(CLO) On the first days of spring, when arriving in Co Dam commune (Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh), visitors are easily attracted by the enchanting sounds of Ca Tru. The melodies are sometimes low, sometimes high, sometimes loose, sometimes lingering, creating an irresistible attraction, making the listener's footsteps linger forever. Here, generations of artisans and singers are continuing to preserve and promote the unique values of Ca Tru - a special intangible cultural heritage of this land.
Unique features of Co Dam Ca Tru
At the foot of Hong Linh Mountain, the roads still retain their peacefulness, the simple houses are witnesses to the ups and downs of time. Here, generations of talented actresses have passed away, leaving a deep mark on the cultural flow. At the end of the year, when the sunlight has softened in the magical mist, I returned to Nghi Xuan (Ha Tinh), down to the Ca Tru Co Dam region - a land associated with a unique art form.
Artists of the first generation of singers in the movement to restore Co Dam Ca Tru
According to historical records, in the 17th century, ca tru was very popular and by the end of the 18th century, early 19th century, with the great contribution of Nguyen Cong Tru, ca tru in Nghi Xuan became famous throughout the world. However, during the French colonial period, this art form gradually faded away. In the late 90s, responding to the policy of building an advanced Vietnamese culture with strong national identity, together with other localities with ca tru traditions, the Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism of Ha Tinh organized a workshop on this art form. Since then, Co Dam ca tru has been restored, opening a new stage of development.
Compared to Northern Ca Tru, Co Dam Ca Tru has its own unique characteristics. The singing style is faster and sharper, the rhythm is clear, and there is no slurring. The way the singer breathes is also more relaxed and leisurely. In addition, the accompaniment of the zither, drums, and clappers has certain differences in volume and timbre, creating a unique mark for Co Dam Ca Tru.
Ca tru artists sing with passion and enthusiasm, expressing their belief in the longevity and development of the heritage.
Ca Tru Co Dam carries a deep voice of affection, imbued with national identity and has been passed down through many generations. On October 1, 2009, UNESCO recognized Ca Tru as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent protection. In the following years, with the attention of many departments and sectors, Ca Tru was gradually restored, regaining its vitality and breath. From this land, many generations of Ca Tru artists were born and contributed significantly to the development of Vietnamese Ca Tru, contributing to preserving and spreading the value of this unique traditional art form.
A bright picture of the continuation of ca tru in the future
Following the ancient songs, we came to a small house in village 8, Co Dam commune, where Meritorious Artists Duong Thi Xanh and Tran Van Dai live. Although busy with their daily work, when mentioning their relationship with Ca Tru, both of them shine with passion and excitement.
“ My husband and I come from a farming family. During the day, we worked in the fields, and at night, we went to the houses of Mr. Mon and Ms. Nga – the most experienced female singers at that time in Co Dam – to listen to singing. Thanks to our talent and passion, and the elders’ enthusiastic teaching on how to sow seeds, pronounce words, and hum…, singing gradually seeped into our blood without us even realizing it,” Meritorious Artist Duong Thi Xanh confided.
Artist Duong Thi Xanh and instrumentalist Tran Van Dai are dedicated to preserving and nurturing the passion for Ca Tru.
Not long after becoming involved with Ca Tru, in 1995, when the Co Dam Ca Tru Club was established, the couple quickly became core members. By 2002, Ms. Xanh was one of seven artisans from Ha Tinh sent to Hanoi to participate in training under the project to restore and preserve the art of Ca Tru implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. She recalled: “ The two months of training in Hanoi were an extremely precious time for me. With the dedicated guidance of veteran artisans and Ca Tru experts, I not only acquired more knowledge and skills but also understood more deeply the value and spirit of this art form .”
