Folk artist Ha Thuan has devoted himself to collecting, composing and performing hundreds of both ancient and new Then songs. (Photo: VNA) Tuyen Quang (VNA) – Charming “Then” singing, a traditional kind of performing art ofseveral ethnic minority groups in Vietnam, has regained its spotlight, thanksto the effort by local artists in the northern mountainous province of TuyenQuang.
“Then” singing, aunique combination of singing, music and dance, is practiced by the Thai, Tay,Nung ethnic groups in northern Vietnam. It is traditionally accompanied by ahandmade gourd lute called “dan tinh” and “tinh tau”.
To Tay ethnic minoritypeople, “Then” means “god” so that the art is closely associated with Godworshipping rituals and the spiritual life of them.
It is believed to havebeen handed down from their god, who lives in a mysterious world with whichonly “Then” singers, “ong Then” and “ba Then”, can contact.
During rituals, “ongThen” and “ba Then” sing and play a musical instrument at the same time, whilepresenting offerings to their deity, representing the ethnic community’scontact with their god and asking him for blessings such as good health, bumpercrops, happiness and a long life.
As anorally-transmitted art form, Then would have slid into oblivion if there were noartisans with passion for ancestral tunes working to save it.
Folk artist Ha Thuanfrom Tan Hop village, Tan An commune, Chiem Hoa district has devoted himself tocollecting, composing and performing hundreds of both ancient and new Thensongs. He has opened musical classes to offer free Then singing lessons anddelivered lectures about Then at local schools to Then lovers of all ages. Manyof them are from different ethnic groups and even from overseas.
Another outstandingThen master is Meritorious Artist Ma Van Duc from Tuyen Quang city, who is theauthor of the 1,000-page book “Ancient Then in Tuyen Quang”, the only of itskind in Vietnam. The former Director of the provincial Department of Culture,Sports and Tourism has spent more than 30 years studying the art form.
Tuyen Quang provincehas been working with the Hanoi Conservatoire of Music and neighbouringprovinces, where the music is also practiced, to compile application documentstowards seeking UNESCO recognition of the world cultural heritage, saidDirector of the provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Vu Phan.
According to Phan, thedocuments will be submitted to the UNESCO this December.-VNA
VNA
