The keeper of Thai folk songs

Ms. Sam Thi Vinh, one of the few people who "preserves" many folk songs of the Thai ethnic group. Photo: Chu Thanh

Even though she is 68 years old, every two weeks, Ms. Vinh teaches more than 64 "students" of all ages in the Thai ethnic culture preservation club in Chau Tien commune how to sing traditional songs and melodies.

Suoi singing, Lam singing, Nhuon singing, Hap Lai singing… - the folk songs of the Thai people are inspired by the working life, production, daily activities of the people and also stories about legendary heroes of the people that have resounded countless times in the cultural house of Hoa Tien village.

“When I was 14, my uncle taught me the first words of Thai folk songs,” Ms. Vinh recalled. Ms. Vinh’s love for folk songs grew over the years she followed the troupe to perform, until she passed them on to her children and grandchildren, and the villagers, in her old age.

To sing Thai folk songs, one must have talent, not everyone can easily learn, Ms. Vinh said. In addition to knowing Thai, singers must also practice skills such as breathing, vibrato, and enunciating each song clearly and completely.

“Each melody has a different way of singing, rhythm, and rules, so if you don't love it, it won't love you and you won't be able to sing it,” Ms. Vinh laughed.

For example, when singing Nhuon, the singer must sing in a low voice, sing a lot, take a breath, sing in a throaty voice, not sing in a nasal voice. In contrast to the low singing style like singing Nhuon, the singer of Lam sings with a fast, even, and lively rhythm.

With Hap Lai singing, the singer must perform in a storytelling style. Because it is a genre of lulling children to sleep, Lullaby singing (U uu um, Pum be) needs to be sung with a gentle, humming melody full of emotion. When singing a lullaby, the singer needs to use vibrato to express the sacred mother-child love. As for On Oi singing, when first heard, the singing style is a bit similar to Nhuon singing, but in fact, it must be sung higher and with a clearer voice.

Ms. Sam Thi Vinh (white shirt, far left) teaches club members Thai folk songs. Photo: Chu Thanh

Those are just some of the rules on how to get into the rhythm of Thai folk songs. Besides remembering how to sing in the right rhythm, learners also have to remember some content about singing rules.

Specifically, with Hap Lai singing - a tune about heroic characters in the legends of the Thai people, the singer must strictly adhere to the plot, without adding or removing anything. Some typical works that can be listed in the Hap Lai singing genre are Khun Chuong, Khun Tinh, Am Phu, Hun Pha Bun... While with the remaining songs, the singer can freely compose, adding to the lyrics to suit each situation.

According to Ms. Vinh, for a long time now, singing and lyrics have been indispensable in the culture of the Thai ethnic group. From wedding ceremonies, festivals, and rituals to work, singing has helped people express their hidden feelings that are difficult to express in words. However, there was a time when many young people in the village were no longer interested in learning and preserving traditional folk songs. This made the elderly in the village like her very sad.

Fortunately, in recent years, thanks to conservation projects and the establishment of clubs such as the Thai Ethnic Culture Conservation Club in Chau Tien Commune, young people have gradually become more interested in relearning traditional folk songs, thereby contributing to preserving the cultural identity of the Thai ethnic group./.