Regarding the origins of Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghe-Tinh
(Baonghean.vn) - When talking about folk songs of Nghe An province, people immediately think of Vi and Giam folk songs because these are the "specialties" of this region. Someone once commented: "Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe An and Ha Tinh are two unique 'local products'."
This unique "local product" represents a wonderful fusion of the Vietnamese language with local dialects, of Vietnamese folk melodies with the rhythm and rhythm of life in this sun-drenched, windy, hardworking, and courageous countryside. From infancy, the souls of the people of Nghe An have been immersed in poetry through the lullabies of their grandmothers and mothers. Growing up with nursery rhymes and folk songs, these melodies are intertwined with their livelihoods and love for their homeland and their romantic relationships. Simple yet subtle, unpretentious yet smooth, optimistic yet poignant, vibrant yet profound.
It can be said that the folk songs of Ví and Giặm are an art form that originated from life. The Ví and Giặm melodies were created and passed down through labor, production, and daily life, associated with familiar spaces such as rice fields, rivers, mountains, wells, banyan trees, and village courtyards. The lyrics are simple yet profound, full of dialect but no less subtle, concise, and delicate; the melodies are heartfelt and evocative, comprehensively reflecting the life, customs, emotions, and character of the people of Nghe Tinh.
Ví and Giặm folk songs may have originated long ago, but it wasn't until the 17th and 18th centuries that they reached maturity, with performances characterized by strict rituals and customs, as noted by some folk culture researchers. From then on, Nghệ An folk songs were like sweet milk nourishing the souls and character of many people in the region.
In the late 19th century, after the Nguyen dynasty signed an agreement ceding the three eastern provinces to France, Vietnamese society underwent significant upheaval, primarily the Van Than movement, followed by the Can Vuong movement. During this period, revolutionary folk songs such as Vi and Giam emerged in Nghe Tinh, reflecting these two uprisings. Furthermore, patriotic intellectuals in the late 19th and early 20th centuries adopted new perspectives and approaches to struggle, using Vi and Giam folk songs as a banner of resistance, igniting national pride and patriotism, and calling for national unity and struggle. Among them were national heroes, renowned figures, patriots, and writers such as Nguyen Du, Nguyen Cong Tru, Phan Boi Chau, and Ho Chi Minh…
By the end of the 20th century, Ví and Giặm folk opera emerged. This art form is highly professional, with a tightly organized artistic structure and modern stage design. Even today, in contemporary literature, music, and theatrical arts, Ví and Giặm folk songs remain a vital source of inspiration and an inexhaustible stream of emotion for writers, poets, and artists to create new works...
References:
- International Scientific Conference: “Preservation and Promotion of Folk Song Values in Contemporary Society (the case of Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghệ Tĩnh)”Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 2014.
- Local Literature of Vinh City, Author Duong Xuan Hong (compiled), Vinh University Publishing House.
- Regarding the folk literature of Nghe Tinh, Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao, Nghe Tinh Publishing House, 1982.
- Article:"The enduring value of Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghệ Tĩnh", Tu Thi Loan, Nghe An Culture Magazine, May 29, 2015.
