Nghe An strives to preserve and promote the heritage of Vi and Giam folk songs
On November 27, 2014, Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs were recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. After 10 years, the work of preserving and promoting the Vi and Giam folk song heritage of Nghe An province has taken place synchronously in many fields, creating a widespread influence in the community.
Many conservation solutions
Immediately after the folk songs Vi and Giam were recorded asRepresentative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Nghe An province has had practical activities to preserve and promote the value of this type of cultural heritage. Notably, the Provincial People's Committee issued a Project to protect and promote the value of Vi and Giam folk song heritage for the period 2021 - 2025; accordingly, the Department of Culture and Sports coordinates with localities to advise on the implementation of the project's contents such as research, collection, inventory, documentation, digitization of Vi and Giam folk songs, development of clubs and artisans, teaching and promoting the value of the heritage...
In addition, the province also has special policies related to the protection and promotion of the value of the Vi and Giam folk heritage, such as Resolution 29/2021 of the Provincial People's Council stipulating support policies for artisans, clubs in the field of intangible cultural heritage and artists working at the Provincial Traditional Arts Center, thereby contributing to encouraging and motivating the active role of artisans as well as clubs in preserving and promoting heritage, including the Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe Tinh.
According to Resolution 29/2021 of the Provincial People's Council, when artisans are awarded the title of People's Artisan or Meritorious Artisan by the President, in addition to the benefits according to regulations, the province will support an additional VND 1,500,000/person/month for People's Artisan; VND 1,000,000/person/month for Meritorious Artisan. For clubs preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage, support VND 30,000,000/newly established club to purchase musical instruments, props, and performances; support operating costs of VND 5,000,000/club/year.
From 82 folk song clubs at the end of 2014, the province now has 140 Vi and Giam folk song clubs in 20 districts, cities and towns with a total of more than 3,000 members. In addition, the province has 48 Vi and Giam folk song artists who were awarded the title of Meritorious Artist by the President, and 1 artist was awarded the title of People's Artist.
In many localities, the activities of Vi and Giam folk song clubs have been very active, contributing positively to the local cultural and artistic movement. Ms. Hoang Thi Hoai Thanh - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Hung Nguyen district, said: "The whole district has 16 Vi and Giam folk song clubs of Nghe Tinh. Most of the clubs are operating well, have the ability to socialize, perform for tourism and also receive attention from local authorities. In addition to the support of 5 million VND/year from the province, Hung Nguyen district allocates an additional budget of 3 million VND/year for folk song clubs. Some clubs in Hung Tan, Chau Nhan, Hung Dao, Hung Thinh communes... are also supported by the commune with 2-3 million VND/year.
Among these, the Vi and Giam Folk Songs Club of Hung Tan Commune is one of the earliest established and most active clubs. From 20 initial members in 2013, the club now has 35 members, meeting once a month. From 2012 to present, the Vi and Giam Folk Songs Club of Hung Tan Commune has won 2 First Prizes, 1 Second Prize, and 1 Third Prize at the Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Songs Festival. In addition, the club also actively coordinates with the Mobile Information Team to participate in teaching folk songs to primary and secondary school students in the area.
“The most meaningful thing is that we have passed on our love of folk songs to the young generation, so that the nation's precious spiritual culture can be preserved and developed,” said Mr. Phan Dang Minh - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Tan Commune, Chairman of the Club.
In Do Luong district, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Quang - Vice Chairwoman of the district People's Committee said that in recent years, the district People's Committee has directed communes to establish and improve the Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Song Club, with appropriate support policies; encourage outstanding artisans and club members to compose new lyrics, and teach Vi and Giam folk songs to the younger generation...
Up to now, Do Luong has 18 Vi and Giam folk song clubs, each club has 20-30 members, creating a widespread folk song network from the district to the grassroots, expanding to agencies and schools, with many exciting and practical activities, typically the Vi and Giam Folk Song Clubs of Boi Son, Tan Son, Giang Son Dong communes...
Along with the activities of folk song clubs, it is impossible not to mention the role of artists, typical cultural figures with tireless efforts in transmitting Vi and Giam folk songs. They are People's Artist Vo Thi Hong Van in Ngoc Son commune, Thanh Chuong district, who for many years has opened classes to teach and sing folk songs for free at home, attracting a large number of students in Thanh Chuong district to participate; Meritorious Artist Cao Xuan Thuong (Dien Chau). People's Artist Vo Thi Hong Van has hundreds of large and small works, with all genres: solo, duet, performance, skit, drama, opera... based on the material of Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe Tinh; Mr. Bien Ngoc Khanh - Music teacher and Head of the Youth Union of Vinh Tan Primary School (Vinh City), has made many contributions in bringing Vi and Giam folk songs into schools...
Create a performance space for Vi and Giam
According to People's Artist Trinh Thi Hong Luu - former Director of Nghe An Province Traditional Arts Center - like other types of intangible cultural heritage, Nghe Tinh folk songs belong to the community, live in the community and are preserved and promoted by the community. Currently, the space for practicing folk songs heritage is relatively rich such as in community activities, folk song festivals, tourist attractions...
For example, at the Kim Lien National Special Relic Site, since 2015, the performance of Vi and Giam folk songs has been regularly performed for tourists, creating a good impression in the hearts of visitors. In Vinh City, since 2022, Vi and Giam folk song performances have been held on walking streets, creating an interesting highlight every weekend.
In particular, since 2022, the Provincial Traditional Arts Center has organized folk song performances to bring folk songs into the lively performance environment of people's lives. To date, the Center has organized more than 20 folk song performances at Ho Chi Minh Square (Vinh City), attracting the attention of a large number of people.
However, after 10 years of Vi and Giam folk songs being recognized as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, the preservation and promotion of the value of this type of heritage still faces many difficulties and challenges. The quality of activities of Vi and Giam folk song clubs is not uniform; many clubs operate at a low level and are sporadic due to lack of attention and support from local authorities. The number of people participating in composing lyrics for Vi and Giam folk songs is decreasing. A large number of young people are no longer interested in folk songs in general and Vi and Giam folk songs in particular; the introduction of folk songs into schools has not been carried out in a uniform manner.
In particular, up to now, despite many efforts from relevant sectors and localities, the folk songs have not yet become a typical tourism product of Nghe An. In recent years, the Department of Culture has cherished the idea of organizing live shows associated with the performance of folk songs at the Kim Lien relic site andNghe An Museumto serve tourists, but until now, for many different reasons, this idea has not been able to become a reality.
In the coming time, along with continuing to implement the project to protect and promote the value of the Vi and Giam folk song heritage in the period of 2021-2025, the Department of Culture and Sports will continue to advise the Provincial People's Committee to issue a Project to protect and promote the value of the Vi and Giam folk song heritage in the period of 2026-2030, focusing on continuing to promote research, collection, and documentation of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs; promoting the role of the community through organizing teaching classes in the community, developing a network of grassroots clubs and artisans; developing a network, providing cultural services and products associated with Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs in tourist areas and spots and in the community... so that the Vi and Giam folk song heritage will always be the source in the flow of contemporary culture.
Mr. Bui Cong Vinh - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Culture and Sports.