Lai said that for many generations in Dinh Hoa area, Then singing has been a popular cultural practice in the community. People invited Then singer in various occasions from wedding, funeral, house-warming to even sickness because Then singing is believed to help connect people and the gods. Then is an art with the combination of singing, dancing, instrumental music, narration and play. Then melodies differ in different occasions depending on the purpose of the event. Apart from ritual significance, Then singing is also staged as an public art and a kind of entertainment. Through time, some initial purposes of Then singing such as fortune telling and disease treatment have become lost in oblivion, but other types of Then performances praying for peace and bumper crop still attract many people. Photo for illustration. Source: VOV Then songs with new lyrics such as “Hoi xuan que noong” (spring festival in my hometown), “Viet Bac que em” (Viet … [Read more...] about Popularizing Then singing
Then singing
Lang Son establishes clubs to preserve Then singing
Lang Son artists in Then singing performance (Source: VNA) Lang Son (VNA) – Lang Son province has encouraged the establishment of local Then singing clubs to promote the development of this genre of traditional singing – a typical culture of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic people in the northern mountainous region. Head of the provincial traditional singing and musical instrument club Trieu Thuy Tien said that the establishment of these clubs is a practical movement to help preserve and promote the value of Then singing, which is always accompanied by a handmade gourd lute called “Dan tinh” or “Tinh Tau”, in the locality. Since its formation in 2009, the club has attracted over 300 members. The birth of the club has motivated the establishment of other Then singing clubs in Lang Son’s districts. According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province is home to 65 clubs with around 1,400 members. Hoang Thi Thuy, … [Read more...] about Lang Son establishes clubs to preserve Then singing
Efforts needed to preserve folk art of Then singing
Photo for illustration (Source: dangcongsan.vn) In the past, the art was only performed in religious rituals, but today, Then singing has become a public art seen in many festivals. With its high value, the art is in need of conservation and development, thus enriching the cultural treasure of the nation. Popularising Then singing Then singing eminent artisan Lu Xuan Lai, a resident of Dong Uan village, Phuc Chu commune, Dinh Hoa district, is a leading Then master of the Tay community in Dinh Hoa. He learnt the art from his father. Since 16 years old, Lai has mastered many Then melodies used in spiritual and religious events. Lai said that for many generations in Dinh Hoa area, Then singing has been a popular cultural practice in the community. People invited Then singer in various occasions from wedding, funeral, house-warming to even sickness because Then singing is believed to help connect people and the gods. Then is an art with the combination of singing, dancing, instrumental … [Read more...] about Efforts needed to preserve folk art of Then singing
Quang Ninh ready for national Then singing festival this May
A performance of Then singing on the stage (Source: baoquangninh.com.vn) Quang Ninh (VNA) – The northern province of Quang Ninh has completed its preparation of six Then songs to join the 6th national Then singing festival, slated for May 12 – 14 in Ha Giang and featuring art troupes from 16 provinces and cities. The songs will be performed by 35 amateur artists of the Tay ethnic minority. To Dinh Hieu, deputy head of the local Binh Lieu district’s central culture and head of the Quang Ninh delegation to the national festival, said apart from traditional songs, new songs promoting the beauty of the country and people will also be presented. Most of the new songs are made by writing new lyrics for the old Then music, he added. Hieu unveiled that the Quang Ninh delegation will also bring to the festival Tap singing, which is very similar to Then but uses bells and chum xoc nhac (a musical instrument in form of a round chain of metal rings) instead of the … [Read more...] about Quang Ninh ready for national Then singing festival this May
Sixth Then singing festival in Ha Giang
Then singing performance (Source: vtr.org.vn)The event will draw the participation of artists from 14 localities including Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Dak Lak. It aims to preserve and promote special folk arts associated with Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups. Artistic troupes from localities will perform different types of Then singing. There will be also photo exhibition on Then cultural heritage and an introduction to the traditional weaving of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups./. Compiled by BTA … [Read more...] about Sixth Then singing festival in Ha Giang
14 localities to join traditional Then singing festival
