fiddle music blended with modern arrangements to create an atmosphere that was both classic and innovative.

The collection by the French-style design group restructures the image of the conical hat and the four-panel dress using architectural forms. Designer Ngo Hoang Diep's "Ancient Lotus" collection uses the image of the lotus flower from the Le Dynasty in evening gown designs.

Meanwhile, the "Non Sac" collection by designers Do Quang Truong, Le Hoang Gia Khanh, and Le Van Viet explores the simple beauty of Vietnamese countryside using crinkled taffeta fabric that mimics rice waves and conical hat brims.

Dr. Trinh Le Anh (third from the right), editor and MC, served as the lecturer, guiding the students in carrying out the program.

In the "Opening" stage, the show truly exploded as Xẩm (traditional Vietnamese folk singing) was completely combined with EDM and rap. The collections: "Sắc Men" (Men's Colors), "Đầu Nguồn" (Source), and "Then Rừng" (Forest Then) further expanded the expressive scope of traditional culture in modern fashion.

The program concluded with a modern dance performance of "Unforgettable" by the Grooza group, set to electronically harmonized Xam (traditional Vietnamese folk music), creating a vibrant and youthful atmosphere while still maintaining the folk spirit throughout.

Dr. Trinh Le Anh, editor and lecturer, believes that bringing traditional art into contemporary life is a major challenge, requiring not only effective communication but also cultural products that are compelling enough to convince the public.

Artists Nguyen Quang Long and Mai Tuyet Hoa have been involved with Xam (a traditional Vietnamese folk music genre) for many years.

Dr. Trinh Le Anh believes that cultural heritage will not disappear, but may "hibernate" until a generation with sufficient knowledge and creativity emerges to awaken it. "It is highly commendable for young people to do this. If we can exploit the cultural resources of our ancestors, that is something to be proud of. If we cannot, we need to acknowledge our lack of knowledge and our own responsibility," said Dr. Trinh Le Anh.

Instead of opting for an academic approach or confining heritage within a protected space, "Sắc Xẩm" (Xẩm Colors) shows a different direction for Generation Z: bringing traditional culture closer to young people through contemporary media and aesthetics.

According to Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich, the head of the organizing committee, the team used many trending, humorous, and intriguing elements from social media to reach a young audience.

Therefore, the team's greatest desire is to bring Xẩm closer to young people. Xẩm can absolutely become a part of the cultural industry, appearing in fashion, theater, and performing arts in many different forms.

The program features the participation of a team of young creatives.

The organizers believe that the important thing is not to change the identity of Xẩm, but to find ways for today's audience to feel inclined to listen and to enter the world of this heritage. In fact, the program showed that many young audiences changed their perspectives after experiencing Xẩm in this new setting.

Do Minh Huyen, an audience member attending the show, shared that she was particularly impressed with the fashion show set to Xam music because she had never imagined that this combination could be so harmonious.

Meanwhile, student Nguyen Thuy Vi revealed that she used to think Xam (a traditional Vietnamese folk music genre) was dry and difficult to access. However, her experience at "Sac Xam" made her realize that Xam is very easy to connect with and can be combined with hip-hop, remix, or EDM to be more relatable to young people.

In the context of the cultural industry becoming a new driving force for development, programs like "Sac Xam" show that young people are not turning their backs on tradition. On the contrary, they are seeking to retell the story of heritage in the language of their time.

When the traditional Vietnamese two-stringed fiddle resonates amidst the runway lights, when Xam folk songs blend with EDM and catwalks, what remains, besides the novelty of a performance, is the enduring vitality of Vietnamese culture in contemporary life.

THUY PHUONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/xam-hoi-sinh-trong-khong-gian-sang-tao-moi-post962987.html