Bringing the art of Xoan singing to the "digital" environment

Through this, the public can enjoy and learn about the values of Phu Tho xoan singing - an intangible cultural heritage of humanity recognized by UNESCO.

Thet xoan troupe artists perform xoan singing. Photo: Thuy Du

As a member of the Xam Ha Thanh group with many projects and activities to preserve and promote traditional music over the years, researcher Nguyen Quang Long has cherished the project "Introducing the heritage of Xoan singing music" on cyberspace since 2022, aiming to create a "digital" life for the art of Xoan singing, so that many people can access standard Xoan songs, enjoy them or exploit them as materials for research work.

Researcher Nguyen Quang Long confided that in his artistic journey, he is a person who has a predestined relationship with xoan singing, having carried out many projects to introduce xoan singing by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Phu Tho province and Vietnam Television, in 4 original xoan wards of Phu Tho. For this project, researcher Nguyen Quang Long decided to only choose xoan Thet ward (Kim Duc commune, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province) to implement.

“In addition to being one of the four original xoan guilds with a particularly important position in the origin, formation, and process of nurturing and promoting the art of xoan singing of the nation, the Xoan Thet guild also has many prestigious and excellent artisans, born in families with a long tradition of xoan singing. At the Xoan Thet guild, the inheritance and continuity still exist when there are many generations of artisans actively working, such as Meritorious Artists Bui Thi Kieu Nga (61 years old), Nguyen Thi Nga (59 years old), Le Thi Nhan (67 years old); artisan Nguyen Van Thuyet (60 years old), artisan Nguyen Van Tuan (39 years old), Xoan actor Nguyen Minh Tri (19 years old)... We also want to perform all 13 qua cach in the qua cach stage performed by one guild to create unity”, the passionate music researcher shared.

Because the project wants to introduce and spread the heritage of xoan singing music on the internet, it focuses on the authentic values of music and images. The music part includes 16 xoan songs, including 3 songs from the worship singing stage and 13 songs from the fruit singing stage. The songs are recorded in a simple, rustic way in the living space of xoan singing. In addition, there is also a video clip "Returning to the Ancestral Land and Listening to Xoan" recording the conversation between MC Hoang Chung and the artists of the Xoan Thet group with the participation of researcher Nguyen Quang Long, aiming to lead the public to approach and understand more about xoan singing. The images are recorded at 4 historical relics directly related to xoan singing: Lai Len temple (Phu Duc Xoan ward), Thet communal house (Thet Xoan ward), Kim Doi communal house (Kim Doi Xoan ward), An Thai communal house (An Thai Xoan ward) of Phu Tho province.

Accompanying music researcher Nguyen Quang Long in this 100% socialized project are musician and singer Phan Thanh Cuong (production and recording organization); editor and MC Hoang Chung (editing, recording, post-production); musician Tung Lam - Vietnam Musicians Association in Phu Tho...

Following music researcher Nguyen Quang Long and his team on a field trip to Xoan Thet ward to carry out a new project, we can see the passion and enthusiasm of the Xoan singers and those who are making efforts to preserve, develop and spread the unique heritage of the nation. From ward leader Bui Thi Kieu Nga to members such as Le Thi Nhan, Nguyen Thi Nga, Nguyen Van Thuyet, Nguyen Van Tuan... even though they are busy with many jobs such as farming, selling goods, driving taxis, doing business... but when they are informed that the project team is coming, they are ready to arrange their work or ask for leave to go to the village temple, get ready with traditional costumes and be absorbed in this meaningful work.

“This project is very meaningful for xoan singing, it is an opportunity to spread the unique heritage of Phu Tho to audiences in other provinces and cities and introduce it to foreigners. This also contributes to us preserving and promoting the xoan singing heritage, passing on the love to young people and continuing to pass it on to the next generation,” said Bui Thi Kieu Nga, head of the xoan singing group Thet.

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