Then singing is a form of art combining literature, music and dance and has long been a religious and cultural practice of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam during special occasions, such as village festivals. This type of singing is always accompanied by dan tinh (gourd lute). The festival aims to honour, maintain and develop the practice of Then singing and dan tinh performance in modern life, said Nguyen Thi Hai Nhung, head of the Department of Traditional Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at a press conference on the festival held on May 4. The event also offers chances for Then artisans and singers across the country to meet and share experience, she added. Art troupes from 14 provinces and cities where many Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic people reside such as Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Dak Lak, will perform … [Read more...] about 14 localities to join traditional Then singing festival
Then singing, the quintessence of ethnic culture
(VEN) - The 2018 Then Singing and Tinh Musical Instrument Festival, the sixth event of its kind, will take place in the northwestern province of Ha Giang on May 13 and 14. The festival is expected to attract domestic and foreign visitors seeking to discover traditional values of Vietnamese culture, and to help the highland locality promote tourism development. According to the organizing board, this year’s festival has attracted the participation of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups from 16 provinces and cities, including Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Dak Nong, Dak Lak and Ho Chi Minh City. Participants will include outstanding Then singing artisans from clubs and artistic troupes, and professional Then singers. The festival will offer a chance for practitioners of this ritual ethnic singing to exchange knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences in conserving and … [Read more...] about Then singing, the quintessence of ethnic culture
Traditional Then singing festival to kick off in May
Then singing is a form of art combining literature, music and dance and has long been a religious and cultural practice of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam during special occasions, such as village festivals. This type of singing is always accompanied by tinh (gourd lute) instrument.This will be the sixth edition of the National Festival of Traditional Then Singing. The festival aims to honour then singers and artistes as well as preserve and develop the practice of then singing and tinh instrument in modern life.Traditional Then singing festival will kick off in May (Photo vietnamtourism.gov.vn)The festival will provide an opportunity to introduce and popularise unique art forms of the ethnic minorities in the northwest of the country to both domestic and international tourists as well as showcase the tourism potential of the participating provinces, according to the organisation board.Many activities, including a photo exhibition with the … [Read more...] about Traditional Then singing festival to kick off in May
Then singing performance in Hanoi
Then singing performance (Photo provided by the Organizing Board)Hosted by the Viet Bac Arts and Culture College, Viet Communal House Group and the Management Board of Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre, the event will draw the participation of artisans, artists, lecturers of Then singing and students studying Then singing at the Viet Bac Arts and Culture College. The first part consists of ancient original Then songs with extracts from rituals associated with the life of Tay and Nung ethnic minority groups, while the second one includes the performance of eight Then songs loved by masses of people. The highlight of the program is that there is no microphone amplification so audience members can listen to songs in the most authentic and emotional way. In addition, they will also participate in exchanges with artisans and artists to understand more about the arts of Tay and Nung ethnic groups. Then singing is a form of art combining literature, music and dance, and has … [Read more...] about Then singing performance in Hanoi
Traditional singing festival to kick off in May
A festival of traditional then singing, featuring art troupes from 16 provinces and cities in the country, will be held in the mountainous province of Hà Giang on May 13-14.— Photo vietnamtourism.gov.vn HÀ NỘI — A festival of traditional then singing, featuring art troupes from 16 provinces and cities in the country, will be held in the mountainous province of Hà Giang on May 13-14. Then singing is a form of art combining literature, music and dance and has long been a religious and cultural practice of Tày, Nùng and Thai ethnic groups in the northern mountainous region of Việt Nam during special occasions, such as village festivals. This type of singing is always accompanied by tính (gourd lute) instrument. This will be the sixth edition of the National Festival of Traditional Then Singing. The festival aims to honour then singers and artistes as well as preserve and develop the practice of then singing and tính … [Read more...] about Traditional singing festival to kick off in May