ilovetravel

Vietnam traditional music?

It may sound not familiar to foreigners.

But Vietnam music is really something worth discovering and enjoying for this busy life.

My group of friends and I travel a lot and we share the same hobby of music. Particularly Vietnamese traditional music.

We had a bunch of collection of music and instruments and songs that we got from our amazing vietnam journey. We hope that we could open the new door to your world by exotic music. :p

Vietnam traditional music

I start my series post of Vietnam music by "Vietnam ca tru"

Originally, Vietnam ca tru, also called “hat a dao” or hat noi (literally song of the women singers), was associated with a geisha type of entertainment. Attractive young singers entertained men in a relaxed environment, sometimes serving drinks and snacks. Men might have visited a hát ả đào inn with friends to celebrate a successful business deal or the birth of a son.

Ca tru flourished in the 15th century in northern Việt Nam when it was popular with the royal palace and a favorite hobby of aristocrats and scholars. Later it was performed in communal houses, inns and private homes. These performances were mostly for men.

When men entered a ca tru inn they purchased bamboo tally cards. In Chinese, “tru” means card, “ca” means song in Vietnamese, hence the name “Vietnam ca tru”: tally card songs. The tallies were given to the singers in appreciation for the performance. After the performance each singer received payment in proportion to the number of cards received.

In the 17th century the inns were located near the Dong Xuan market, now Paper Street (hang Giay). A row of ả đào inns were also located on Kham Thien Street, Hanoi city.

After the August Revolution of 1945, Vietnam ca tru was suppressed because it represented the abuse of women for the entertainment of ruling class men. Today, however, men and women can enjoy Vietnam ca tru equally. Musicians, poets and fans in Ha Noi have formed a club called the “Bich Cau Dao Quan” Club that meets on the last Sunday morning of each month in a Bích Câu temple at 14 Cat Linh Street. Built during the reign of Le Thanh Tong (1476-1497), the temple honors the legendary meeting and marriage of the scholar Tu Uyen and the angel Giang Kieu. Students from the National School (Temple of Liturature) once came here to pray for success in their studies and to listen to ca trù.

The temple has large open Vietnam ca tru requires at least three performers. The singer is always a woman and plays the “phach”, an instrument made of wood or bamboo that is beaten with two wooden sticks. A musician accompanies the singer on the đàn đáy, a long-necked lute with three silk strings and 10 frets. There is also a drummer or trống chầu.

The drummer shows his approval of the singer or the songs depending on how he hits the drum. If he likes a song he might hit the side of the drum several times. If he is disappointed with the singer, he hits the drum twice. The guitar player must follow the rhythm of the phách. His instrument, the đàn đáy, is only used in ca trù and is now made almost exclusively for sale to tourists who find the shape intriguing.

Ca trù demands audience participation. During a meeting of the Bích Câu Đạo Quán Club members listen to guest performers and take turns on the drums. Founded in 1992, the club now has 90 members and 30 or 40 of them gather on a given Sunday. Older artists like Nguyen Thi Miêu, 78, train younger singers and introduce them to classical songs. According to the director, 40-year-old Bạch Vân, "It is very difficult to find young singers who wish to learn this art form. It is also difficult to find good teachers who can convey both the enthusiasm and the technical knowledge." Madam Van herself studied ca trù for 10 years before the Hanoi Office of Culture appointed her the club's director.

The club's eclectic crowd includes foreigners. The Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam, David Mabani, says "It is important that the international community understand the depth of traditional Vietnamese culture as well as its new economy. Appreciating ca trù music is one way to do this." The club welcomes new members and visitors.

Think of one day: come to Hanoi and enjoy Catru at "Bich Cau dao quan" temple, sip green tea and savour your soul by the beautiful voice of "Daonuong" singer.

The feeling would last for your lifetime.

Bye now.

My next post of Vietnam music is sooner than you expect

Thank you.

Boney