As a pearl in the folk cultural treasure created by the residents on both banks of the Lam River over the past hundreds of years, since being honored by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, Vi and Giam folk songs have been increasingly preserved and promoted by the people of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.
Video: Excerpt from the performance "Lam River in the Red Sunlight"
Echoing on both banks…
In late July 2023, the Vi and Giam folk songs echoed throughout the countryside of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, when the two provinces on the northern and southern banks of the Lam River simultaneously organized Vi and Giam folk song festivals at the cluster and provincial levels, looking forward to the inter-provincial festival that will be held in the near future.
In Nghe An, the Vi and Giam festival is organized throughout the province at the cluster level, with 4 clusters gathering nearly 50 typical clubs from 21 districts, towns and cities across the province. At cluster IV, Thai Hoa town (including 12 clubs from Tan Ky, Nghia Dan, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, Que Phong and Thai Hoa town), the festival took place in a vibrant and exciting atmosphere with the participation of hundreds of artisans and actors.
The performance "Thai Hoa on a New Day" performed by the Vi-Giam Folk Song Club of Dong Hieu Commune (Thai Hoa Town, Nghe An) won the A prize at the Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam Folk Song Festival, Cluster IV, Nghe An Province in 2023.
Meritorious Artist Tran Van Hong - Head of Dong Hieu Vi and Giam Folk Song Club (Thai Hoa Town) expressed: "Nghe An province organizing the Vi and Giam folk song festival in 2023, moving towards coordinating with Ha Tinh to organize an inter-provincial festival brings us excitement and pride.
Because, it has been a long time since there was a festival for the folk music clubs of the two provinces to have the opportunity to exchange, show what they have practiced, and preserve the heritage of their ancestors. Therefore, right from the cluster-level festival, we have made efforts to prepare the most special performances to participate."
Meritorious Artist Tran Van Hong (left) - Head of Dong Hieu Vi Giam Folk Song Club.
Regarding the cluster-level Vi and Giam folk song festival, Dong Hieu Club has 35 members, staging and competing in 4 performances. As a result, Dong Hieu won first prize, including 2 performances winning A prizes. The Club also won 1 of 12 "spots" to represent Nghe An province to attend the Nghe An - Ha Tinh inter-provincial Vi and Giam folk song festival to be held in Vinh city in the near future.
In mid-July, Ha Tinh also organized the 2023 province-wide Vi and Giam Folk Song Festival, with the participation of 13 typical clubs from districts, cities and towns in the province. The festival gathered over 400 artists and actors, performing 43 competition pieces.
As a result, the organizing committee awarded 15 A prizes, 9 B prizes, 8 C prizes for the performances; 2 first prizes for the Vi and Giam Folk Song Club of Nam Ha Ward (Ha Tinh City) and Nguyen Cong Tru Club (Nghi Xuan). At the same time, the 8 best clubs were found to participate in the Nghe An - Ha Tinh Inter-Provincial Vi and Giam Folk Song Festival.
Meritorious Artist Pham The Nhuan (Vi and Giam Folk Song Club of Cam My Commune, Cam Xuyen) said: “The festival once again rekindles the vitality of the folk songs and Vi tunes - a precious heritage that the people of Nghe An have nurtured for generations. Thereby promoting the movement of singing Vi and Giam folk songs more widely among the masses.”
Some outstanding performances at the 2023 Vi and Giam Festival of Ha Tinh province . Photos: (1) - "Trai Xa Lang, gai lang cau" by the Vi and Giam Folk Song Club of Son Truong commune (Huong Son); (2) - "Testing loyalty" by the Vi and Giam Folk Song Club of Nam Ha ward (Ha Tinh city); (3) - Xam lay Kieu - Xam Kieu builds new rural areas by the Vi and Giam Folk Song Club of Nguyen Cong Tru (Nghi Xuan); (4) "Con thuyen vi and giam" by the Vi and Giam Folk Song Club of Cam My commune (Cam Xuyen)
With the careful preparation and dedication of the collective of artisans and actors as well as the support of local authorities, the Vi and Giam folk song clubs on both banks of the Lam River brought hundreds of performances to the festivals, demonstrating the diversity in the way of exploring, preserving, maintaining and promoting Vi and Giam folk songs.
Along with restoring the performance space, singing and responding to ancient lyrics, the units also bring a modern breath to the folk songs, Vi melodies... making the heritage of our ancestors even closer to today's life. In particular, gathering thousands of artists and actors to participate, the festivals have created a large Vi and Giam space, helping the representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity to spread its vitality in every countryside of Nghe An - Ha Tinh.
Wallet, shimmering and shining
For a long time, Vi and Giam folk songs have been the pride of the people of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. Since being recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity on November 27, 2014, that pride has been multiplied. Over the past decade, the authorities and people of the two provinces have joined hands and made efforts to preserve and promote the heritage in a way that adapts to the times.