From the foundation of specialized knowledge gained from training, along with the times she went to Thai Ha Ca Tru Club (Hanoi) to learn, Ms. Xanh and her husband returned to their hometown, actively teaching generations of singers of Co Dam and Nguyen Cong Tru Ca Tru Clubs. Not only contributing to training talents, Ms. Xanh also participated in many national Ca Tru festivals and won many prestigious gold medals. In 2013, she was honored to be awarded the title of Meritorious Artist by the President, becoming the youngest artist in the country at that time to receive this noble title.
Currently, the Nguyen Cong Tru Ca Tru Club and the Co Dam Ca Tru Club still maintain regular activities twice a week. As Vice President of the Co Dam Ca Tru Club, Ms. Xanh not only actively performs for tourists at the Nguyen Cong Tru Relic Site but also diligently trains the young generation of singers. “ I hope that in addition to the efforts of the artisans, the local government will have more policies to pay special attention to the young generation. Not only will it fuel the children's love for Ca Tru, but it will also create many playgrounds for them to bond, join hands in preserving and promoting the heritage ,” Ms. Xanh expressed.
Looking back on the journey of preserving Ca Tru in Nghi Xuan, Meritorious Artist Tran Van Dai - Head of the Ca Tru Co Dam Club with 40 members - said that this job also went through all the emotions of joy, anger, love, and hate, just like the Ca Tru lyrics that he was attached to. During the period before and after Ca Tru was honored by UNESCO (in 2009), the movement of learning and singing Ca Tru was bustling, attracting a large number of people to participate. However, after a while, the movement gradually subsided. Many singers, despite being famous and in the prime of their careers, were forced to leave their instruments and songs to make a living.
According to Meritorious Artist Tran Van Dai, although famous throughout the region, teaching Ca Tru in Co Dam used to face many difficulties. Because the professional singers such as Phan Thi Mon, Tran Thi Gia, Phan Thi Nga, and Ha Thi Binh were all over eighty at that time. Moreover, due to the characteristics of Ca Tru Co Dam, the elders were mainly knowledgeable about the performance space at the communal house with styles such as: Tu Quy, Dai Thach, Chuc Ho..., so restoring the basic styles encountered many obstacles. Therefore, in addition to learning the tunes taught by the elders, the couple and the staff of the Nghi Xuan District Cultural Center went to the Thai Ha Ca Tru Guild, Lo Khe (Hanoi) to learn and restore the singing space at the communal house and worshiping doors.
Co Dam used to be bustling with ca tru troupes, and today Co Dam still echoes with the singing of female singers with muddy hands and feet, working in the fields during the day and gathering at night to pass on their heritage to the next generation.
With tireless efforts, Meritorious Artists Duong Thi Xanh and Tran Van Dai have helped the Ca Tru Co Dam Club discover and train many new talents. Young singers such as Tu Anh, Phuong Anh, Cam Tu, Quynh Nhu, Minh Ngoc, Thu Ha... have won many medals and major awards at national Ca Tru festivals.
Sharing about the development of Ca Tru in his homeland, the head of the Ca Tru Co Dam Club, Tran Van Dai, affirmed that currently, in the "ancestral land" of Ca Tru, there are up to four or five generations who can sing Ca Tru fluently. At first hearing, the singing of "ya ngạc ngư" seems to be picky, but the more you listen, the more you are drawn into each word, each resounding beat. Every time the lyrics "Trong nhu tieng hac bay qua" are sung, that many times they make the souls of literati and artists flutter.
Through the ups and downs of history, the folk stream still flows silently in the cultural layers of Co Dam village. The crisp, less melodious but captivating ca tru singing style is still quietly preserved and passed down by the artisans. And when spring returns to the immense rice fields, to the rows of dark green poplar trees leading to the village, spring is also returning in the singing, the sound of the instrument, in the enchanting rhythm of the cymbals in the quiet houses at the foot of Ngan Hong... Surely, Co Dam ca tru has, is and will continue to sow a floating, mysterious rhythm, anchoring forever in the hearts of many future generations.
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ngay-xuan-ve-co-dam-lang-nghe-thanh-am-me-hoac-cua-ca-tru-post332617.html
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