Creating new performance spaces for Vi and Giam

A love duet performance in the new performance space held at Ho Chi Minh Square. Photo: document

Vi and Giam folk songs are closely associated with the working environment, so in the past, the performance space was often in craft villages, where workers could improvise to relieve fatigue while working; it was also a place where scholars could come to play the “chicken teacher” game. Therefore, Vi and Giam were not only popular among the common people but also among the intellectuals.

Dialogue in a performance space simulating an ancient craft village. Photo courtesy of Minh Quan

“In the past, when singing Vi and Giam, people sometimes played a tune from dusk until midnight before leaving,” said musician Thanh Luu, former head of the Nghe Tinh Folk Song Troupe. In particular, in singing, “the chicken teacher” often used a combination of both high and low tones, and low and high tones to tease and make people laugh. Sometimes, after thinking about it for a long time, one finds the laughter really profound and meaningful. So the beauty, the joy and the appeal are there, and only Vi and Giam can convey all the depth and wit of the exchange.

Also according to musician Thanh Luu: “Through folk songs such as Vi and Giam, which are responded to and improvised, people express their deepest feelings and hidden life stories; or recount everyday stories in society, in villages and communes. Therefore, Vi and Giam folk songs partly express the mission of carrying social life. When life around us is happy and peaceful, we sing joyful songs; otherwise, we sing unhappy songs, even complaints”...

The scene of the wharf and boats is often recreated to simulate ancient performance spaces. Photo courtesy

However, with the current situation, Nghe An villages are gradually losing their traditional craft villages. Vi and Giam no longer have a place to show off their sophistication. Vi and Giam enthusiasts no longer have a place to play. But more importantly, in the 4.0 era, with many ways and means of entertainment, Vi and Giam are no longer chosen by many generations as entertainment like in the past. Therefore, the space for Vi and Giam, which was already limited, is now becoming even more scarce. "Therefore, we must increasingly struggle to find ways to create performance spaces suitable for the times" - People's Artist Hong Luu said.

Creating new performance spaces is also a way to add new lyrics to the folk song treasure of Nghe An. “It must be said that for a long time we have been eating the old traditions of our ancestors. Perhaps we have only been able to write new lyrics based on old melodies but have not yet had new performance spaces, from which to create new creations for Vi and Giam folk songs,” said People's Artist Hong Luu.

Also according to People's Artist Hong Luu: "Recently, through practical research on many heritage areas across the country as well as the world, they have built live stages so that the heritage has a place to perform, a place to live and live well. From there, the multiplication of precious ancient capital or new creations is promoted and spread strongly. Because the characteristics of Vi and Giam do not have independent songs, it is a dialogue and improvisation to respond. If there is no space for improvisation of poetry and literature, we will forever eat the ready-made words of our ancestors, unable to add to the dialogue, the quintessence of the times. Moreover, if we study folk songs deeply, we will know that it itself is a chronicle, a manifestation of national and contemporary character. If we do not continue to create, our mission of continuing to write will not be completed."

Dialogue at the new performance space. Photo: Minh Quan

But to have a suitable, long-term, stable and attractive performance space is not an easy thing to do, and it cannot be done immediately. After many times of research, consulting with experts and culturalists, Nghe An Traditional Arts Center has organized about 10 "chicken teacher" sessions at Ho Chi Minh Square with the actual scene being the old craft village space. Fortunately, there have been initial successes in attracting talented people to participate, those who could not come would give parallel verses for people to follow. For example, Meritorious Teacher Vuong Long (Nam Dan), poet Tung Bach in Vinh City, writer Cao Xuan Thuong in Dien Chau, poet Van Anh in Vinh City. Especially poet Thach Quy, during his lifetime, when he was in the stage of treating a serious illness, he also gave parallel verses and improvised parallel verses for people right in this new performance space.

During a play session, the couplets went: "The square is filled with bright lights/ When you leave, mother told me how to die." The response: "Until now, under Uncle Ho's statue/ If you don't love me, please don't pretend to love me." Or: "I like to see you on Facebook/ But when I see you, I'm sure you'll turn away and ignore me/ Oh phone, oh phone, oh phone/ I've thrown it into the dust, I don't want to touch it"... The atmosphere of the couplets was lively as this person asked for a match, that person asked for a match, someone who didn't match correctly wanted to match again the next day to make it more perfect.

Leaders and people join in improvisation in the performance space at Ho Chi Minh Square held in early December 2022. Photo: Minh Quan

It is also necessary to add that since 2007, the performance space of the Provincial Traditional Arts Center, which was then the Center for Preservation of Vi and Giam folk songs, has sought to restore it everywhere in the province. Typical examples are Vi Phuong Vai, Vi Phuong Non, and Vi Do Dua in many villages where there are craft villages for spinning, weaving, and making hats. Therefore, more than ever, Vi and Giam needs to be spread strongly by bringing it back to the people, to life. "To do so, each village and commune needs to be aware that the place where they live is a Vi and Giam cultural space, and each person must be an actor. We need to invest responsibly, deeply and widely, so that Vi and Giam can be returned to its true meaning and mission," said Ms. Quach Thi Cuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Nghe An./.