Tay and Nung people preserve Then singing

*Members of the Tinh lute - Then singing club in Dong Ram. Photo: D.N*

Artist Ly Kim Xuyen - Head of the Then singing - Tinh lute club of Dong Ram residential group said that since its establishment, the club now has 24 members, mainly Tay and Nung people residing in the locality.

For many years, in local mass art activities, the appearance and performance of the Then singing - Tinh lute club in Dong Ram has always received encouragement from the ethnic minority community of Nam Giang district.

Having lived in the land along the Bung River for more than 35 years, Mr. Ly Kim Xuyen said that all Tay and Nung people have not forgotten their roots. The proof is the restoration of the art of Then singing and Tinh lute of their people.

With the advantage of being knowledgeable about the art of Then singing and Tinh lute, for many years, Mr. Ly Kim Xuyen and some elderly people in Dong Ram residential group have been diligently teaching the unique art of their community.

The initial difficulties gradually passed, many members of the club can now play the beat, along with the "phong slu" melody and traditional then singing, creating motivation to develop a unique club in Truong Son Dong.

*Participate in performing at local cultural activities. Photo: D.N*

“When the club was first established, there were nights when we stayed up together to teach and guide young members to learn the skills of playing the đàn tính, singing luon and singing then. Thanks to the spirit of solidarity and the passion for preserving traditional cultural values, we were able to maintain the club of singing then, đàn tính and participate in performing at many large and small local cultural events.

However, the biggest difficulty at present, besides not being able to make đàn tính, is the lack of performance costumes, as well as the appreciation of traditional music among club members, especially the young.

To overcome this situation, every year, the Club's Board of Directors proposes that each member must memorize 4 Then songs with many traditional melodies, creating a spread to help support each other in cultural preservation activities" - Mr. Ly Kim Xuyen said.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Hung - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Nam Giang district said that the establishment and operation of the Then singing - Tinh lute club in Dong Ram has added a new breeze to the colorful cultural story in the locality.

During festivals, the sound of the Tinh lute and the Then singing will blend with the Dinh Tut, Tan Tung Da Da and other unique art forms of the ethnic groups, creating a diverse and rich cultural life.

“In the past time, we have created the most favorable conditions for the Then singing - Tinh lute club to operate, orienting to link this unique art form with the development of community tourism, both preserving traditional culture and creating income for local people,” said Mr. Hung.

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