Performance of "Vi-Giam Folk Song Association of Farmers" by Thuan Loc Commune Folk Song Club (Hong Linh Town) at the 2023 Ha Tinh Province Vi-Giam Folk Song Festival.
In addition to rotating the organization of Vi and Giam folk song festivals between the two provinces, recently, the authorities at all levels, sectors and localities of the two provinces have also issued many policies to strengthen heritage conservation work.
In Ha Tinh, since 2018, the Provincial People's Council has issued Resolution No. 93/2018/NQ-HDND dated July 18, 2018 on preserving and promoting the values of folk heritages of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam, Ca Tru, Kieu plays, Phuc Giang School Woodblocks, Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do, period 2018-2025 and the following years.
Regarding Vi and Giam folk songs, Resolution No. 93 clearly states a number of goals such as: striving for over 90% of administrative units at commune, ward and town levels to have Vi and Giam folk song clubs operating effectively; 100% of general schools in the province to include Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs in their teaching; 100% of music teachers to be trained in Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs; restoring 5-7 Vi and Giam folk song performance spaces, associated with the exploitation, development of tourism and promotion of the value of historical and cultural relics...
Ha Tinh has had 3 artisans awarded the title of People's Artisan by the State. In the photo: People's Artisan Nguyen Ban and Vu Thi Thanh Minh.
Along with the goal, the province has also issued policies on preferential treatment such as: newly established Nghe Tinh folk singing clubs will receive 30 million VND/club in the first year; support: 5 million VND/club/year of regular operation; for artisans, in addition to paying monthly allowances to artisans who have been awarded the title of People's Artist, Meritorious Artist according to Decree No. 109/2015/ND-CP, dated October 28, 2015 of the Government, the province will support each distinguished artisan with 1 million VND/month, and each People's Artist with 1.5 million VND/month.
In addition to the province's policy, some localities such as Nghi Xuan and Huong Son districts also have their own policies to support clubs and artisans in their areas. Thanks to that, Ha Tinh has established 176 Vi and Giam folk song clubs at commune, ward and town levels and hundreds of folk song clubs in schools, organizations and other unions. The whole province has 3 Vi and Giam folk singers who have been awarded the title of People's Artist by the State, and dozens of artisans have been awarded the title of Meritorious Artist.
Meritorious artist Nguyen Trong Tuan - Head of the Nguyen Cong Tru Folk Song Club (Nghi Xuan) expressed: "The attention of authorities at all levels, especially Resolution 93 of the Provincial People's Council, is a "push" to help us, those working in conservation, have more motivation, confidence and enthusiasm in the work of preserving our ancestors' heritage."
Nghe An Provincial People's Council also issued Resolution 29/2021/NQ-HDND, dated December 9, 2021, on regulations on support policies for artisans, clubs in the field of intangible cultural heritage and artists working at the Nghe An Provincial Traditional Arts Center. Accordingly, when artisans are awarded the title of People's Artisan or Meritorious Artisan by the President, in addition to the benefits according to regulations, the province will support each Meritorious Artisan with 1 million VND/month, and People's Artisan with 1.5 million VND/month. For Vi and Giam folk song clubs, support is 30 million VND/newly established club and support is 5 million VND/club/year for clubs operating regularly.
Resolution 29/2021/NQ-HDND of Nghe An province has incentives for artists working at Nghe An Provincial Traditional Arts Center.
For artists working at the Provincial Traditional Arts Center, if they win gold or silver medals or first, second or excellent prizes at national festivals, they will receive support of 3-2 million VND/month/person for individuals; for groups, it will be classified by role in the winning work, with the maximum being 1.5 million VND/person/month and the minimum being 600 thousand VND/person/month. In addition, artists from the Nghe An Provincial Traditional Arts Center who go to school and commit to serving will be supported with a maximum cost of 60 million VND/course...
People's Artist Trinh Hong Luu - Acting Director of Nghe An Province Traditional Arts Center said: "Resolution 29 of Nghe An Provincial People's Council also has policies for the team of artists who are directly contributing day and night to the representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. That is a great motivation for us to constantly strive in the work of preserving and promoting Vi and Giam folk songs".
Video: People's Artist Trinh Hong Luu calls for joint efforts to protect the cultural heritage of Nghe Tinh folk songs.
With these efforts, up to now, Nghe An province has established 130 Vi and Giam folk singing clubs at commune, ward and town levels throughout the province; all high schools have regular folk art clubs...
Joining hands and hearts to preserve our ancestors' cultural heritage through practical actions, Nghe An and Ha Tinh are day and night making the folk songs of Vi and Giam resonate forever on both banks of the Lam River...
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