Heavy heart verse

(Baonghean) - The hometown of artisan Le Van Kiem (born in 1932), hamlet 13, Duc Son (Anh Son) is located on the left bank of the Lam River, on the other side is an alluvial land that is green with corn and peanuts all year round. The river flows through the village, forming a soft curve, creating a charming and poetic beauty, contributing to nurturing the souls of many generations. Several times a month, his small house on the hillside is filled with the sound of singing and playing instruments. Those are the days when members of the music group of hamlet 13 come here to practice, and the people in the hamlet also eagerly come to watch...

When he was young, his family was very poor and he did not have a proper education, but Le Van Kiem loved to sing and play music. He often followed people who were talented in singing Xam, Vi, Giam and Cheo to learn. Gradually, Kiem learned to distinguish the melodies and mastered the principles of performance and sound adjustment. When he grew up, Le Van Kiem continued his passion for singing and playing music, and he was never absent from any entertainment in the village. Once, the Nghe An Art Troupe came to perform for the people of Duc Son commune. Le Van Kiem participated in two performances and caught the eye of the troupe leader. The troupe invited him to join the army, but at that time he was married, his wife had just given birth, and did not want her husband to go far away, so he had to put his plan on hold...

Artist Le Van Kiem.

Although he did not join professional art troupes, the artist's blood still flowed in the veins of artisan Le Van Kiem. After the harvest, he packed his bags and set off, carrying a few common musical instruments and a few old clothes. He traveled everywhere, to sing and play, to learn from talented people in the world, from Do Luong, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau to Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong. He went to every village, resting wherever he went, and whenever he stopped, he would play and sing. Hearing the clear sound of the instrument, hearing the deep singing, people would come to enjoy and give him some money, some invited him to their homes for a meal, to rest, and to wait until the evening to play and sing with the whole village. The next day, he set off again to other villages, to satisfy his passion, to meet and make more friends.

Old and weak, his legs are no longer strong enough to go everywhere like before, artisan Le Van Kiem is still loyal to his songs and his guitar. Whether happy or sad, the guitar becomes a companion, a place to express emotions, to share and sympathize. At his advanced age, Mr. Kiem still actively participates in the local art movement, regularly attending performances and the "Sen Village Singing Festival". He has made an important contribution to bringing the commune and district many art awards, especially at the Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Song Festivals, including 3 provincial awards. Many ancient melodies and songs are still preserved by artisan Le Van Kiem, becoming a valuable asset in the Nghe folk song treasury. Every time guests come to work in the commune, there areWhen asked to enjoy folk songs, the first person invited to perform was none other than Mr. Kiem.

This year, artisan Le Van Kiem has turned 83 years old. Not only is he passionate about singing and playing musical instruments, he also makes musical instruments such as monochord, flute and two-stringed fiddle. He also realizes that if he does not promptly teach the next generation the traditional musical values ​​of his homeland, they will eventually fade away and be forgotten. Therefore, he established the Ancient Music Group of the village with the purpose of practicing and passing on the heritage left by his ancestors. The group's 7 members are all music lovers and are responsible for the culture of their homeland.

With his contributions to preserving and teaching traditional music, in 2013, Mr. Le Van Kiem was awarded the title of Folk Artist. This year, there is another good news: he will soon be awarded the title of Meritorious Artist. This is a worthy recognition for a person who is enthusiastic, dedicated and passionate about folk songs and traditional music.

Cong Kien