Job-in-hand: “Folklore Artisan” Minh Man shares her knowledge of traditional music with young students. — File Photo

HUE CITY — Come rain or shine, veteran ca Hue artist Minh Man gropes her way to the Nguyen Thi Loi Ca Hue Club in the former imperial city of Hue every Saturday to share her knowledge of the art to fellow club members.

When Man was a little girl, she was fascinated by melodies of ca Hue – an elaborate chamber music lying at the convergence of Hue’s traditional imperial music (nha ca) and folklore songs since the 18th century.

Man even played truant from school to enjoy the singing performances, where she started to learn singing by imitating the tunes.

When she was 17 years old, her distinctive and pure voice surprised many people, including the once-famous maestros.

After nearly 70 years of singing, the 86-year-old Man is still the top ca Hue artist and she continues to spread her love for the traditional music to other people.

In 1997, Man, together with late artist Nguyen Thi Loi (who the club was named after) and veteran artist Thanh Huong, founded the Ca Hue Club, aiming to create a playground for people who were keen on the traditional music.

Located in the small house of cultural researcher Buu Y at No 9 Pham Ngu Lao Street, the club gathers local people who have a desire to preserve the dying music. “The youth of today do not have much interest in ca Hue because it requires a very skillful singing technique which is not easy to develop without serious training. That’s why only those people that really love ca Hue can sing the tunes,” said Man, who was bestowed with the title “Folklore Artisan” in 2008.

Over the past 14 years, the club has attracted many people of different ages and professions, including white-collar workers and students.

“The youngest member is a 16-year-old student,” Man said.

Despite difficult weather conditions and other obstacles, the club members, including monochord player Tran Dinh Khac Du and 16-chord zither player Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, gather every Saturday afternoon to listen to Man’s guidance and practise.

“Housewife Dieu Hue has to cycle a 5km journey while veteran artist Huong has to take xe om (motorbike taxi) to get to the club every Saturday,” researcher Y said.

Man and Huong have also received support from the Vietnamese Heritage Institute – an NGO providing opportunities for the less fortunate in Viet Nam — to conduct a class for children aged 10-15 at the Xuan Phu Orphanage Centre in Hue twice a week. — VNS