Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, where many folk cultural values ​​face the risk of fading away, the traditional drum-accompanied melodies of Trieu Viet Vuong commune still resonate in community spaces. Keeping these melodies alive are the humble people, the "countryside artists" of the Da Trach Drum-Accompanied Melodies Club, who tirelessly preserve and pass on this heritage of their homeland.

Members of the Dạ Trạch Drum Club from Triệu Việt Vương commune perform drum songs at the Hóa Dạ Trạch temple.

The "Hát trống quân" (Drum and Army Singing) is a unique form of folk art, inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2016. In Hung Yen province, many localities still preserve this performance art form, but the most famous and representative is in Trieu Viet Vuong commune, a land associated with the legend of Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung, and with the Hoa Da Trach Temple festival and the Trieu Viet Vuong Temple festival. Carrying songs about customs, place names, and village history, "Hát trống quân" is considered a valuable folk document, reflecting the cultural and social life of the people here through many generations.

Mr. Nguyen Van Han, Chairman of the Da Trach Traditional Drum Club, said: The club was established in 2012 and currently has 36 members of various ages, from elderly people nearly 90 to young people in their 30s. To date, the club has 7 members who have been awarded the title of Outstanding Artisan. Although everyone is busy with their daily work, whenever they can find time, the members gather around the drums and songs, nurturing their passion and bringing the traditional drum melodies of their homeland to many regions.

The "Drum and Song" performance is presented at many conferences and events in Trieu Viet Vuong commune.

Among those dedicated to the traditional drum performance in Trieu Viet Vuong commune, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuyen (born in 1951) from Yen Vinh village is considered a leading figure in the movement. Having been involved with the performance since 1993, Ms. Xuyen learned the drum performance through traditional methods, memorizing each verse from lullabies and call-and-response songs passed down from her ancestors. For her, the drum performance is not just about singing, but also about childhood memories and the cultural heritage of her homeland. For many years, Ms. Xuyen and other club members have enthusiastically participated in teaching the performance to communes and wards throughout the province; directly instructing primary and secondary school students in the commune, contributing to bringing the drum performance closer to the younger generation.

Her persistent efforts were recognized when, in 2011, she was recognized as a Folk Artisan by the Vietnam Folk Arts Association; and in 2015, she was honored with the title of Outstanding Artisan by the President of Vietnam for her significant contributions to heritage preservation.

Like Ms. Xuyen, Ms. Nguyen Thi Canh (born in 1955) is also a prominent drum singer in the club. Despite being 70 years old, she still diligently practices and performs. For her, the sound of the drums "awakens a whole era of youth," an indispensable part of her spiritual life. Ms. Canh shared that every time she sings, she still feels the same excitement as in the beginning, especially when singing with the young people in the commune. Seeing them passionately practicing, she wants to contribute to preserving the tradition, hoping that the drumming tradition will not only be a performance but also become a source of pride for the younger generation of Trieu Viet Vuong.

Members of the Dạ Trạch Drum Club are teaching drumming to the younger generation.

If Mrs. Xuyen and Mrs. Canh were the "great flames" of the drum-singing movement in Trieu Viet Vuong commune, then the next generation, like Mr. Nguyen Van Han (born in 1973), are the ones who continue to keep that flame burning brightly. Born into a family where his mother knew how to sing drum songs, he memorized many melodies and understood the call-and-response style from a young age. Joining the Da Trach Drum-Singing Club, he quickly became one of the main singers.

Since taking on the role of Club Chairman in 2017, he has maintained a regular club schedule with meetings twice a month, organizing practice sessions, participating in performances at cultural events, and actively teaching skills to young people. According to Mr. Han, the "drumming" style evokes the peaceful atmosphere of the countryside, is easy to appreciate, but to sing it authentically in the style of courtship songs, one needs to maintain simplicity and the ability to improvise. He hopes that more young people will love and become attached to this folk melody.

The strong resurgence of the military drum tradition in Trieu Viet Vuong is also thanks to the attention of the local government. The commune provides a venue for activities, opens classes to teach the tradition, and encourages the inclusion of the military drum in festivals and cultural events. On the journey of preserving and passing on the military drum tradition, "rural artists" like Mrs. Xuyen, Mrs. Canh, Mr. Han, etc., are the "bridge" between the past and the present. With their love and responsibility for the heritage, they have kept the military drum tradition alive, becoming a source of pride for the people of Trieu Viet Vuong today and in the future.

Hương Giang

Nguồn trích dẫn: baohungyen.vn