Spring day go listen to ca tru singing

(Baonghean.vn) - In the first days of the new year, the sounds of spring with the sound of drums, wooden zithers, clappers, and soulful singing of ca tru at village communal houses, cultural houses, or families celebrating longevity at the beginning of the year in Dien Chau resound loudly.

The need to watch this unique art form perform seems to have become an indispensable spiritual food in the cultural life of the community, especially during the 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. Coming here, everyone feels like they are lost in the ancient singing of A Dao, letting their souls freely turn to their roots. In addition to the ancient songs with profound melodies, the club members have also composed many new songs to celebrate the Party, celebrate Spring, and remember Uncle Ho... Therefore, people feel close and easy to understand and listen to.

Dien Hoa Ca Tru Club sings to serve people in early spring. Photo: Mai Giang.

Singing Ca Tru in the moment of transition between heaven and earth has made the spring days here warm and full of traditional identity. Artist Cao Xuan Thuong shared:“I am so touched because my village still maintains the traditional features that I desire. Being able to sing and perform during this New Year's moment makes me feel like I play the instrument more sweetly and sing better.

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

In the spring weather, the members of the ca tru club of Doai village, Dien Lien, some wearing brocade scarves, some wearing four-flap dresses, sat facing each other to sing and listen. To preserve this traditional art form, the elders in the Club gathered talented children to sing ca tru to listen and teach. By learning each song, each way of clapping and playing the instrument, the club members have now mastered many melodies. Therefore, in the spring, the Club receives many invitations to perform from clans, hamlets, and families celebrating their longevity in the spring.

Vo Thi Mai Anh, although young, can sing many Ca Tru melodies fluently. Photo: Mai Giang.

The highlight of Dien Lien ca tru singing performances is the image of the father playing the instrument and the daughter singing the song of Mr. Vo Cong Suy and Ms. Vo Thi Mai or Vo Thi Mai Anh, who is only 16 years old but has already sung many tunes fluently. Mai Anh confided: I like ca tru so I want my peers to be able to welcome and open their hearts to ca tru culture. When I go to sing, I see many people watching, they praise my singing and then like to sing.

The elders in Dien Yen say that, from ancient times until now, this place has been famous as a land of singing, a place where the folk art of Ca Tru in Nghe An flourished. In particular, since the 17th century, the Ke Lu Ca Tru troupe with its famous beautiful and talented female singers was very much liked by the king and mandarins and was often invited to the palace to perform.

Nowadays, Dinh Chay has become a place for cultural activities, serving people to enjoy Ca Tru in the first days of spring. The sounds of tin tang, tom chat... u hu u hu of the actors and actresses performing enthusiastically make the spring atmosphere here bustling, warm and sacred. Although the "Ca cam" festival is an annual activity of the Club every time Tet comes and spring comes, every year the people still come to listen to Ca Tru, filling the communal house yard.

Dien Yen Ca Tru Club performs at Dinh Chay every Tet holiday. Photo: Mai Giang.

As a leader, Mr. Tran Canh Yen - Head of the Ca Tru Club of Dien Chau district shared: The nature of Ca Tru art is chamber music serving the New Year festival, so it adds a beautiful traditional folk touch to the spring.

With the efforts of the government as well as the artists and singers, the Ca Tru folk cultural activities are becoming an indispensable "spiritual food" in the community and are considered a "specialty" in the "spring menu" of festivals, traditional cultural activities such as longevity celebrations, ancestor's death anniversaries, village festivals, of the village community.

Mr. Tran Sy Hong - Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Dien Chau added: The local government coordinated smoothly with the management boards of relics such as Phuong Lich Communal House, the Dong Cac relic of the university scholar Thai Doan Nguyen or the Ngo Tri Tri relic in Dien Hoa to organize Ca Tru singing in early spring 2017; in January, organized exchanges for Ca Tru clubs at Cuong Temple.

In the spring weather, the captivating sounds of Ca Tru seem to entice, sometimes let go, sometimes hold on, lingering in each person's footsteps. New generations of artists and singers have been and are continuing to preserve and promote the unique values ​​of Ca Tru. Contributing to the preservation and protection of the land of Hoan Dien, a thousand-year-old cultural land, a unique intangible cultural heritage.

Mai Giang