Trong quan singing is a special intangible asset of people in the Northern Delta and Midlands. This fork art has been survived for hundreds of years and widespread all over Hung Yen province. However, Trong quan singing varies among different cultural areas and carries identity of each local culture...

Trong quan singing is a special intangible asset of people in the Northern Delta and Midlands. This fork art has been survived for hundreds of years and widespread all over Hung Yen province. However, Trong quan singing varies among different cultural areas and carries identity of each local culture...

Through Trong quan singing, singers show their talents in conversing and love exchange between men and women and at the same time, show their knowledge and intelligence. Trong quan singing is catchy due to its flexible and complex melodies, changing freely according to the atmosphere of festival. The lyrics contain numerous legends requiring deep learning and research in order to respond to the companions.

Trong quan singing in "wedding challenge" in Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen province

Trong quan singing in Hung Yen province is different from that in other provinces due to response and question posing at the same time. The process of a singing session is following: calling, response, greeting, inviting, making appointment, challenging and finally, combination between response and questions. Trong quan singing used to be familiar in many areas in the province; however, it is fading away gradually. The traditional singing teams are in villages of An Thi district, Khoai Chau district, Van Giang district and My Hao district. The instruments in Trong quan singing are drums made from woods or metal. Two people, sitting opposite and taking rattan strings, sing and tapon the strings simultaneously. Once one couple finishes singing, other couple continues until the festival is over.

Another special characteristic of Trong quan singing is that its lyrics are not fixed and participants have to respond fast. When the singing session starts, one man or one woman initiates greetings. In case there is anyone in the crowd who can respond, they will automatically join the session.

No one knows when Trong quan singing appeared. Legend has it that in the 3rd Hung King period, during her journey along Red River, Tien Dung princess met a poor man named Chu Dong Tu. In spite of misalliance, this couple converted a large area covered with dense reeds and isolated sands into thriving villages. Tien Dung princess taught people the way to grow rice, weave materials and sing Trong quan melodies. Legend has it that Trong quan singing was born since then. Undergoing ups and downs and a period of seeming disappearance when that beautiful melody was not remembered, in 1994, Trong quan singing in Da Trach commune was revived. Da Trach inhabitants appreciate the ancient melodies which still survive and develop to enrich their village culture. Thatmindful thought stays not only in the elderly artists but also in the young generations.

From 1994 up till now, with 19 members, Trong quan singing team in Da Trach commune has been organized regular meetings, joined musical performance inside and outside the province and got honored medals to their melodies. In 2015, artists were recognized as meritorious artists. Specially, Trong quan singing is put into the Composing department of Vietnam National Academy of Music as a main subject.

In order to preserve the ancient melodies, under the direction of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, artists have been teaching the young generations in Da Trach elementary school and Da Trach middle schoolhow to sing Trong quan. The meritorious artists are the core to widespread the intangible assets to the whole province in particular and nationwide in general.

It is anticipated that with their love and great efforts, the next generations will raise their awareness of Trong quan singing preservation as well as promote this special culture sustainably to make it pride of Hung Yen homeland.