Don Ca Tai Tu is still full of vitality

On December 5, 2013, Don Ca Tai Tu (southern amateur music) was recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Over the past 10 years, this art has continued to have a great influence in 21 southern provinces and cities. Among them, Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Lieu, Tien Giang and Binh Duong are the provinces and cities with the most people participating in Don Ca Tai Tu (DCTT).

Artists of Binh Duong Literature and Arts Association perform an act named “Long ngâm" at the celebration of Vietnam Theater Day (August 12 of lunar calendar).

Shine more and more

Although Binh Duong is not the cradle of DCTT - Cai Luong, there have been talented artists in composition and stage performance. Since 1975, we can mention names, such as artist Mười Phú who composed the song Ngu Khuc Long Phi, artist Ut Bung who composed Tay Thi quảng, a DCTT song with a unique quảng melody of Binh Duong.

During the golden age of Cai Luong theater art, many Binh Duong composers wrote famous Cai Luong operas staged by many Cai Luong troupes, such as: composer Quy Sac with the plays “Khi rừng mới sang thu” (When the forest turns to autumn), “Trăng thề vườn Thúy” (Moon swears in Thuy garden); author Loan Thao with “Chuyện tình Lan và Điệp” (Lan and Diep's Love Story); composer Moc Linh with “Tiếng hát Muồng Tênh” (The Voice of Muong Theh); author The Chau with “Bên cầu dệt lụa” (Silk Weaving Bridge), and author Hoang Song Viet and woman author Nguyen Thu Phuong who are also from Binh Duong.

Regarding musical instrument performance, Binh Duong has Meritorious Artist Nguyen Van Con (also known as Tu Con) playing “đàn nguyệt”; Artist Nguyen Van Con (also known as Ba Con), who created the Ngan Giang string system on the famous concave fret guitar. Stage actors include artist Thanh Hai, artist Hoang Son, and Meritorious Artist Phuong Quang.

According to musician Pham Dac Hien, Chairman of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, in the 80s of last century, People's Artist Thu Hong along with Meritorious Artist Cao Thi Thang and artist Kim Le Thy were recognized as three typical “ca cổ” vocalists of Binh Duong at that time. From 2015 to present, Binh Duong has had 17 artists awarded following titles by the President: 1 People's Artist and 16 Meritorious Artist. Continuing the previous generations, Binh Duong has Meritorious Artist Ngoc Kieu Oanh, artists: Thanh Hoang, Duong Thi Phuong Thao to Huynh Kim Thoa, Nguyen Thi Han Ni... won high prizes when participating in National DCTT Festivals, DCTT Festivals of southern provinces and cities, or talent competitions such as Bong Lua Vang, Chuong Vang Vong Co... delights theater artists and audiences who admire Binh Duong Cai Luong.

Spread strongly

On occasion of the recent Vietnam Theater Day 2023, many places in Binh Duong province held anniversary ceremonies and celebrations (August 12 of the lunar calendar). This was an opportunity for writers and artists from all over places to come to Binh Duong and pay tribute to their ancestors and reunite to look back on history, as well as visit and share experiences during their careers.

Truong Ngoc Vu, Director of  Di An City Center for Culture, Information and Sports, said that with the attention of all levels of government, many clubs were established in local wards and have contributed to creating a healthy playground, meeting the masses and fans’ needs for cultural and artistic enjoyment. The center also organized many festivals, competitions, shows, exchange performances... attracting industries and units to coordinate and organize with high results, creating momentum in the local movement, especially on holidays, New Year, and important national events. Hopefully, in the coming time, each craftsman, artist, and each club member will continue to contribute more to the local cultural and artistic movement, especially in the field of traditional theater.

Meanwhile, according to Nguyen Tu Hai, Head of Thuan An City Office of Culture and Information, to preserve and promote traditional cultural values, including theater art has called on artists collaborators of clubs, groups and communes actively create and learn about various types of art. This is to meet the needs of the public and audiences, focusing on promoting DCTT in many forms to educate the public about the sense of accessibility and level of perception, especially the young generation.

Reported by Thuc Van - Translated by Ngoc Huynh