A brief overview of ceremonial music in Tay Ninh

The Đoàn Văn Sang ceremonial band (Gò Dầu district)

A pioneer in ceremonial music in Southern Vietnam, artist and music master Nguyen Quang Dai (Ba Doi) is honored by the people of the South as the founding father of ceremonial music and traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music. Throughout the long history of the formation and development of ceremonial music and folk music in Southern Vietnam, there have been many artists, music masters, musicians, composers, and singers.

Among them are artisans and music masters who have made significant contributions to ceremonial music and folk music in Tay Ninh, such as Mr. Cao Quynh Dieu, who was appointed as the Chief Musician of Ceremonial Music by the Tay Ninh Cao Dai Holy See; and Mr. Cao Quynh Cu and Mr. Cao Hoai Sang, who are active traditional music artisans contributing to the integration of traditional music into Cao Dai ceremonial music.

From the 1930s onwards, in Gia Loc (Trang Bang), Go Dau Ha town (Go Dau), Ven Ven plantation, Thai Hiep Thanh (Tay Ninh town), Long Hoa market (Hoa Thanh)...etc., various religious districts, sub-districts, temples, and shrines were established, featuring Cao Dai religious music bands with traditional instruments.

From this point on, the ceremonial music of Cao Dai religion not only served the practice of religious rituals but also brought folk music into the daily lives of the community, gradually forming the habit of learning and playing music in an amateur style.

The disciples and students of Cao Hoai Sang, Cao Quynh Dieu, and Quynh Cu, such as Mr. Ba Le (zither), Ms. Sau Dieu (lute), Hai Thieu (pipa), Huu Tri (zither, fiddle)... were musicians at the Cao Dai Holy See in Tay Ninh. They passed on their knowledge and taught musicians at temples and shrines in various localities throughout the province.

Musical instruments used in Tay Ninh's ceremonial music.

To date, from the Holy See of Tay Ninh to the temples and shrines dedicated to the Mother Buddha of the Cao Dai religion in various localities throughout the province, there are ceremonial music bands.

In Tay Ninh, there are many folk artists and outstanding artists in ceremonial music and Southern Vietnamese folk singing, such as Do Van Truong (Thanh Hien), Huynh Huu Tri, Nguyen Van Long (Sau Long), Huynh Huu Ngoan, Le Van Lap (Duc Lap), Phan Thanh Tri (Thanh Tri), Le Huu Duc, Doan Van Sang, and Ut Doi.

In the fourth round of awarding the titles of "People's Artisan" and "Outstanding Artisan" in the field of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Tay Ninh traditional music and folk singing genre has 7 outstanding artisans: People's Artisan Le Van Lap (Ben Cau) and 7 Outstanding Artisans including Vo Van Doi, Doan Van Sang (Go Dau), Bui Van Be Em, Pham Thi Ngoc Van, Phan Thanh Tu (Hoa Thanh), Nguyen Tan Phat, and Nguyen Duc Nguyen (Tay Ninh city).

The artisans always prioritize training succeeding generations to preserve and promote the art of ceremonial music in Tay Ninh in particular and the art of Southern Vietnamese folk music in general, contributing to the development of the folk art of ceremonial music and Southern Vietnamese folk music in Tay Ninh.

Performing ceremonial music at the 2024 Folk Culture Festival.

In Go Dau district, there is folk artist Doan Van Sang specializing in folk ceremonial music. He established a ceremonial music band that performs at ceremonies in communal houses and temples, folk rituals, Buddhist ceremonies, traditional music performances, and folk music festivals. In addition, he also runs a training class for students in ceremonial music at his home and takes them to practice in ceremonies to hone their skills.

Meanwhile, Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Van Long (Six Long), residing in Long Thanh Bac ward, Hoa Thanh town, has made many contributions to the ceremonial music of the Cao Dai religion in Tay Ninh. He has dedicated his entire life to teaching ceremonial music to many generations of students, especially teenagers and young adults both within and outside the province, completely free of charge.

To spread ceremonial music in contemporary life and facilitate its teaching in remote areas, ceremonial music artists in Tay Ninh, including musician Phi Long, have recorded and uploaded videos to YouTube and social media platforms, and taught online. This has brought Tay Ninh ceremonial music (folk ceremonial music and Cao Dai ceremonial music) closer to the general public, especially young people.

The teaching method of ceremonial music by the artisans is primarily hands-on, teaching theory alongside practice. Students of ceremonial music must master the continuously adapted pieces from 72 ancient musical scores, especially the 20 original pieces (foundational pieces) for 4 modes (templates); they must understand all the musical instruments, how to classify them according to the eight tones, the five elements, factions, sets, etc.

Ritual music in Cao Dai religion in Tay Ninh.

A complete ceremonial band typically consists of seven musicians: one drummer, three stringed instrument players, two percussionists, and one wooden clapper player. Nowadays, most ceremonial bands have three to five musicians, with simpler rituals requiring only one or two, but they still perform a full range of instruments when playing a ceremonial piece.

In the past, every ritual required ceremonial music; without it, the ceremony would be incomplete. Nowadays, ceremonial music only appears during worship and ceremonies at temples, shrines, Buddhist and Cao Dai religious establishments, and funerals. Despite this decline, folk ceremonial music still plays a very important role in the beliefs, religion, and lives of the people of Tay Ninh and the entire Southern region of Vietnam.

Phi Thanh Phat

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/doi-net-ve-nhac-le-o-tay-ninh-a188351.html