There is a lack of publications about the folk songs of Nghe An province.

(Baonghean) - Since Nghe Tinh folk songs were recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, more people have been looking to buy books and CDs about these folk songs. However, publications catering to the needs of listening to, reading, and learning about Nghe Tinh folk songs are still limited...

Mr. Dong Van Tan, an official from Pho Yen district (Thai Nguyen province), was very impressed by the Nghe An folk songs he heard at a wedding in Thanh Chuong. He tried to buy CDs and music books about Nghe An folk songs, but they weren't available in Thanh Chuong. He then had to ask friends in Vinh City to buy CDs and send them to Thai Nguyen, but he still hasn't been able to find any music books. Mr. Nguyen Duy Hoa, originally from Yen Thanh and working at the Southern branch of General Department 2 (Ministry of Public Security), also tried to buy CDs of Nghe An folk songs and some small music books containing the lyrics of these folk melodies as gifts during a visit home. However, he could only find a few CDs, and the music books were nowhere to be found. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Loan, a retired literature teacher from Nghi Thu commune (Nghi Loc district), believes that there are many folk songs and melodies that people have collected, transcribed, and performed beautifully and uniquely, but which have not yet been introduced through books, recordings, or audio/video materials. Based on these opinions, we visited several stores selling audio/video recordings and bookstores to investigate the situation firsthand.

A music and video store on Dinh Cong Trang Street (Vinh City).

Ms. Ho Thi Hop, owner of the Quang Truong music and video store (No. 67, Ho Tung Mau Street, Vinh City), said that while her store has many CDs with newly composed songs reflecting the folk music of Nghe An province, there are very few CDs specializing in traditional folk songs like "Vi" and "Dam". When UNESCO recognized Nghe An folk songs as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, many people sought out CDs with traditional melodies and lyrics. However, the store only stocks two types of Nghe An folk song CDs: "Nghe An Folk Songs" (Music Publishing House) and "Love for the Homeland of Nghe An" (Music and Video Production Center – Hanoi Conservatory of Music).

At the Ha My Music and Video Center (with two stores at 2 Dinh Cong Trang Street and 69 Ho Tung Mau Street - 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 have been buying them more, but there are too few CDs of folk songs, so customers don't have many choices.

People's Artist Hong Luu – Deputy Director of the Center for Preservation and Promotion of Nghe An Folk Song Heritage, said: "It's true that the production of traditional folk songs like 'vi' and 'dam' is still very limited. In 2003 and 2004, People's Artist Hong Luu and her colleagues produced three video discs of Nghe An folk songs, along with some developed folk songs: 'Tinh Que Xu Nghe 1', 'Tinh Que Xu Nghe 2', and 'Tinh Que Xu Nghe 3', which are 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 song discs." People's Artist Hong Luu believes that the reason why artists singing Nghe An folk songs produce so few programs is due to limited funding. Individuals and organizations producing music CDs often suffer losses because the CDs they produce sell at high prices, but as soon as they hit the market, there's an immediate surge in illegal copying and selling at prices 5 to 10 times cheaper...

In a conversation with Ms. Nguyen Thi Nu, Head of the Heritage Management Department (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism), it was learned that, in addition to the aforementioned music tapes and CDs, in 2012 the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also produced CDs of Nghe An folk songs. However, the 2012 Nghe An folk song CDs were rarely sold in stores.

While CDs of Nghe Tinh folk songs are scarce and can still be found in music stores, music books on these songs are almost non-existent in bookstores and distribution centers throughout the province. At the self-service bookstore of Nghe An Book Distribution Company (Le Mao Street, Vinh City), Mr. Nguyen Van Khoa, a bookstore employee, stated that there are currently no books on Nghe Tinh folk songs available for sale. Occasionally, customers inquire about purchasing them, but the bookstore cannot fulfill the request due to a lack of supply.

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

Regarding plans for publishing music books and CDs in the near future, Ms. Quach Thi Cuong, Head of the Professional Management Department of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that in accordance with the policy of the Provincial People's Committee, the professional department has compiled 11 folk songs (Vi and Dam) to create a music album of Nghe Tinh folk songs. Preparations for the content and performing artists have been completed; the remaining task is to find a music publisher to release the new album. Thus, the public's anticipation for a new Nghe Tinh folk song album will be somewhat met. As for music books, Mr. Vu Hai, Director of Nghe An Publishing House, said that the unit is still considering new directions and does not yet have a specific plan for music books in the near future...

Text and photos:Ngo Kien