Ha Thi Cau Xam Singing Club: A place to nurture folk music talents

"", the Xam Thap An melodies in the song "Ngai me sinh thanh" performed by club members serve as another reminder of the gratitude for giving birth and raising parents.

Ha Thi Cau Xam singing club attracts many ages.

From the Xam mat opened by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Man (daughter of Mr. Cau) to preserve and spread the traditional Xam singing melodies of the nation, up to now this place has become the Ha Thi Cau Xam singing Club, with clear operating regulations, emphasizing the goal of preserving Xam singing melodies in Ha Thi Cau's style, participating in performing activities inside and outside the province...

Sharing with us, Ms. Nguyen Thi Man, Head of the Ha Thi Cau Xam Singing Club, said that the club was established in 2021, but before that, Xam singing activities here were still passed down from when Mr. Cau was alive until his death. The club currently has 33 members, in which Xam singing is taught for free to all ages, with priority given to students, at least 4 years old.

“At the club, children learn to sing Xam in the style of artist Ha Thi Cau, learn music (two-stringed fiddle, drum, senh), and learn to sing. On normal days, Xam lovers from old to young often come here to show off their talents and immerse themselves in the unique Xam melodies of the nation,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Man.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Man (daughter of Ha Thi Cau), Head of the Ha Thi Cau Xam Singing Club, teaches Xam Singing to children.

According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Man, Xam singing is a type of folk music that is difficult to learn, difficult to sing and difficult to listen to, so finding young musical talents to sing Xam is not easy. Therefore, first of all, Mrs. Man spreads the essence of Xam singing to her grandchildren and neighbors. "Good wine naturally smells good", more and more people from other communes come to learn Xam singing. "Because I love my children who live far away, every time I sing Xam singing, I ask them to stay and eat with my husband and I. Although my family's economy is still difficult, my children eat whatever my husband and I have", Mrs. Nguyen Thi Man shared.

Teaching Xam singing at the club is a non-profit activity, but over the years, Ms. Nguyen Thi Man has persisted in maintaining the profession and teaching it to all audiences, especially students. According to Ms. Man, teaching Xam singing is not only a responsibility, but also a way for her to show her gratitude to her deceased mother, so that the Ha Thi Cau Xam singing style can still resonate in contemporary life. Not only teaching Xam singing at the club, in recent times, Ms. Nguyen Thi Man has been invited by many schools to teach Xam singing to a wide range of students.

Club members perform the "Ngải em sinh sanh" (Me sinh sanh) melody.

For Mrs. Man, preserving and teaching Xam singing is for filial piety, and for those who participate in teaching at the club, it is for passion, for the belief that Xam singing will have a certain place in today's life. Mrs. Mai Thi Sach (71 years old), residing in Phu My village, Yen Tu commune, who has participated in Cheo singing for many years, is now a teacher at Ha Thi Cau Xam singing club, said: "After the idle farming days, we came to the club to nurture our passion for Xam singing. Because the club has expanded the age range for teaching, focusing on students, I am both a Xam singing student and a supporter of the children. Seeing the children passionately learning Xam singing, practicing drums and two-stringed instruments, I am very happy and believe that Xam singing will forever resonate in today's life."

Not only preserving and teaching Xam singing, Ha Thi Cau Xam singing club is also a place to discover, nurture and nurture many young musical talents. Many members of the club have participated in performances at music festivals across the province and the country. One of them is Dinh Thuy Linh, 15 years old. Not only has a good singing voice, Dinh Thuy Linh can play most of the traditional musical instruments such as two-stringed fiddle, drum, clapper, lute, monochord, and zither. Previously, at the "Search for Ninh Binh Province's Music Talents 2024" contest, Dinh Thuy Linh won the C prize for the two-stringed fiddle performance "Ngai me sinh thanh".

Not only is she a key member of the Ha Thi Cau Xam Singing Club when participating in competitions and performances, Dinh Thuy Linh also actively guides the children to practice singing and playing instruments, with the hope that the club will develop more and more. “The most difficult thing for Xam singing is to sing along with the ancient Xam melodies. In addition to studying at the club, I also actively look for videos and recordings of Ha Thi Cau to learn to sing along. I think that I and the members of the club must be more responsible in preserving and spreading the Xam melodies,” said Dinh Thuy Linh.

Through talking with members of the Ha Thi Cau Xam Singing Club, we understand the difficulties they are facing in preserving and spreading the art of Xam Singing. Ms. Nguyen Thi Man expressed: “Thanks to the support of philanthropists, parents and Xam lovers, the club has purchased musical instruments to serve the teaching work. What the members and I hope is that the club will continue to receive more attention from the community and leaders at all levels, especially in terms of funding so that the club can continue to expand, participate in many traditional art activities in and outside the province, and spread the good and beauty of Xam Singing to the masses”.

Some pictures of teaching Xam singing at Ha Thi Cau Xam singing club: