| Hue gets taste of tai tu HCM CITY — The origins of tai tu music (southern amateur music) can be traced back to nha nhac (court music) in Hue, world-renowned ethnomusicologist Tran Van Khe said on Thursday. Khe's comment came as he presented and performed tai tu music in front of hundreds of artists, musicians, art custodians and experts at the Duyet Thi Duong (Royal Theatre) in the central city of Hue, the cradle of court music. While nha nhac acquired the World Cultural Heritage status five years ago, tai tu is being considered for similar recognition. Khe also informed Thursday's audience of new conservation methods under UNESCO guidelines that allow the development of new songs based on traditional materials besides preserving a community's original repertoire. |
HCM CITY — The Ha Noi-based Music Publishing House will release a DVD featuring tai tu music, a traditional music genre of the south, later this month after months of recording and filming. The first album Don Ca Tai Tu Nam Bo (The South's Amateur Music) includes a series of 13 songs and music works performed by veteran singers and music players who work in tai tu clubs in HCM City and southern provinces.
The DVD-makers spent a great deal of money to travel to many places in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta to film the farmers-artists on stage and in daily life.
"Tai tu music was created by farmers when they were working in the fields or relaxing at the end of a hard day," said musician and music critic Nguyen Quang Long, deputy head of the Music Publishing House's editorial board. "It is also performed at traditional festivals, weddings and death anniversaries."
"Our staff believes tai tu artists perform best for their villagers, not for the audiences in big theatres," he said.
"We decided to travel around the region to film and record our album," he said.
The DVD's highlights include performances by veteran artists the like dan tranh (16-chord zither) player Nguyen Vinh Bao and singer Bach Tuyet, one of the region's cai luong (reformed theatre) performers.
"Our artists' performances and talks provide audiences with the knowledge and beauty of tai tu music and instruments," Long said.
"Through the album, they can also learn to play the music and sing traditional tunes," he added.
Oldies
Tai tu music is considered the prototype for vong co (traditional tunes) and cai luong (reformed opera) of south Viet Nam.
The music itself is a mix of old Southern Vietnamese tunes, Binh Dinh classical opera and ceremonial songs from Hue.
Towards the late 19th century, the music was divided into two types, one with western influences and the other with an eastern style.
Using their strong voice and skills in playing traditional instruments to great effect, tai tu performers impress their audiences, both young and old, with works that reflect the hopes and dreams of people in southern provinces.
One of the most popular tai tu songs is Da Co Hoai Lang, composed in 1919 by well-known author Cao Van Lau, a native of Bac Lieu Province.
The song features the love of a young married woman watching her husband leave to fight for the country.
Tai Tu music is particularly popular in the provinces of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Can Giuoc.
Many tai tu clubs are offering free performances for local youth, helping them to understand and appreciate the music which is part of their heritage and is now more than 100 years old. —VNS