Artisans preserve the intangible cultural heritage of the Khmer people

Along with economic development, Soc Trang province always identifies preserving and promoting cultural values ​​as an indispensable factor in the life of Khmer people.

The five-tone band of Chrôy Từm Kandal Pagoda (Đại Tâm Commune, Mỹ Xuyên District) was taught by Meritorious Artist Danh Sol and performs for tourists who come to visit and admire the pagoda. (Photo: Phương Nghi)

Currently, Soc Trang has 8 intangible cultural heritages, of which 5 are of the Khmer people: Ngo boat racing festival, Du Ke stage performance art, Rom vong folk dance performance art, Ngu am music performance art, and Ro Bam stage art.

Performances of pentatonic music or Rom vong dance always attract a large number of locals and tourists to enjoy and participate in activities during the festival days.

Master of the Pentatonic Orchestra

Among the pentatonic musicians in Soc Trang, when mentioning Meritorious Artist Danh Sol (Dai Tam Commune, My Xuyen District), everyone knows and calls him the master of the pentatonic orchestra. Because he is not only famous as a pentatonic musician of the older generation, but also the best teacher of how to play the pentatonic orchestra in the Khmer ethnic regions. Almost all pentatonic musicians in Soc Trang who are 60 years old or younger are his students.

Passionate about music, eager to learn and explore, at the age of 14, Danh Sol became the youngest pentatonic musician of the Chrôy Từm Kandal Pagoda pentatonic band (Dai Tam commune, My Xuyen district). This year, despite his old age and weak health, the excellent artist Danh Sol is still very interested in the pagoda's band. When he goes to serve at a festival in the village, he can immediately tell when his students play a few pentatonic pieces of music where there is a problem with the instrument and where he plays it wrong.

Artist Danh Sol is not only famous in Soc Trang. For many years, he has been invited by pagodas in Can Tho, Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh, etc. to teach the pagoda's pentatonic music group.

He confided: “Being able to teach the younger generation is the greatest joy and happiness of my life, proving that the five-tone music is still preserved and passed down from generation to generation. Over time, the elders in the band also grew old and passed away, but their descendants still followed in their footsteps and the temple band is still active to serve the villagers.

Meritorious artisan Lam Thi Huong and her husband, Mr. Son Del, have devoted their lives to the traditional art of Ro Bam. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

A lifetime of traditional art

In Soc Trang, there is not only the excellent artist Danh Sol, but also an artist who has devoted her whole life to traditional art, that is Mrs. Lam Thi Huong, Head of the Khmer Resmay Bung Chong Ro bam art troupe in Bung Chong hamlet (Tai Van commune, Tran De district). Although poor, for 3 generations she has been determined to keep her Ro bam troupe, and then had to gradually sell off dozens of hectares of land.

According to Meritorious Artist Lam Thi Huong, today's youth are no longer interested in the Ro bam art form like their ancestors and are facing the risk of being lost. Recently, the troupe has trained more than a dozen children, aged 11-16, all of whom are from their families and villages. After a period of training, the children have soon revealed talents suitable for the performing art of Ro bam. These are children who have a passion and enthusiasm for the Ro bam art form, so they have quickly absorbed the dances, dialogues, acting, etc.

“To have these successors, myself and the members of the troupe, as well as the local government, have tried our best to persuade families to let their children join the troupe, both to satisfy their passion and to prevent the art form of Robam from being lost,” Ms. Huong shared.

Mr. Son Del (Mrs. Huong's husband), a member of the Khmer Resmay Bung Chong Ro Bam art troupe, said: "To have people perform Ro Bam well, we must train them from the age of 10-12 because it is difficult to train them when they are older. Therefore, learning Ro Bam theatrical art requires passion, perseverance and attention and investment from the relevant authorities in order to survive and develop."

In 2019, the Khmer Soc Trang art of Ro bam was honored to be recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

To contribute to meeting the needs of Khmer people to enjoy art, to preserve intangible cultural heritage, to promote traditional values ​​and to respond to the dedication of Meritorious Artist Lam Thi Huong's family over the years, the People's Committee of Soc Trang province recognized the Ro bam art of the Khmer Ro bam Art Troupe Resmay Bung Chong as a community tourism service product and the first tourist destination in the province to be recognized as meeting 3-star OCOP standards. This is a good sign for the Ro bam stage, a Khmer stage art form that meets cultural and aesthetic needs.

Palms facing up, using thumbs and index fingers to rub together in a fast and vibrant Rom vong dance move of the Khmer Art Troupe of Soc Trang province. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Homegrown artists

As for the “farmer” artists of the Du Ke Son Nguyet Quang art troupe (Vien An commune, Tran De district), they go to work planting and plowing during the day, but during the festival season they perform for the people in the hamlets. Because they are not professionals, all members of the troupe only serve voluntarily, out of passion, contributing to the preservation of cultural identities, so only when there is a performance do the members of the troupe receive training, and the rest of the time they “eat at home”, which somewhat limits their ability to gather.

Mr. Son Si Tha, Head of the troupe, said: The Du Ke Son Nguyet Quang Art Troupe was established in 2000, after taking over the personnel from a disbanded art enthusiast group, the troupe currently has 29 personnel, of which the youngest is 28, and the oldest is now nearly 60. Many of the scenes, props and even costumes are used in the form of "homegrown". Most of the actors and musicians have to make a living by raising livestock, farming, and in some cases even working as construction workers to make a living.

“The Khmer want to preserve the art of Du Ke for their children and grandchildren, but it is very difficult. Here, on every important Khmer holiday or New Year, the troupe tries to gather people who can sing and perform, remember plays, write plays, etc. to create a Du Ke play to perform for the Khmer people. During rehearsals, many people come to my house to watch. The content of the Du Ke play has little innovation, and requires people who understand historical references and melodies, etc. But I am afraid that in the future there will be no more people to sing, perform or write plays, because they are old,” said Mr. Tha.

Talking to us, Mr. Son Thanh Liem, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism said: "The province is focusing on implementing the project "Preserving and promoting traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development" under the National Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas for the period 2021-2030.

This is the way for Khmer cultural values ​​to contribute to building the common culture of Vietnam - an advanced culture, imbued with national identity, unified in the diversity of all ethnic groups.

Along with economic development, Soc Trang province always identifies the preservation and promotion of cultural values ​​as an indispensable factor in the life of the Khmer people. With a long history, the Khmer people in Soc Trang have crystallized many unique cultural beauties, from art forms, to religious culture, festival culture...

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhung-nghe-nhan-giu-gin-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-cua-dong-bao-khmer-252815.html