Spread folk songs to everyone

+ On VOV, there is a very unique program named after an individual who is working at the station. That program is named after you: “Tam Mai Van Lang - Chat about Folk Songs” and is now renamed “Dialogue about Folk Songs”. Can you share more about the program so that readers can know?

- I am extremely happy because as VOV leaders said, in the 78 years of establishment (this year is preparing for 79 years), there has only been a program named after one person. The name of the program "Tam Mai Van Lang - Tam Chuyen Dan Ca" was not thought up by me but was suggested by VOV Deputy General Director Pham Manh Hung to the Music Department to build this program.

Why is it “Tam” and not “Tan”? Many listeners have asked and I have answered. Because, Southerners often say “Tam chuyen” and not “Tan chieu” which sounds a bit masculine and not very serious. I used the word “Tam chuyen” to make it different, then the audience gave their feedback so I changed it to “Doi dien dan ca”. This program has a very tight structure, almost like Mai Van Lang is the host of the program.

The program consists of two main sections: a dialogue with the host, including 1-2 members of the Folk Song room who ask questions, Mai Van Lang answers social issues, mainly related to traditional music; a dialogue between Mai Van Lang and listeners. I have a private phone number 0961349068 so that every Wednesday from 3pm to 4pm, listeners can call there. Callers can ask any questions related to culture, ethnic arts and folk music .

I will listen to the listeners’ questions and answers, then quote the answers and broadcast them on television, called a dialogue with the listeners. After that part, there will be news and events about traditional folk music that Mai Van Lang went and met. Especially, in the section where listeners ask by handwritten letters about problems in folk music (for example: want to ask artist A, artist B…, genre A, genre B about Cheo, Cai Luong…), Mai Van Lang will answer in more depth to serve the listeners.

Composer Mai Van Lang. Photo: NVCC

Another very interesting part is the quiz. Mai Van Lang answers quizzes such as: questions about a folk song, a folk singer or a traditional instrument... I am very happy that since January 1, 2022, the program has been on air and has been maintained for 2 and a half years now. The program has received positive feedback from the audience, friends, colleagues, and many people have given very careful comments, from which the program has become more and more loved.

+ The special thing about “Tam Mai Van Lang - Tam Chuyen Dan Ca” is that the program has no script, the entire content is a very natural dialogue between Mai Van Lang and the editor or between Mai Van Lang and the audience. In the process of conducting dialogue with the audience, you must have encountered difficult situations?

- When making the program “Tam Mai Van Lang – Tam Chuyen Dan Ca” and now “Dialogue of Folk Songs”, we did not have a script. I wanted the knowledge that I had acquired in 30 years of being attached to Folk Songs, to Cheo… to be released and indeed released a lot. Many listeners asked very good questions and I tried to answer with the knowledge I had accumulated. For example, some listeners asked about Thuy Kieu, is singing Cheo Tau singing Chinese Cheo? Or why Cheo has not been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage representing humanity...

Honestly, fortunately, since I was young, Mai Van Lang has tried to accumulate knowledge by reading books, then listening to opinions from friends, the older generation… and this program is very suitable for what I have. Folk songs are my love, so I can answer the questions from the audience relatively easily.

My hope is to help listeners understand and love folk songs more, know more about cultural regions, artists, artisans and art forms. Because of that, my knowledge is gradually improved, and the knowledge of folk songs of listeners to the program is also improved.

+ Very unique and special, but “Tam Mai Van Lang” is also a type of program that is not easy to make. What is the secret to making such an attractive program, sir?

- This is indeed a difficult but interesting program. There are many questions that listeners ask me that are very difficult to answer, even I have to give up and ask for a number to supplement my knowledge and then answer later. Don't think that listeners don't have knowledge, many listeners are very good, even many PhDs, journalists, teachers... call me to ask as a listener. Therefore, in the process of receiving listeners, I also owe many questions. There are also many cases where listeners think of questions as challenges, twisting Mai Van Lang. For example, there are listeners who ask why it is called Folk Songs and Traditional Music, but only see the lyrics of folk songs and no music... Those are very interesting things in my profession.

To create an attractive program, I think the most important secret is to understand the audience, understand what they need and want. To understand, you must first put yourself in the audience's position to know how to ask and answer to satisfy them. I often listen to my VOV colleagues chat, read newspapers from friends and colleagues everywhere, and especially always listen to the audience and read the letters sent by the audience. Recently, I read via email and now I read via the social networking platforms I am using. I know what the audience asks and what they want, and I also have a good grasp of their thoughts and wishes.

I also traveled to many places to accumulate knowledge. Therefore, I understand the psychology of the audience, so when they ask, I can almost answer everything. I also choose to speak in a simple way, not using any lofty language, speaking words and meanings, or speaking in a metaphorical way, but speaking sincerely, from the heart to the heart.

I talk to the audience with my heart and love. If you start to feel love, the person you are talking to will feel it. I think that is the factor that makes the program more attractive.

Writer Mai Van Lang interviewed a Co Tu ethnic artist during a trip to the Central Highlands. Photo: NVCC

+ Not only is he a journalist and a program producer on VOV, he is also considered an ambassador connecting and spreading rowing across the country. What do you think about that comment?

- The word ambassador is very good but I am just a connector. I connect individuals with the art of Cheo, the people and connect VOV's traditional folk music program with the people. Those two connections are one, one but two.

That connection is in many aspects, firstly as a journalist/reporter, I go to the localities, the countryside to meet and talk with the people, then record the emotions, singing voices, the sounds of the people's instruments, and the performance and roles. Secondly, as a composer, I always write new lyrics, write Cheo songs, write folk songs for the people to sing and meet together. Thirdly, as a researcher, when I go to those countrysides, I meet and learn about Cheo through the villages, through the people. Fourthly, as an event organizer, I go to interact with the people, even directly participate in and direct those programs.

On a personal level, I am also a media person on social media platforms such as Youtube, Tiktok, Facebook... With those 5 roles, I am called an ambassador by everyone, because I keep going from one rural area to another to spread folk songs to everyone.

+ Thank you, author Mai Van Lang!

Dinh Trung (Recorded)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/soan-gia-nha-bao-mai-van-lang-lan-toa-dan-ca-cho-moi-nguoi-post300197.html