Create opportunities for admirers to absorb heritage art

Binh Duong has been associated with a very unique and bold tradition of “Đờn ca tài tử” (Southern amateur music). Binh Duong also has very talented authors and artists. Provincial leaders and artists also actively organize activities to preserve and promote the value of intangible cultural heritage representing humanity.

Students perform acts of “Đờn ca tài tử”.

Unleash your passion

Southern “Đờn ca tài tử” is a traditional music genre that was acknowledged by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity on December 5, 2013 and has an impact on 21 southern provinces and cities. Binh Duong is considered a province with many achievements in “Đờn ca tài tử”, including successfully hosting and organization of the second “Đờn ca tài tử” festival in 2017 and continuously winning gold medals at these festivals.

Currently, strong socio-economic development as well as rapid urbanization and industrialization have greatly impacted the appearance of folk culture in Binh Duong. Therefore, activities to preserve and promote the artistic values of the Southern amateur music always receive attention from provincial leaders at all levels to preserve the beauty of traditional cultural heritage, continuously inherit and develop sustainably. On November 8, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee approved the Project "Preserving and promoting the artistic value of Binh Duong province until 2025, with an orientation for 2030".

Also, with the purpose of spreading and developing the artistic value of “Đờn ca tài tử” in the community; contributing to protecting and preserving the value of Vietnam's intangible cultural heritage listed by UNESCO, Binh Duong Fine Arts and Culture Junior College organized a class to teach amateur singing to people in the province. The class had 23/35 students from districts, towns and cities in the province, from September 9 to October 20, 2023, eligible for certification.

The class was directly taught by Meritorious Artist Master Huynh Khai, former Head of Traditional Music Department, Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music. After more than 1 month of studying with the guidance of Meritorious Artist Master Huynh Khai, the students have gained a lot of useful knowledge. Although the course duration is just over 1 month, it provided students with a lot of practical, simple, easy-to-learn content... In addition, the course also has necessary content for organizing and hosting activities and performing amateur songs.

Student Le Thanh Tung said that even though he is over 60 years old this year, because he loves this music so much, he found a teacher to learn the instrument, learned from friends who are “Đờn ca tài tử” artisans. Tung said: “Coming to the class, I was able to answer my questions in the 5 years of learning this music. I want to thank teacher Huynh Khai for helping me open my mind to comprehend “Đờn ca tài tử” in a more systematic way. Hopefully, in the near future, the school will continue to organize classes and announce widely for a longer period of time so that more students from other places can take part in the course."

Take the lead in creating succession sources

Accompanying and instructing students for more than a month, Meritorious Artist Master Huynh Khai was able to carry out his meaningful mission. That is dedicated transmission, with more inspiration to spread to create more sources of inheritance, to love and preserve the cultural beauty of the nation.

Meritorious Artist Master Huynh Khai said that for a long time Binh Duong has been known as a place with a very good and profound “Đờn ca tài tử” tradition, because the province has very talented artisans and artists such as: Artist Ba Con created the “ngân giang” string, Meritorious Artist Tu Con with his excellent playing skills, and many famous singers... Therefore, the fact that Binh Duong Binh Duong Fine Arts and Culture Junior College is the first professional school to teach this traditional art has once again affirmed its leadership in preserving and promoting the artistic value of this intangible heritage.

“This class has many artists who have performed on stage, some are leaders of “Đờn ca tài tử” clubs, a few are new learners, but everyone's learning attitude is very enthusiastic. Not only do they study, they also advise and exchange a lot of useful information with each other. Therefore, the class will contribute many new “Đờn ca tài tử” talents for the future’s development", said Meritorious Artist Master Huynh Khai.

According to Le Quang Loi, Principal of Binh Duong Fine Arts and Culture Junior College, students participating in the class received detailed instructions on each method of amateur singing, helping each student clearly understand about this art form, such as traditional songs, skillful singing techniques, how to chant, sing... At the same time, the class gave opportunities for those who love “Đờn ca tài tử” to exchange and learn experience from each other. This is also an activity to preserve and develop traditional cultural and artistic forms imbued with folk and national characteristics in the spirit of Resolution 5 of the 8th Central Committee.

Reported by Minh Hieu - Translated by Ngoc Huynh