Father and son love with ca tru...

(Baonghean) - In the movement to restore and develop the art of Ca Tru in Dien Chau district, we must mention Mr. Nguyen Cong Suy and Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai in Hamlet 1, Dien Lien Commune (Dien Chau). With passion and enthusiasm, Mr. Suy and his daughter always strive to preserve and maintain Ca Tru...

Coming to Dien Lien during the club's activities, we can see the passion for art of the members here. 10 members of the club, the oldest is 80, the youngest is 15 years old, gathered around the betel mat, absorbed in the lyrics, rhythm, and music. Most prominent is the image of Mr. Suy and Ms. Mai, one playing the guitar, the other singing an ancient ca tru tune. Besides their talent, the precious thing about the father and son is their heart, their constant desire to preserve the traditional art of their homeland.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Suy confided: Learning to play the Dan Day is very difficult, many people learn but cannot follow, seeing my son's passion but sometimes when he goes to sing there is no one to play the instrument, so I was determined to learn. Being enthusiastically taught by artisan Tran Hai, my daughter encouraged me to join, so after a while I became fascinated, the two of us cooperated, along with several other sisters to preserve the Ca Tru of our homeland. In 2010, when he was nearly 80 years old, Mr. Suy did not hesitate to learn how to hold the drum, strike the clapper, and play the Dan Day. And after only half a year of studying, he mastered the Dan Day instrument and became a musician, accompanying his daughter in singing.

Mr. Suy and Ms. Mai practice singing Ca Tru.

Ms. Mai came to the art of Ca Tru very early, since 2004 she was taught by artisans in the village. With a good voice and a strong love for Ca Tru, she became a good singer in the club of the commune and district. In the national Ca Tru festival, she won 1 Silver prize, 1 Gold prize and many A prizes in the provincial art festival and regularly teaches at the clubs. Ms. Mai wishes to widely popularize this art to the young generation, first of all to the people in the family.

Along with passing on the inspiration of Ca Tru to her father, she has trained two very young "ca tru" singers. Thanks to that, the club has a very potential next generation. She admits that she has a good voice to sing Ca Tru, but Mai also understands that singing Ca Tru requires the most technique and practice in all singing styles. Thanks to her passion and active learning, Mai can now sing nearly 20 styles, a number that surprises many professional singers when meeting her at festivals. What is also valuable is that Mai has been taught by elderly artists about 10 ancient songs such as "Dai Thach" dance, "Bai Bong" dance, "Dang Ruou"... so that they will not be lost and have made a splash at national Ca Tru festivals.

The example of Mr. Suy and his son who are passionate about Ca Tru has spread, thanks to which in Dien Chau, many families have appeared whose members all participate in Ca Tru singing, such as Mr. Pham Tai Khoan's family in Dien Yen, all 4 members of the same family are proficient in Ca Tru, or Mr. Thanh and Ms. Hanh in Dien Yen, the husband plays the guitar, the wife sings... from there creating the lasting vitality of Ca Tru art in the hearts of the people. Mr. Tran Canh Yen - Head of Dien Chau Ca Tru Club said: Mr. Suy and Ms. Mai's father and son are very typical examples. Nearly 80 years old, Mr. Suy still perseveres with his zither to serve the people. During the performances in the commune, district, Ca Tru Club, and in the area, the father and son left many impressions.

Now, Mr. Suy and his son are active members of the Dien Lien Ca Tru Club; Ms. Mai is also the Vice President of the Dien Chau District Ca Tru Club. The impression of the father and son, “one actress, one actor” in the Ca Tru performances has left many emotions in each person about a family with passion and dedication to the traditional art - a cultural heritage of humanity.

Mai Giang