Lack of publications on folk songs of Nghe An

(Baonghean) - Since Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs were recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, more and more people have sought to buy music books and CDs about Vi and Giam folk songs. However, there are still not many publications serving the needs of listening, reading, and learning about Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs...

Mr. Dong Van Tan - an official of Pho Yen district (Thai Nguyen province) once attended a wedding in Thanh Chuong, heard Nghe folk songs and liked them very much. He looked for music CDs and music books about Nghe folk songs but they were not available in Thanh Chuong. After that, he had to ask his friends in Vinh city to buy music CDs and send them to Thai Nguyen, but he still couldn't find any music books. Mr. Nguyen Duy Hoa - from Yen Thanh, working at the Southern office of General Department 2 (Ministry of Public Security), when he returned to his hometown, he looked for folk music CDs and Nghe folk songs and some small music books with lyrics of Nghe folk songs as gifts. But he could only find a few types of music CDs, but he couldn't find any music books. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Loan - a retired Literature teacher in Nghi Thu commune (Nghi Loc), said that there are still many folk songs that people have collected, copied ancient lyrics and performed very well and very uniquely, but have not been introduced in books, notebooks, tapes and discs. Based on the above opinions, we went to some tape and disc selling establishments and bookstores to find out the reality.

Music and record store on Dinh Cong Trang street (Vinh city).

Ms. Ho Thi Hop, owner of the Square music CD store (No. 67, Ho Tung Mau Street, Vinh City) said that at her store, there are many CDs with newly composed songs with the sound and material of Nghe folk songs, but very few CDs specializing in folk songs with ancient lyrics. When UNESCO recognized Nghe folk songs as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, many people sought to buy CDs with ancient melodies and lyrics. However, the store only has two types of Nghe folk songs: Nghe folk songs (Music Publishing House) and Tinh que xu Nghe (Music CD Production Center - Hanoi Conservatory of Music).

At Ha My Music CD Center (including 2 stores at 2 Dinh Cong Trang Street and 69 Ho Tung Mau - Vinh City), Ms. Le Thi Tra My said that after Nghe An folk songs were recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, people looked to buy more, but there were too few CDs of folk songs about Vi and Dam so customers had no chance to choose.

People's Artist Hong Luu - Deputy Director of the Center for Preservation and Promotion of Nghe An Folk Heritage, said: It is true that the organization of production of Vi, Dam, and folk songs with ancient lyrics is still very little. In 2003 and 2004, People's Artist Hong Luu and her colleagues produced 3 video discs of Nghe An Folk songs and some developed folk songs: Tinh que xu Nghe 1, Tinh que xu Nghe 2, Tinh que xu Nghe 3, video discs, now compressed into one disc Tinh que xu Nghe. Before that, Meritorious Artist Tien Dung and Meritorious Artist Le Thanh jointly produced a cassette tape of Nghe Tinh Folk songs. In 2005, the Department of Culture and Information (now the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism) organized the production of Nghe An Folk songs. People's Artist Hong Luu said that the reason why Nghe An Folk singers produce Vi, Dam folk songs programs is still little because of limited funding. Individuals and organizations that produce music discs often suffer losses because the discs are sold at high prices, and as soon as they are put on the market, there is immediately a situation of "illegal" copies being printed - illegally printed copies being sold at prices 5 to 10 times cheaper...

Talking with Ms. Nguyen Thi Nu, Head of Heritage Management Department (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism), we learned that in addition to the above mentioned music tapes and discs, in 2012 the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also produced Nghe An Folk Songs CDs and CDs. However, the Nghe An Folk Songs CDs of 2012 were rarely sold in stores.

Although the Nghe Tinh folk songs and miles are rare, they can still be found and purchased at music stores, while music books about Nghe Tinh folk songs and miles are almost no longer available at bookstores and book distribution centers in the province. At the self-service bookstore - Nghe An Book Distribution Company (Le Mao Street - Vinh City), Mr. Nguyen Van Khoa - a bookstore employee said that currently there is no source of books on the topic of Nghe Tinh folk songs and miles for sale. Occasionally, customers still ask to buy, but the bookstore cannot meet the demand because there is no source.

Mr. Vu Hai - Director of Nghe An Publishing House said that in 2013, the book Preserving and Promoting the Values ​​of Nghe An Folk Songs, many authors, printed 500 copies. Recently, Nghe An Publishing House has just granted a publishing license for the book Nghe An Folk Songs in Contemporary Life, printed 300 copies. According to Mr. Vu Hai, the above books are mainly research books and the number of copies printed is very small. Previously, there were quite a lot of research books on Nghe An Folk Songs. Music books were also compiled by a number of authors and author groups, but printed in small numbers. It is known that there have been at least 7 music books on Nghe An Folk Songs compiled, including: Thanh Nghe Tinh Folk Songs (volumes 1,2), Music Publishing House 1960 - 1961; Ha Tinh Folk Songs, Le Ham, Ha Tinh Culture Department published in 1970; Folk songs of Nghe Tinh, Nghe Tinh Department of Culture - Information, Music Publishing House 1991; Hat vi of Nghe Tinh, Dao Viet Hung, Music Publishing House 1998; Folk music of Nghe An, Le Ham, Hoang Tho, Thanh Luu, Nghe An VHDG Association 2000; Folk songs used in schools, Duong Hong Tu, Thanh Luu, Nghe An Publishing House, 2001; Folk songs of Nghe An, many authors, Nghe An Department of Culture - Sports & Tourism, 2012. However, most of these music books were published decades ago, are not reprinted now and are almost not available for sale in bookstores.

Regarding the plan to publish music books and music discs in the coming time, Ms. Quach Thi Cuong - Head of the Department of Professional Management, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that, implementing the policy of the Provincial People's Committee, the professional department has currently gathered 11 folk songs of Vi and Giam to build a music disc of Nghe Tinh Folk Songs. The preparation of the content of the works and performing artists has been completed, the remaining work is to find a music publisher to release a new music disc. Thus, the public's expectation for the new Nghe An Folk Songs music disc program will more or less be met. Regarding music books, Mr. Vu Hai - Director of Nghe An Publishing House said that up to now, this unit is still struggling to find a new direction, there is still no specific plan for music books in the coming time...

Article and photos:Ngo Kien