About Muong Lai, happy Khap Coi melody

Established in 2020, the Tay Folk Song Club of Muong Lai Commune (Lao Cai Province) has become a place to preserve and teach unique and distinctive folk songs of the Tay people, including the Khap Coi tune.

Returning to Muong Lai in October, the golden sunshine spreads over the hillsides, dyeing the space with a brilliant and gentle autumn color. The stilt houses appear and disappear in the morning mist, on the fields, the cool autumn wind carries the fragrant scent of rice….

Muong Lai has more than 90% of the population being ethnic minorities. Therefore, this place preserves a rich and unique treasure of folk songs and dances with many folk melodies such as: Khap Coi, Luon, Then, Kham Hai, Phong Slu...; in which, mainly Khap Coi singing - folk material taken from the life and activities of the Tay people. The deep, smooth folk songs are like confidences about life... Every time the song resounds, it makes the soul relaxed, as if returning to the origin of the Khap Coi verses that captivate people's hearts.

In the traditional stilt house, the regular practice session of the Tay Folk Song Club is always full of enthusiastic and passionate members, immersing themselves in the melodies of the flute. The Tay Folk Song Club of Muong Lai commune was born with the desire to preserve and conserve the unique folk cultural identity of the Tay ethnic group.

As a proficient user of traditional musical instruments, with a smooth voice, who once followed her mothers and sisters to sing Tay folk songs in festivals, now the excellent artist Nong Thi Kiem is teaching the younger generation - the members of the Club - this precious cultural feature.

Meritorious Artist Nong Thi Kiem shared: We are fortunate to continue the cultural flow from the previous generation - the elders who sang Tay folk songs in the past. Now we have collected and preserved them, continuing with the younger generation to "light the fire of passion", so that Tay folk songs can be passed down to future generations.

Meritorious artist Nong Thi Kiem teaches how to play musical instruments.

The enthusiasm and dedication of the artisans and elders in teaching Tay folk songs has attracted more and more young people to practice and be passionate about the songs of their ethnic group. Under the guidance and instruction of the women, the girls, and the sisters in each meticulous movement, how to hold and pluck the Tinh lute, how to play the flute and hum the melody... the children have been able to sing the melodies of their ethnic group. That effort has contributed to preserving, conserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Tay ethnic group, nurturing and nurturing local artistic talent.

Wishing to become a core of the arts, preserving the folk song and dance heritage of the Tay ethnic group and spreading the love of culture, Pham Yen Nhi - class 7A of Luc Yen Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities and her friends are always present in every practice session. Pham Yen Nhi said: I am very proud of my ethnic culture. I am very happy to be taught the Khap Coi melody by my grandmothers and mothers, to play the Tinh lute and play the bamboo flute. My friends and I in the Club will together preserve and promote the unique cultural features of the Tay ethnic group.

Young people in the Club are enthusiastically practicing Tay folk songs.

With nearly 40 members, the Tay Folk Song Club of Muong Lai Commune is not only a place where artisans pass on their experiences, but also a bridge for the Khap Coi melody to be preserved and live forever.

Ms. Hua Thi Quoc - a member of the Tay Folk Song Club of Muong Lai commune hopes: The Club will always unite, promote national pride and together spread the passion to contribute to preserving and maintaining the precious cultural heritage of our nation.

Over time, the cultural capital of the Tay people in Muong Lai has always been respected, preserved and conserved through practical actions. The previous generation is dedicated to teaching - the younger generation is passionate about learning and preserving, has opened the source for the folk song stream in the land of Muong Lai to flow forever.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ve-muong-lai-vui-dieu-khap-coi-post884111.html