The exemplary rowing left behind
According to the Center for Research on Scientists, Professor and People's Artist Tran Bang was born into a family with a tradition of art in Hai Phong. His father, writer Tran Tieu, had many famous works about the countryside. He also approached Western studies through learning foreign languages, as well as reading the works of his father and uncle, writer Khai Hung.
These literary "advantages" later helped him become a member of the Central People's Art Troupe established in Tuyen Quang in 1951. The troupe had many famous artists such as: The Lu, Song Kim (drama group); Nguyen Xuan Khoat, Luu Huu Phuoc, Doan Man, Thai Ly (song and dance group); Nam Ngu, Diu Huong, Ca Tam (cheo group). When the Party set out the policy of restoring the national heritage, each member of the troupe at that time had to learn to sing cheo under the guidance of artists such as Nam Ngu, Ca Tam, Diu Huong... The cheo love of People's Artist Tran Bang began from there.
People's Artist Tran Bang (middle) and generations of students
In 1952, Mr. Tran Bang, along with the Cheo artists Nam Ngu and Diu Huong, wrote and staged the play Chi Tram , about a woman who worked for a landlord and was later liberated by the revolution. This play was chosen to perform at the 1953 Central Conference in the Thai Nguyen Safe Zone. Uncle Ho, along with Messrs. Truong Chinh, Hoang Quoc Viet, and Pham Van Dong, came to watch. Uncle Ho personally went on stage to give candy to the artists, and Mr. Tran Bang was later honored to be invited to dinner by Uncle Ho.
Since then, the stage life of People's Artist Tran Bang has been more closely associated with Cheo. He is one of the directors in the first generation of modern Cheo directors, along with Tran Huyen Tran, Cao Kim Dien, Long Chuong... In that position, he simultaneously restored ancient Cheo, and wrote more modern Cheo scripts. Therefore, he has had milestones in both ancient Cheo and new Cheo. With restoration, he has Suy Van (1961); Quan Am Thi Kinh (3 versions performed in 1957, 1968, 1985); Tu Thuc (1990), Nang Thiet The (2001)... With modern Cheo, he has: Con trau hai nha (1956); Duong di doi nga (1959); Mau chung ta da dung (1962); Tinh rung (1972); Chuyen tinh nam 80 (1981)...
One of the contributions of Professor and People's Artist Tran Bang to the Cheo stage was to find and "adjust" new messages for Cheo plays. In 1960, Mr. Tran Bang and director Han The Du adapted the Cheo play Suy Van from the ancient Cheo play Kim Nham . He raised the issue of this adaptation because the ancient play had an "ideological hesitation" between male superiority and female inferiority (criticizing Suy Van for escaping marriage to find happiness in another couple) and considered it a humane liberation. He and the Cheo Research Board at that time wanted to support Suy Van's "rebellion". Therefore, Suy Van defied conventions, but wanted to be loved and receive more support from the audience.
Professor, People's Artist Tran Bang (1926 - 2023)
Pass on the fire of rowing
Not only restoring plays and creating new plays, later on, Professor and People's Artist Tran Bang also left behind research on Cheo. When he was alive, he always thought that Cheo was a performance art form taught orally, and in the condition that recording media was not yet popular, it would easily be lost. Therefore, in 2004, he began to summarize his creative experiences during 50 years as a Cheo director. In it, he wrote about the art of Cheo, about staging, about conventional performances on stage, about ways to create characters, and also ways to make Cheo still Cheo and not a drama mixed with Cheo. He named the book Tran Bang - Cheo Director. The book was published in 2006.
People's Artist Tran Luc, People's Artist Tran Bang (from left to right)
Now, when Professor and People's Artist Tran Bang passed away (6:00 a.m. on July 19, 2023), his love for Cheo still exists in the next generations of Cheo performers. His son, People's Artist Tran Luc, has always brought Cheo stage scripts into the plays he directed. People's Artist Tran Luc shared that the conventions that People's Artist Tran Bang practiced in Cheo plays impressed him since he was a child, and now he wants to learn them.
Cheo composer Mai Van Lang shared: "Professor-People's Artist Tran Bang is one of the founders of the Central People's Art Troupe, he is one of the people who laid the first bricks to build the Vietnam Cheo Theatre. When the Vietnam Cheo Theatre was established, People's Artist Tran Bang was the first Head of the Troupe, then the first Director. He was the head of the Cheo Research Board, to edit, adapt, arrange, and stage 7 ancient Cheo plays for the theatre today. People's Artist Tran Bang is a person who lives with sincere emotions, respects his colleagues and loves his students."
People's Artist Tran Quoc Chiem, former Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: "People's Artist Tran Bang's passing is a great loss to Cheo. He was a Cheo teacher, and also a person who understood and had a great love for Cheo. I remember when he was over 70, he was still judging mass theater performances in Hanoi. The Hanoi festival had drama and Cheo, but mainly Cheo. He told me that Cheo originated from the people, from the masses. So Cheo in these festivals is as important as Cheo in professional festivals."
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