Lang Son artists in Then singing performance (Source: VNA).

Head of the provincial traditional singing and musical instrument club Trieu Thuy Tien said that the establishment of these clubs is a practical movement to help preserve and promote the value of Then singing, which is always accompanied by a handmade gourd lute called “Dan tinh” or “Tinh Tau”, in the locality.

Since its formation in 2009, the club has attracted over 300 members. The birth of the club has motivated the establishment of other Then singing clubs in Lang Son’s districts.

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province is home to 65 clubs with around 1,400 members.

Hoang Thi Thuy, member of Noc Kham Khac club in Na Sam town, Van Lang district, said that after nearly 5 years, her club now has 26 members who love Then singing and Dan Tinh at all age groups, from 10 to 78 years old.

To preserve and promote the value of this genre of singing, Tien stressed the need to maintain Tay and Nung languages in Then songs.

For Tay, Nung and Thai people, Then singing is an indispensable part of their religious and spiritual lives, even back when the art was on the brink of falling into oblivion.

Those practicing Then are laborers who understand local customs and carry out important rituals for communities and individuals in important periods of life. Thereby, Then is believed to derive from the working life of people.

The most important figures in a Then singing performance are “Ong Then” and “Ba Then” who can sing, dance and play a musical instrument at the same time during rituals while presenting offerings to God, helping the ethnic community to ask for good health, bumper crops, happiness and a long life.

Then singing is practiced in many northern provinces, including Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Quang Ninh, Son La, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Bac Giang and Yen Bai, and the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.

Artist Hoang Lien Son (right) teaches the then singing to the children.

The sixth edition of the National Festival of Traditional Then singing will take place on May 12-14 in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, as part of national culture, sports and tourism activities to honor, preserve and develop this traditional art form.

Art troupes from 14 provinces and cities where many Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic people reside such as Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Dak Lak, will perform different types of Then singing.

A series of events will be held during the festival such as performances of Then singing, a photo exhibition on Then cultural heritage and an introduction of traditional weaving of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups. Ha Giang – the host of the event will also take this occasion to organize activities to promote its tourism.

Source: VNA