Story: Huong Quynh
Photos: Ba Ngoc

Young musicians are finding new ways to rekindle a love of traditional music

  Seven traditional musical genres are among the 11 Intangible Cultural Heritages certified by UNESCO in Vietnam. These include Hue elegant court music; the bronze gong and cymbal culture of the Central Highlands; Bac Ninh quan họ singing; trù singing; xoan singing; Southern amateur music; and ví and giặm chants of Nghe An – Ha Tinh.

Despite these honors, Vietnam’s traditional musical genres are in threat of dying out, as people turn to modern forms of entertainment. In recent years, the UNESCO Art Group of Nghe An Folk Chants has worked to fuel a love for ví and giặm chants and educate younger generations about these ancient songs.

  Founded four years ago by a group of young artists who love ví and giặm, the UNESCO Art Group of Nghe An Folk Chants has spawned 10 smaller clubs in Hanoi with over 100 members, most of whom are young regular participants. Club members are systematically collecting, learning and teaching authentic performances of this folk genre. Le Thanh Phong, the director of the UNESCO Art Group of Nghe An Folk Chants, has been part of the group from the start. “The right approach is essential to get young people to learn to love ví and giặm,” says Le Thanh Phong. “We must create a suitable sphere for performances of folk chants. Young people don’t just learn the chants but get immersed in the environment of ví and giặm by acting as performing artists in traditional costumes, sitting by a loom or singing as they ride a boat along vast rivers. Girls with shining eyes transform themselves into ladies and performers as they weave, knit or make hats… Guys act as Confucian scholars or chivalrous disciples.” This way, the rustic, genuine and profound values of ví and giặm melodies permeate the souls of young members.

Having learned the melodies, lyrics and performing styles by heart, young artists can improvise and create new chants that ring true to modern life. Young members are eager to organize large shows to promote ví and giặm to the wider community. In Hanoi, shows in theaters, the National Convention Center and outdoor weekend performances around Hoan Kiem Lake have helped to promote ví and giặm melodies from Nghe An. 

As spring approaches, members of the UNESCO Art Group of Nghe An Folk Chants are busy rehearsing their Tet show, “Spring over the birthplace of the ví and giặm”, and planning more events in 2017. The group’s young members hope to spread their passion for ví and giặm chants, an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.