Love of the Fatherland in folk songs

From classic operas

Nghe Tinh folk opera began to take shape, Nghe Tinh folk opera theater at that time successfully adapted the play "Lam River Girl" by playwright Nguyen Trung Phong using Nghe Tinh folk music. From this adapted script, musician Thanh Luu and the theater's scriptwriters adapted 31 songs in the play based on ancient folk music to portray the characters' moods as well as the dialogue. The most surprising thing is that this opera was written for the Cheo genre and won many awards, was a famous play at the time, and brought many tears to the audience, but when adapted to a opera using Nghe Tinh folk music, it also touched people's hearts with standard dramatic melodies and scenes. The dramatic nature was pushed to a climax for the characters, becoming the most classic play of Nghe folk opera.

People's Artist Hong Luu - Director of the Center for Preservation and Promotion of Nghe An Folk Heritage said: "We have invested a lot of effort in conveying each work adapted from folk songs and ancient Vietnamese folk songs, praising the glorious Party and depicting love for the homeland and country. Especially, we bring the most familiar and easily absorbed things." Recently, the Center for Preservation and Promotion of Nghe An Folk Heritage has performed many works that have won high awards at national professional festivals, typically the play "People's Words - Words of the Country", author Vu Hai, adapted from the script of An Ninh, directed by People's Artist Hong Luu; or the play "Songhead" by Tran Huu Thung, which are works that bring Nghe Tinh folk drama in particular and Nghe An folk music in general to a new, modern and contemporary level.

In the play “Words of People - Words of the Country”, many climaxes such as the part where Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh - Uncle Ho's older sister came to visit her younger brother were described by the author in a narrative based on the Dam Ke melody, accurately depicting the inner state of the character; describing the longing, separation, and special love of the older sister from her hometown for her beloved younger brother, after decades of separation. It can be said that this is one of the most successful dramas of the Center, when performed anywhere, in any region, it makes the audience moved to tears before the image of Uncle Ho. The play is also the pride of a generation of actors of the Center, when there were days when they performed countless times, without ever failing to shed tears with the audience.

“In the play, the audience sees the greatness of beloved President Ho Chi Minh, how close and immense Uncle Ho is. The folk songs of Nghe Tinh are integrated, adapted and used flexibly in the play, making the audience feel that if it is not Nghe folk songs, no other form is capable of conveying them.”

…Throughout history

Regarding the theme of love for the Fatherland, we cannot fail to mention the success of the play “The Riverhead” by author Tran Huu Thung. This is an epic play, with educational significance for the revolutionary struggle tradition of our ancestors in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement 1930 - 1931. According to musician Thanh Luu - former Director of Nghe Tinh Folk Song Theater: “Although it is a play that is the beginning of Nghe folk song drama, it has become an indispensable spiritual food for many generations of soldiers and people of Nghe. After the play, every time we hum the vi, cau giam, xam verses in the play, we are moved, as if we are living in that historical context”.

It can be seen that, through each historical period, Nghe folk songs have taken on a separate mission, but always contain the love for the homeland, the ardent patriotism, the indomitable spirit of the army and people of Nghe. The plays are elaborately adapted on the basis of Nghe folk songs, the song segments and suites are invested by musicians to perform in many performance spaces, are warmly received, ensuring inheritance and strong promotion.

People's Artist Hong Luu said: "At every Vi and Giam festival, we enjoy many excellent songs and suites depicting the love for the Fatherland and patriotism of the people of Nghe An. If any unit chooses short scenes with this content, it will leave a beautiful impression in the hearts of the audience."

Therefore, for the vi and giam to last, first of all, in its transmission, it must have a contemporary mission, it must convey the breath of revolution. For example, the play “Hoa lua Truong Bon” by author Nguyen The Ky (adapted by NSUT An Ninh) which has just been released has given the audience a better understanding of the great sacrifices and indomitable will of the Youth Volunteers on the Truong Bon front line. “There were nights when we performed at the district level and cried until our eyes were swollen, even though we had just performed yesterday or the day before. Because, with just a few lines of dialogue in vi and giam in a farewell scene, looking down at the audience, many people sobbed” - People's Artist Hong Luu shared.