Traditional costumes for performing folk songs (ví, giặm).
(Baonghean.vn) - The folk songs of Ví and Giặm have preserved a large part of the soul, cultural identity, customs, and lifestyle of the people, not only through lyrics and melodies but also clearly expressed through costumes.
Clothing is an essential need in human life, reflecting the aesthetic level of each individual, nation, and era.
Although simple and unpretentious, it harmonizes perfectly with the environment and nature, reflecting the strong and robust spirit of the people of Nghe An: its style is often simple, practical, and versatile; its colors lean towards warm or neutral tones; and its materials are typically rustic, prioritizing durability and longevity.
In the past, women performing folk songs and dances often wore a four-panel ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), with a bodice, blouse, long skirt, and sash underneath; their hair was styled in an oval-shaped headscarf; and they wore clogs, sandals, or straw slippers. The four-panel ao dai consisted of two pieces sewn together at the back and two separate panels at the front. This dress was usually made of silk or fine fabric and came in dark brown, light brown, and light green colors, with the skirts hanging down.
Although simpler, it did not diminish the graceful and charming beauty of Nghe An women. Later, people created the five-panel ao dai for both men and women. This ao dai is similar in style to the four-panel ao dai, with each front and back panel sewn together along the seam. The smaller panel is connected to the two larger panels by a padded collar and closed with five round fabric or brass buttons. Thus, the five-panel ao dai not only honors the noble value of a person in relation to family and society but also expresses the moral principles and encapsulates the worldview of the nation. Therefore, depending on the person and social class, people sew the appropriate style of ao dai, and by looking at the garment, one can also tell which region the artisan comes from.
Besides the two types of shirts mentioned above, the common attire of artisans also includes the five-panel short jacket and the blouse. These two types of shirts are widely used because they are simple, neat, and convenient for daily life and work. The materials are usually plain fabric, brocade, cotton, or silk. Male artisans wear the five-panel short jacket with wide-legged, deep-crotch trousers, tying a sash over the jacket, knotting it so that the knots are staggered below the right hip, wearing a headscarf, and going barefoot or wearing grass sandals.
Female performers wear blouses with skirts or long trousers, and a bodice underneath, working and singing at the same time. A particularly noteworthy garment for these performers is the bodice. The bodice is often worn by women as an undergarment, paired with a blouse or a long dress.
References
1. Nguyen Chi Ben, Bui Quang Thanh,Folk songs of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces: Vi and Giam, PublisherInformation CultureHanoi, 2013.
2. Hoang Trong Canh,Local terms with a parallel structure in Nghe Tinh folk poetry - Preserving and promoting the values of Nghe Tinh folk songs and chants, PublisherNghe An, 2012.
3. Ninh Viet Giao,The scholarly quality in the lyrics of Nghe An's Vi and Giam folk songs - Preserving and promoting the values of Nghe An's Vi and Giam folk songs., PublisherNghe An, 2012.
4. Vu Ngoc Khanh,Some observations on Nghe Tinh folk songs, MagazineArts and Culture of Nghe Tinh, No. 21, 1996, p. 117.
