Tai Tu music instruction to broadcast traditional cultural traits

The music, the sounds of instrument, the vocal and the heart-warming laughter are regularly enlightened at weekends in cozy atmosphere of a music classroom at Binh Duong Arts and Culture Middle School where the sweet enchanting melodies of Tai Tu music penetrate and mesmerize the enthusiasts.

The uniform souls

With the desire to preserve and promote the unique values of the art of Tai Tu Music, Binh Duong has organized many teaching classes with hundreds of participants engaging to study and practice the performance. Recently in early September, Binh Duong Arts and Culture Middle School organized the class of "Teaching Tai Tu songs to the people" in the province in 2023. The class had 35 students who are fans of singing Tai Tu Music from localities in the province. Although they come from many different classes, everyone shares the same love and passion for traditional music, especially Tai Tu Music.

Meritorious Artist, Master Huynh Khai, Head of the Department of Traditional Music at the Ho Chi Minh city Conservatory of Music, guides students in practicing the ngu-doi-ha rhythm with the song showing gratitude to the Tai Tu Music grandmaster

Talking to us with pride, Nguyen Trong Huy - employee of an auditing company in Thu Dau Mot city, said he has been in love with Vong Co – a branch of Tai Tu Music, on the radio for a long time, and was now taking the class to learn the difference between Vong Co and Tai Tu Music. For a beginner like Huy, that was an opportunity to learn more about the rich knowledge of the art of Tai Tu Music, not only a type that serves ceremonial events but also a type of cultural and spiritual life that is both scholarly and rustic of previous generations. “I am really proud that this five-syllable art is increasingly developing in the community and many people are sticking together to spread and preserve the nation's cultural heritage, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a heritage of intangible culture representing humanity," Huy added.

As for Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy, residing in Binh Hoa ward of Thuan An city, a person who has always been active in traditional Tai Tu Music classes up to now, even though she has attended the class many times, each time of studying means accumulation of more understanding about the art that she is very passionate about. As she is busy with local social work, she only participates in performing in welcome music programs of organizations in the ward. For this time, Meritorious Artist Huynh Khai taught various basic lessons to help her become more steadfast in the rhythms of Tai Tu Music.

The preservation and promotion

Although the course duration is only one month, it has a lot of practical content about the 20 ancestral songs of the art of Tai Tu Music to attract the attention, following, and learning of many new people. In order for this heritage art to attract more and more people to study and practice, such elementary classes are needed as the simpler and easier the content is to learn like music theory, it will be easier for students to absorb and practice. Thereon, learners will have more motivation to promote and spread their passion.

According to Meritorious Artist, Master Huynh Khai, Head of the Department of Traditional Music at Ho Chi Minh city Conservatory of Music, Tai Tu Music is very rich particularly is likened to a tree stump - the songs that have been written with new lyrics are likened to the leaves and flowers that decorate the tree. Depending on the time, the leaves and flowers will fall off to be replaced by new leaves and flowers with more diversity and sharpness. Therefore, preserving Tai Tu Music means preserving the language of the Vietnamese people and the unique artistic styles and techniques of the Southern people. If we regularly fertilize the tree, the roots will grow deeper and the tree trunk will become stronger and stronger, contributing to life's sweet scents. Therefore, classes like this one will contribute to promoting and spreading Vietnamese culture, nurturing the Vietnamese souls, preserving an advanced and rich culture in national identity, and creating motivation to realize the country's development aspirations.

Le Quang Loi, Principal of Binh Duong Arts and Culture Middle School, said the class took place from September 9 to October 22, 2023 with the participation of 35 students from districts, provinces, towns and cities in the province. The organization of the class is to implement the Project of "Preserving and promoting the value of Tai Tu art in Binh Duong province until 2025 with a vision to 2030" approved by the provincial People's Committee. Thereby, the class contributes to preserving and promoting the inherent values of Tai Tu Music, contributing to building and developing an advanced and rich Vietnamese culture in national identity.

Reported by Thuc Van – Translated by Vi Bao