On a spring day, I went to listen to Ca Tru singing.

(Baonghean.vn) - In the early days of the new year, the sounds of spring, with the rhythmic drumming, the zither, the clappers, and the heartfelt melodies of Ca Tru singing, resound joyfully at village communal houses, cultural centers, and families celebrating longevity in Dien Chau.

The desire to witness performances of this unique art form seems to have become an indispensable part of the community's cultural life, especially during the Lunar New Year. Every spring, many people in Dien Hoa commune choose to enjoy listening to Ca Tru singing at the village communal house on New Year's Eve. Here, each person feels as if they are lost amidst the ancient Ca Tru performances, allowing their souls to relax and connect with their roots. Besides the deeply moving traditional songs, the club members have also composed many new songs celebrating the Party, the Spring Festival, and remembering President Ho Chi Minh… Therefore, the songs feel familiar, easy to understand, and easy to listen to.

The Dien Hoa Ca Tru Club performs for the local people at the beginning of the spring season. Photo: Mai Giang.

Singing <i>ca trù</i> (traditional Vietnamese folk singing) during the transition between seasons has made the spring days here truly warm and rich in traditional character. Artist Cao Xuân Thưởng shared:""It's very touching, because my village still preserves the traditions I've always wanted. Being able to sing and perform during this New Year's celebration makes me feel like my music sounds sweeter and my singing is better."

Ms. Cao Thi Xuan, a resident of Dien Hoa commune, Dien Chau district, said: "Listening to Ca Tru brings a warm feeling of human connection to the listener. I hope this art form will continue to be promoted."

In the spring weather, members of the Ca Tru singing club in Doai village, Dien Lien commune, some wearing brocade headscarves, others in traditional four-panel dresses, sit facing each other to sing and listen to each other. To preserve this traditional art form, the elders of the club have gathered talented young Ca Tru singers to teach them. Through learning each song, each way of playing the clappers and stringed instruments, the club members have now mastered many melodies. Therefore, during the spring, the club receives many invitations to perform from clans, villages, and families celebrating birthdays at the beginning of the year.

Vo Thi Mai Anh, though young, has already mastered many Ca Tru melodies. (Photo: Mai Giang)

A highlight of the Dien Lien Ca Tru performances is the image of Mr. Vo Cong Suy and his daughter Vo Thi Mai, or 16-year-old Vo Thi Mai Anh, who is already proficient in many melodies. Mai Anh shared: "I love Ca Tru, so I want my peers to be able to welcome and open their hearts to Ca Tru culture. When I perform, I see many people watching, they praise my singing, and that makes me want to sing too."

According to the elders of Dien Yen, this place has always been famous as a land of singing, a birthplace of folk art and traditional singing in Nghe An. Particularly, from the 17th century, the Ke Lu singing troupe, with its renowned singers of beauty and talent, was greatly admired by the king and officials, who frequently invited them to perform in the palace.

Today, Dinh Chay has become a cultural center, serving as a place for people to enjoy Ca Tru (traditional Vietnamese singing) during the early days of spring. The sounds of the zither, drums, and the ecstatic chants of the singers and actors create a vibrant, warm, and sacred atmosphere during the spring season. Although the "Ca Tru Festival" is an annual event of the club every time Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around, every year the people flock to listen to Ca Tru, filling the temple courtyard to capacity.

The Dien Yen Ca Tru Club performs at Dinh Chay every Lunar New Year. Photo: Mai Giang.

As the lead performer, Mr. Tran Canh Yen – Chairman of the Dien Chau District Ca Tru Club – shared: "The nature of Ca Tru art is chamber music, serving the New Year's festival, so it adds a very beautiful traditional folk touch to the spring atmosphere."

Thanks to the efforts of the government and the artists and singers, the Ca Tru folk culture is becoming an indispensable "spiritual nourishment" in the community and is considered a "specialty" on the "menu" of spring festivals and traditional cultural activities such as birthday celebrations, ancestral commemorations, and village festivals in rural communities.

Mr. Tran Sy Hong, Deputy Head of the Culture and Information Department of Dien Chau, further explained: The local government coordinated smoothly with the management boards of historical sites such as Phuong Lich Temple, the Dong Cac University of Thai Doan Nguyen historical site, and Ngo Tri Tri historical site in Dien Hoa to organize Ca Tru singing performances during the early spring of 2017; in January, they organized exchanges for Ca Tru clubs at Cuong Temple.

In the springtime, the captivating melodies of Ca Tru (a traditional Vietnamese folk singing style) entice, sometimes gently, sometimes forcefully, lingering in the hearts of all who hear it. New generations of artists and singers continue to preserve and promote the unique values ​​of Ca Tru, contributing to the conservation and preservation of this distinctive intangible cultural heritage for the thousand-year-old land of Hoan Dien.

Mai Giang