Ignite the love songs and melodies of the South.

(Baonghean) - Although newly established, the Southern Nghe Tinh Folk Song Club has affirmed its role in spreading, transmitting, and igniting the love for folk songs in the Nghe An community in the South.

"Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc incites parishioners."

After the folk singing style of Ví and Giặm was recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, people from Nghe An province living, studying, and working in the South have been striving to establish a folk singing club in the South.

On September 17, 2016, in Ho Chi Minh City, lovers of Nghe An folk songs, together with the Nghe Tinh Business Association, officially launched the Southern Nghe Tinh Folk Song Club.

The establishment of the club is not only the long-awaited dream of the children of Nghe An living far from home, and the result of a concerted effort by many passionate individuals, but also a significant milestone marking and opening a new phase in the "southward expansion" of the Vi and Giam folk songs.

Singing folk songs in the "Spring of Compassion" program. Photo: Sy Hoang.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Oanh, an outstanding artisan and head of the club, said: "The purpose of establishing the Southern folk song club is not just for fun singing, but a more important and noble mission is to preserve, transmit, and nurture in future generations, specifically the large number of students, workers, and children of Nghe An living in the South, a love for folk songs, to know how to sing and sing well the folk melodies of their homeland, thereby educating and fostering love for their country."

It is also a great honor and responsibility for the members as well as our many fellow countrymen. We hope for a harmonious collaboration from the younger generation and everyone else, with the spirit that whoever knows how to sing should sing, and those who don't know how to sing should wholeheartedly cheer them on.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Khanh (36 years old), Director of Hoan My Company and a member of the club, shared: "Contributing my small part to preserving, transmitting, and spreading Nghe An folk songs is a source of pride for me."

Currently, the club has about 40 members participating in activities at the Southern Nghe Tinh Folk Song Club. They work in various professions, such as trading, factory work, and teaching, but they share a common love and passion for Nghe Tinh folk songs.

Despite living and working in various locations (across the southern provinces) and being busy with their personal lives, the members always gather to practice promptly when an event arises, creating dance and singing programs that are rich in the unique identity of their homeland.

Interestingly, besides members from Nghe An, the club also includes many members from other provinces. They are not from Nghe An, but through interaction and living together, they have developed an affection for Nghe An culture, and especially for the folk songs and chants of Nghe Tinh.

Singer Thu Thủy, a member of the club, shared: “I am very happy and delighted to participate in the activities of the Southern folk song club. Here, I not only get to sing, but also learn and understand more about the beautiful and interesting aspects of Nghe An culture.”

Thanks to the efforts of all members, over the past six months, the club has developed many high-quality programs. This achievement is due to the support and encouragement of the people of Nghe An and the Nghe Tinh Business Association, both materially and spiritually.

A key advantage is that the club has many members capable of writing lyrics, composing new lyrics, directing, and staging folk songs. Ms. Hong Oanh, a club member, alone has nearly 10 new folk song lyrics that have been and are being used in the club's programs. The content of the club members' works focuses on their homeland of Nghe An province with deep and heartfelt affection.

Like many other clubs, the biggest challenge currently facing the Southern Vietnamese folk singing club is its operating conditions. The management board is struggling to find ways to raise funds sustainably for the club and hopes to organize a folk singing competition for children of Nghe An people living in the South to further promote the spread of folk music and discover and nurture talented individuals.

Speaking about the Association's brainchild, Mr. Nguyen Canh Nam - Chairman of the Nghe Tinh Business Association in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized: "Since its inception, the folk song club has had a strong impact, making the folk songs of Nghe Tinh increasingly spread in the community, and is embraced by many children of Nghe Tinh living far from home."

In the future, the club will further improve its social outreach efforts so that the folk singing club can operate regularly and develop further, making a significant contribution to promoting the image of the homeland, people, and culture of Nghe An province.”

Huy Thu