"Mr. Tan, folk singer"

(Baonghean) - Driven by his passionate love for the folk songs and melodies of his homeland, for over 30 years, Mr. Dinh Nhat Tan in Dien Thai commune, Dien Chau district, has done many things to develop the folk singing movement in the community, and folk songs have become an indispensable spiritual nourishment in many villages of Phu Dien. The villagers affectionately call him "Mr. Tan the Folk Song Singer"...

The sweet and soulful lullabies sung by his grandmother and mother deeply influenced and nurtured Dinh Nhat Tan's soul from a young age. At 12, he followed his older siblings and peers from the village to perform.He shared his love for folk songs with people both within and outside the commune. It was also because of his passion for folk music that he decided to dedicate himself to the cultural sector. Being assigned as the Head of the Cultural Committee of Dien Thai commune provided him with the opportunity to realize his cherished idea of ​​widely developing the Nghe An folk song movement to preserve the cultural identity of his homeland.

Mr. Dinh Nhat Tan (left) receives the First Prize at the Nghe An Folk Song Festival, Cluster 1, 2012.

Mr. Tan shared: "To maintain and promote the folk singing of Nghe An province, we established a Folk Singing Club early on. Because of this club, we organize regular activities, with the core group being folk singers from the hamlets and villages, expanding to various organizations and political groups such as youth, women, veterans, farmers, and the elderly."

From discovering talented individuals and encouraging them to join the club, to nurturing their skills, Mr. Tan single-handedly undertook all the tasks. He went to each family to persuade them to create conditions for club members to participate regularly in activities. Despite the busy work in the fields, the 15 members of the club still dedicate time to practice and meet once a month. Besides his excellent singing ability and professional performance style, drawing on his experience with the lives of farmers, he has composed dozens of new folk songs and short plays that are loved by the people and widely performed throughout the district. Mr. Tan has also been an active collaborator of the District Cultural Center for over 30 years, an indispensable figure in district-level and provincial-level performances for Dien Chau district.

The Dien Thai Folk Song Club is now the most active in the district, with the establishment of folk song groups in all 10 hamlets. Mr. Tan's three children all sing folk songs very well and are actively involved in the club. Notably, they have successfully introduced folk songs into three schools: preschool, primary, and secondary. Mr. Tan added: “I dedicate a lot of time to expanding the folk song club of Nghe An province, focusing on how to make young people love folk songs and how to increasingly engage in practical activities to preserve this precious traditional art form.”

...On one occasion, immersed in the intoxicating atmosphere of folk songs at the Dien Thai Folk Song Club, the image of "Mr. Tan Folk Song" - the club's chairman - left a strong impression of a person who dedicated himself wholeheartedly to ensuring the enduring presence of his homeland's songs.

Text and photos:Mai Giang(Dien Chau Radio and Television Station)