Having been together since the early days of its establishment, Cham artists have brought a difference and uniqueness to the My Son Cham Folk Art Troupe, contributing to creating a brand of unique cultural tourism products.
Arija Ten performs the saranai flute and sings Cham folk songs. Photo: VL
The sound of the saranai in the valley of the gods Foreign tourists held their breath to the sound of the saranai of Thap Arija Dang and then burst into admiring applause. They were delighted not only by the clear, high-pitched melody of the saranai but also by the special long breath of the young Cham man. Originally from Ninh Thuan province, Thap Arija Dang has followed his father, a local artist, to perform all over the region since he was a child. Cham ethnic music seems to be ingrained in his blood. In 2015, Thap Arija Dang went to Duy Xuyen to join the My Son Cham folk art troupe. At first, Dang mainly performed common acts with the troupe such as singing and dancing, playing the ghi nang drum, etc. For more than a year now, he has taken on the solo performance of the saranai after the person in charge of this act changed jobs. To be able to stand on stage and perform for 5 minutes, Thap Arija Dang had to practice hard for years. Arms spread wide, feet bouncing to the sound of drums, high-pitched saranai trumpets... The Arija Ten seems to have transformed into the moss of My Son temple towers in the middle of the mysterious valley of gods. Cham folk dances have made a brand for My Son tourism. Along with the paranung drum and the ghi nang drum, the saranai is an indispensable instrument of the Cham people in important traditional ceremonies. To be able to use the saranai proficiently, the training process often lasts from 2-3 years, even 5 years. The most difficult part is how to take a breath, hold the breath (because the saranai melody is endless, stopping after a performance), then how to sing and keep the rhythm of the song. In addition, the performance style on stage (attitude, dancing) also determines the success of the solo performance. According to Thap Arija Dang, to be able to play the saranai, in addition to talent and passion, the learner must be very persistent. In return, the performance process always receives encouragement and admiration from the audience. "At those times, I can excitedly play for 5 or 6 minutes, because I feel happy because the performance is well received by the audience. "I am even happier when I have contributed to promoting and introducing the culture of the Cham people to tourists" - Thap Arija Dang shared. At the age of nearly 29, Thap Arija Dang has spent nearly 1/3 of his time attached to My Son, because this is not only the place where he can satisfy his passion for music but also helps the young man realize his aspiration to promote and spread the cultural values and traditional Cham folk music. Up to now, besides being proficient in using Cham ethnic musical instruments such as paranung drum, ghi nang drum, saranai trumpet, rattle, gong, wooden fish, kanhi ... Thap Arija Dang is also a professional choreographer when he has successfully staged a number of programs and performances in and outside the district. Attached to My Son Established in 2002, the Cham Folk Art Team has become a branded tourism product of My Son. With about 10 singing and dancing performances, the Art Team performs 4 shows each day, mainly focusing on performances such as Apsara Dance, Shiva Dance, Saranai solo... These are considered impressive performances that attract viewers and tourists. Contributing to this success are the Cham artists from Ninh Thuan. At its peak, the Art Team had 7 Cham members performing. Among the Cham actors who have been attached to My Son, Thap Huu Luu is the longest-serving, nearly 20 years. Duy Xuyen, Quang Nam has now become the second homeland of this artist. Not only is he proficient in playing traditional Cham musical instruments, he is also a singer who successfully performs songs with his ethnic melodies in performances at local cultural events. It seems that pride in his national culture makes him sing better than his ethnic songs. Currently, his wife and children from Ninh Thuan have also come to work at My Son. The small family of Thap Huu Luu has settled down in the new land. Along with the daily performances serving tourists, some products such as My Son Legendary Night, Cham Village Festival Drums... all have the participation of Cham artists, bringing attraction, creating a solid My Son tourism brand. And, in the journey to create that brand, names like Thap Arija Dang, Thap Huu Luu and before that Truong Ton, Thien Thanh Vu... are like the source that continues the flow of Cham culture in My Son, at the same time helping the performances become more "real" and more impressive. Perhaps so, for more than 20 years, the sound of the saranai trumpet, the sound of the paranung drum, the ghi nang drum still resonates every morning and afternoon, blending with the Apsara fairy dances that hold tourists' feet. Then, every time the music starts, the space seems to stop in the eyes that are focused, staring, and suffocating to the sound of the saranai trumpet that seems to last forever. Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/nhung-nghe-si-cham-tai-my-son-3026607.html
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