Folk songs on Thach Son land

(Baonghean) - Coming to Anh Son today, not only can you clearly feel the changes in your homeland under the majestic Kim Nhan peak, but you can also immerse yourself in the smooth and profound Vi and Giam folk songs of Vi and Giam folk song clubs. In particular, Thach Son commune is a typical example of the district in the Vi and Giam folk song development movement.

In Anh Son district, there are currently 2 folk song clubs ranked at the provincial level and 6 other newly established clubs. Among them, the most active, vibrant and quality one is the Folk Song Club of Thach Son commune. Originally a mobile information team of the commune was established with the role of participating in building cultural and performing programs to serve the local political tasks; serving the people in the area and some neighboring areas. Gradually, the club became a familiar address, a place for regular cultural and artistic activities of the people in the commune in particular and neighboring communes of Anh Son district in general. In 2010, when there was a policy of the province on establishing folk song clubs in the districts, aiming to build a movement of playing and singing folk songs, the Folk Song Club of Thach Son commune was officially established.

A performance by the Vi and Giam Folk Song Club of Thach Son commune.

We found our way to Thach Son commune in the middle of the hot Lao windy days. Appearing before our eyes was a land of picturesque landscapes with rolling hills and mountains interspersed with alluvial flats along the banks of the fertile Lam River with the endless green of rice, corn, potatoes, and cassava. That poetic landscape has partly created for the people here a romantic soul, rich in literature and art, to weave smooth, soulful folk songs. Just arriving at the entrance of the commune, the loudspeakers were already playing folk songs, the more we listened, the more we could clearly hear the sounds of the repertoires composed by the authors in the Club.

On a mat spread out in the middle of the house, Club President Nguyen Quang Thong and members were enthusiastically singing the song "Sparkling Soul of Nghe An Countryside". Talking to us, Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh, currently Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thach Son Commune, also a member, a famous flute player of the club confided: When it was first established, the club only had 11 members, most of them were middle-aged and elderly people. They came together because of their passionate love for the folk songs of their homeland. The early days of building the movement of singing and playing Vi and Giam folk songs were very difficult because the influence of Nghe Tinh folk songs in people's lives was not as strong as it is now, there were not many new lyrics and people were not really interested. However, with the love of literature and art, love of folk songs and based on the spirit of volunteerism (self-composing and self-contributing funds), the club gradually overcame difficulties and grew.

Up to now, the club has 27 members, the age is getting younger. The youngest is Le Na, Song Thuong, 11, 12 years old this year. The oldest is nearly 80 this year. However, age has never been a distance in the club, everyone gathers together in one house, some play the instrument, some sing, some compose new lyrics... All for the goal of creating a spread in the movement. Not only serving the local people, but also competitions and performances organized by the district and province have the participation of the club. From 2011 to now, the club has participated in the Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Song Festival and has won many awards and certificates of merit; known by many clubs in districts, cities, towns and the public in and outside the province.

In particular, performances such as "Lach Lang Mo Hoi; Khoai Village Girls, Yen Phuc Boys; Towards the Sea and Islands; Husband and Wife Harmony; Donating Land to Build a House..." have become the club's own brand, deeply imprinted in the hearts of the public inside and outside the province. Mr. Nguyen Quang Thong, Club Director, confided that in Thach Son, every family is eager to sing folk songs, every hamlet wants to establish a club. Not only has the number of artists in Thach Son increased, but artisans like Mr. Thong have also funded their own expenses, packed their bags and gone to collect ancient folk songs. They even went to districts such as Thanh Chuong and Nam Dan to learn about the singing movement and how to establish a club, from there developing the movement locally.

Talking about the experience of building the club, teacher Le Khac Hieu, Anh Son Town Secondary School, who is also a core member of the Thach Son Folk Song Club, said: The most important thing is that members must have passion, enthusiasm, and be willing to "eat at home and take on the responsibility of the whole village", all for the goal of making the vi and giam songs fly far and wide.

Saying goodbye to the Thach Son Commune Folk Song Club, we were both impressed by the love for folk songs of the local people and hoped that the authorities would soon have mechanisms and policies to contribute to nurturing the activities of folk song clubs. And, if everywhere in Nghe An there was a folk song movement like that, then this intangible cultural heritage, representative of humanity, would certainly be passed on forever.

Trinh Van Phu

(Center for Conservation and Promotion of Nghe An Folk Heritage)