The northern province of Tuyen Quang is taking steps to have thetraditional Then singing of the Tay ethnic group be included on thelist of the world intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Local authorities have worked with the Vietnam National Academy ofMusic and other northern provinces of Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Lai Chau and Bac Giang – where the music ispractised, to compile a dossier seeking the UNESCO’s title in 2015.
The province has designed plans to preserve and promote the culturalvalues of Then singing and related Tay ethnic rituals; collecteddocuments, filmed, and recorded Then performances; and compiled thematicarticles about this art form, according to Deputy Director of theprovincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Au Thi Mai.
She went on to say that collected Then-related documents and objectswill be published and Then art performances organized to furtherpopularise the art genere.
Tuyen Quang province is home to 64 Then singing clubs with the participation of nearly 1,000 locals, she said.
The musical genre, which is also practiced by the Nung and Thai ethnicgroups, is popular in Tuyen Quang’s Chiem Hoa, Na Hang, Lam Binh, SonDuong, Yen Son and Ham Yen districts.
Artisan HaThuan, who has made significant contributions to collecting, composingand promoting the music, described Then as folk literature reflectingthe sweets and the bitters of ancestors’ life.
Thereare two types of Then singing: “Then ky yen” (praying for good things)and “Then le hoi” (Then festival). The first type is performed atrituals, while the latter form aims to cheer up people and drive awaysorrow and hardship in life and is normally used in such rituals aspraying for good seasons, entering the new house, or “cap sac”(coming-of-age), he said.
The style of singing istraditionally accompanied by a handmade gourd lute called “Dan Tinh” –the soul of the music, he added.-VNA
Local authorities have worked with the Vietnam National Academy ofMusic and other northern provinces of Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Lai Chau and Bac Giang – where the music ispractised, to compile a dossier seeking the UNESCO’s title in 2015.
The province has designed plans to preserve and promote the culturalvalues of Then singing and related Tay ethnic rituals; collecteddocuments, filmed, and recorded Then performances; and compiled thematicarticles about this art form, according to Deputy Director of theprovincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Au Thi Mai.
She went on to say that collected Then-related documents and objectswill be published and Then art performances organized to furtherpopularise the art genere.
Tuyen Quang province is home to 64 Then singing clubs with the participation of nearly 1,000 locals, she said.
The musical genre, which is also practiced by the Nung and Thai ethnicgroups, is popular in Tuyen Quang’s Chiem Hoa, Na Hang, Lam Binh, SonDuong, Yen Son and Ham Yen districts.
Artisan HaThuan, who has made significant contributions to collecting, composingand promoting the music, described Then as folk literature reflectingthe sweets and the bitters of ancestors’ life.
Thereare two types of Then singing: “Then ky yen” (praying for good things)and “Then le hoi” (Then festival). The first type is performed atrituals, while the latter form aims to cheer up people and drive awaysorrow and hardship in life and is normally used in such rituals aspraying for good seasons, entering the new house, or “cap sac”(coming-of-age), he said.
The style of singing istraditionally accompanied by a handmade gourd lute called “Dan Tinh” –the soul of the music, he added.-VNA
