Yen Mo Preserving and promoting the art forms of Xam and Cheo singing

Yen Mo district is considered one of the cradles of Xam singing art and is the hometown of the late famous Xam singing artist Ha Thi Cau - the last Xam singer of the 20th century. Through many ups and downs of history, like many other types of ethnic music , Xam singing and Cheo singing have faced many difficulties and challenges. In particular, in 2013, when Meritorious Artist Ha Thi Cau, who was known as "a living human treasure", "the keeper of the Xam soul", passed away, Xam singing in Yen Mo was at risk of being lost. On the other hand, the public, especially the young, tend to like to watch art forms that are considered new, causing traditional arts such as Cheo singing and Xam singing to face many difficulties in terms of audience, performance environment, etc.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Binh, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Yen Mo district, said: In the face of the above situation, in recent years, Yen Mo district has implemented many measures to preserve and promote the value of traditional art forms, especially Xam singing and Cheo singing. Accordingly, the district has issued many specific mechanisms and policies to maintain and promote the art of Xam singing and Cheo singing, considering this a task that is both long-term strategic and urgent. The Department of Culture and Information of the district has also actively advised the District Party Committee and the District People's Committee to strengthen the leadership and direction of Party committees at all levels, authorities, departments, branches and organizations to innovate propaganda methods, mobilize members and union members to participate in local Cheo and Xam singing competitions.

In addition, the district always creates favorable conditions for the establishment and development of cultural and artistic clubs, especially clubs that need to learn Cheo and Xam singing melodies or improve musician skills, depending on specific conditions, will be organized to provide further training and guidance. At the same time, it is interested in and creates conditions for local Cheo and Xam singing clubs to exchange and learn from artistic clubs in the province.

Determining that preservation through practical teaching is extremely important, every year, the Department of Culture and Information has advised the District People's Committee to organize training for the next generation of artisans, especially young artisans such as: music teachers of primary and secondary schools in the area, members of Cheo singing and Xam singing clubs and primary and secondary school students with talent and passion for music. From 2014 to 2023, the district has opened 13 classes to teach Xam singing. Yen Mo District People's Committee has also coordinated with the Department of Culture and Sports to invite outstanding artisans and artists at the central and local levels to collect traditional Xam melodies and songs, compile programs and directly teach the art of Xam singing to actors and musicians of Ninh Binh Cheo Theater, and mass actors in Yen Phong commune and neighboring communes of Yen Mo district.

After being trained, students participate in staging and performing Xam singing programs to introduce and widely promote the art of Xam singing to the public and pass on the profession to the next generation. At the same time, they regularly participate in cultural and artistic activities at political events of the province, district and locality, contributing to gradually bringing this art form deeply into people's lives, spreading it throughout the community.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Man, daughter of the late artist Ha Thi Cau, proudly shared: In 2018, with the contribution of Xam singing lovers, the club named after Ha Thi Cau was born with the desire to preserve the traditional Xam singing together. By 2021, with the attention of the province and district, the club was officially recognized by the relevant authorities, from then on the club's activities became more organized. From 12 initial members, the club now has 35 members. Those who come to the Ha Thi Cau Xam singing club all share a special passion for this art form. Currently, the club is teaching 22 students from Yen Phong, Yen Tu, Yen Nhan (Yen Mo) communes and some communes of Yen Khanh district. What is special about the club is that, in addition to Mrs. Man - one of the descendants of the late artist Ha Thi Cau, her great-granddaughter - Dinh Thuy Linh, with her good voice and skillful ability to play the two-stringed fiddle, has also actively participated in supporting the teaching of two-stringed fiddle to students.

According to Ms. Man, the club's operating costs are voluntarily contributed by its members, so sometimes there are certain difficulties, but each time she is able to teach her students, she and the club members can share their passion for Xam singing with everyone, which is joy and happiness. The passion for Xam singing of Ms. Man and the members of the Ha Thi Cau Xam Singing Club has been inspiring many people, contributing to the preservation, maintenance and promotion of the value of this unique folk art form.

In 2022, the Yen Thinh Xam and Cheo Singing Club was established. Since then, the club has maintained regular activities, becoming the nucleus of the cultural and artistic movement in Yen Thinh town (Yen Mo). Photo by Phuong Thuy

Along with the Ha Thi Cau Xam Singing Club, Yen Mo district currently has nearly 30 clubs and art troupes with over 600 members participating widely in communes and towns. From 2013 to present, the district has organized many Xam Singing and Cheo Singing Club Festivals and Mass Art Performances, attracting many art troupes to participate with outstanding performances. The district's art troupes participating in cultural and artistic activities organized by the province have also achieved many high achievements such as: winning the Gold Medal for Xam Singing at the Ninh Binh Province Mass Art Performance in 2014; winning 2 A prizes, 1 B prize and the Second Prize for the whole delegation at the Ninh Binh Province Revolutionary Song Festival in 2019; 1 First Prize, 1 Second Prize and 1 Third Prize at the 1st Ninh Binh Province New Rural Communes Art and Sports Competition (2019); 1 A prize, 2 B prizes, 1 C prize and 5 consolation prizes at the Xam Singing Festival of the Northern provinces - Ninh Binh province (2019); 2 A prizes at the Festival of Non-Professional Traditional Art Clubs of Ninh Binh province (2020); 2 A prizes, 2 B prizes and 6 consolation prizes at the Ninh Binh Xam Singing Festival 2022; won 2 A prizes at the Ninh Binh Xam Singing Festival 2023...

In particular, in 2023, the District People's Council issued a Resolution approving the Project "Supporting the activities of Xam singing and Cheo singing clubs and Xam singing and Cheo singing art troupes in Yen Mo district, period 2023-2025". The Resolution was issued to create an important policy mechanism to promote the activities of established clubs; encourage and maintain the activities of newly established clubs so that Xam singing and Cheo singing become unique tourism products associated with sustainable tourism development in Yen Mo district.

With the activities of teaching Xam singing, Cheo singing, serving events and performing for tourists, and the efforts of local authorities, the art of Xam singing is being preserved and promoted in Yen Mo, contributing to enriching the province's tourism products, contributing to positioning the destination of Ninh Binh tourism. Also thanks to the efforts of the Party committees, authorities, and the joint efforts of Yen Mo people, in 2022, the folk performing art of Xam singing was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In order to preserve and promote the value of traditional art forms, especially Xam singing and Cheo singing, in the coming time, Yen Mo district will actively promote and advertise this art form in association with tourism development; strengthen and expand exchanges and sharing between Xam singing and Cheo singing groups and clubs inside and outside the district, thereby creating audiences and supplementing the source of actors from the mass art movement. In addition, the district continues to effectively implement the Project "Supporting the activities of Xam singing and Cheo singing clubs and Xam singing and Cheo singing art teams in Yen Mo district, period 2023-2025" with the motto of mobilizing resources to motivate and encourage people to participate in the work of preserving art forms in association with the development of community tourism, contributing to the sustainable development of traditional art forms.

Mai Lan

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/yen-mo-gin-giu-phat-huy-cac-loai-hinh-nghe-thuat-hat-xam-hat/d20240616085158440.htm