Artists perform Quan Ho love duet songs (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Red River delta province of Bac Ninhhas made efforts to preserve the art of Quan Ho love duet singing to implement commitments to UNESCO onconservation and development of the folk art, which has been recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
Quan Ho folk songs are performed as alternating versesbetween two women from one village who sing in harmony, and two men fromanother village who respond with similar melodies, but with different lyrics.The women traditionally wear distinctive large round hats and scarves; themen’s costumes include turbans, umbrellas and tunics. There are more than 400song lyrics, sung with 213 different melody variations, express people’semotional states of longing and sadness upon separation, and the happiness of loverswhen meeting each other, but custom forbids marrying a singing partner.
Quan Ho was regarded as a cultural activity at which peoplein Bac Ninh and some other areas nearby gathered, shared their passions, withtheir fascinating voices. They “played” Quan Ho, not “performed” it, with themain purpose to satisfy their demand to meet and make friends with other peoplewho have same hobbies, and exchange their love on traditional art in a largecommunity.
Quan Ho singing is common at rituals, festivals, competitionsand informal gatherings, where guests will perform a variety of verses fortheir hosts before singing farewell.
Quan Ho songs express the spirit, philosophy and localidentity of the communities in this region, and help forge social bonds withinand between villages that share a cherished cultural practice.
Local artisanssaid singing folk songs on the full-moon night depicts the love for Quan Ho, and the eagerness to promote folk songs to a wider audience.
In recent years, BacNinh has invested in renovation and construction of cultural institutions. Ofwhich, the key project is Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk theatre. The 90 billion VND project covers an area of 1.9 ha. The theatre has four storeysand a unique architectural design featuring the images of a house, dragon boat, a strip of peach silkand a large round hat, which are symbols of Quan Ho singing, representingthe cultural features of Bac Ninh–Kinh Bac.
Le Manh Thang,Director of Quan Ho Folk Theater, said previously, even without the current facilities, many artists had tried their best to study, popularize and promote their folk songs to thecommunity.
With support provided by the authorities at all levels, the artists have beenenthusiastic and motivated in conserving as well as staging new programmes tointroduce Quan Ho to tourists, he said.
In implementing its commitment to UNESCO, throughout the years, Bac Ninh hascalled for efforts made at all levels, branches and people's communities, injointly implementing the project "Preserving and promoting the value ofintangible cultural heritage, Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs and Ca tru in2013-2020 ”.
In particular, BacNinh is the leading province in developing mechanisms and policies to honourand reward artisans in the field of intangible cultural heritage, according toResolution No. 213, 2015 of the provincial People'sCouncil. This is a move to nurture passion, enthusiasm, dedication of talentsto preserve and promote the cultural heritage values of the nation.
With the attention andsupport of the local government, Quan Ho folk songs have increasingly gainedthe applause of a broader audience. This has affirmed the strong and persistentvitality of a unique and quintessential art form of a land rich in historical,cultural and revolutionary traditions./.
VNA
