Family theater troupe

(Baonghean) - With passion and respect for the unique cultural values ​​of their homeland, all four members of Mr. Pham Tai Khoan's family have diligently worked to ensure that Ca Tru (traditional Vietnamese singing) will endure through time.

xCa trù flows in my veins.

Mr. Pham Tai Khoan's family performed for the villagers during the Lunar New Year celebrations. Photo: Mai Giang

Ca trù was introduced to Dien Chau very early on. However, over time, ca trù was sometimes forgotten, but with passion and respect for the unique cultural values ​​of their homeland, all four members of Mr. Pham Tai Khoan's family in Hamlet 10, Dien Yen Commune, have diligently worked to preserve ca trù for generations to come.

At the age of 10, Mr. Khoan listened to his grandparents and parents singing ca trù (a traditional Vietnamese folk singing style). He was a good singer and loved singing, so without realizing it, ca trù gradually seeped into his heart. While ca trù may have faded into the past elsewhere, for his family, the lifeblood of this unique musical genre is always maintained by their love and extraordinary passion.

That love was further fueled when he was sent to attend a three-month training course in playing musical instruments and singing traditional Vietnamese folk songs. Mr. Khoan confided: "Ca trù here was founded by the Tran family, led by Mr. Tran Map - a famous 'quan giap' (a famous 'ngu giao phuong' - a folk singing troupe that performed in the royal court). From there, a renowned family of singers and musicians was born, receiving royal decrees and even the title of Marquis. Currently, the Tran family's ancestral temple still preserves 12 royal decrees bestowing titles upon the talented 'quan giap' of the family."

Dinh Chay is one of the remaining "witnesses" of the old performing arts troupes. Many years ago, the sounds of music and singing from performers echoed here during ceremonies honoring gods and saints, promotions, and cultural exchanges between the major performing arts troupes of Co Dam (Ha Tinh), Cat Ngan, and Ke Gam... The temple still bears the inscription: Chieu Ky Van (meaning "gathering for cultural activities").

Ca trù (a traditional Vietnamese musical genre) was deeply ingrained in Mr. Pham Tai Khoan's blood from a very young age, but spreading his love for ca trù to others was no easy task. Initially, Mr. Khoan encouraged his wife and children to join him. Over time, everyone became even more passionate about ca trù than he was.

Sitting next to her husband, Mrs. Le Thi Phung, Mr. Khoan's wife, enthusiastically continued: "When I heard my 90-year-old great-grandmother participating in the large Ke Lu theater troupe singing the song 'Hong Hong Tuyet Tuyet,' I thought it was a lullaby and was immediately captivated. The more I listened, the more I liked it and became even more enthralled. Later, I learned that it was a famous Ca Tru song, and from then on, I also started practicing singing it."

Next, the couple encouraged their son and daughter-in-law to join the "family theater troupe." The image of the husband playing the drums, the wife and daughter-in-law singing, and the son playing the instrument rhythmically has become familiar to the people of Dien Yen.

Once the whole family had become proficient in singing and playing musical instruments, Mr. Khoan boldly advised the commune's cultural committee to encourage talented individuals to form a Ca Tru club, aiming to revive the traditional art form of his homeland.

Mission to spread awareness

Ca trù is not an easy art form to learn or memorize; it requires talent and, above all, passion. The process of passing on the craft in Mr. Khoan's family was also fraught with difficulties, at times almost leading them to give up, but their heartfelt desire to preserve the ancestral craft for future generations helped them overcome all obstacles.

With their passion and perseverance, they successfully established a club with the participation of 4 female singers and 3 male instrumentalists.

Ms. Hanh, a member of the Ca Tru club, shared: "In the past, I didn't like Ca Tru at all. After Mr. Khoan encouraged me, and Ms. Phung enthusiastically taught me how to sing and play the percussion, I gradually came to find Ca Tru beautiful. I sang and listened to it so much that it became ingrained in my blood and flesh. Now I've encouraged my husband to join the club as well; he really enjoys it and often accompanies me on the percussion instruments."

At the 2011 National Ca Tru Festival, Mr. Khoan's family performed a spoken-word song that was highly appreciated by the audience. At this festival, Mr. Pham Tai Ba - their son and a musician - was honored with the Young Talent Award, bringing joy to the entire district and province.

Thanks to the passion and efforts of Mr. Khoan's family, Dien Yen commune has now established a Ca Tru (traditional Vietnamese singing) club with 8 members aged from 20 to 60, who perform regularly and with high quality.

Mr. Tran Canh Yen, head of the Dien Chau Ca Tru Club, said: "It's very rare to find a family with two generations passionate about singing Ca Tru like Mr. Khoan's family. This Ca Tru family can sing many genres and can perform an entire Ca Tru performance like the traditional Ca Tru troupes of the past."

The Kẻ Lứ traditional theater has become a thing of the past, but with the passionate dedication of Mr. Phạm Tài Khoản's family, they have contributed to preserving and "reviving" this traditional art form of their ancestors.

Mai Giang