A performance of Ca Hue (Hue folk singing) on a boat on the Huong River in Hue city (Photo: VNA) Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) - The Culture and SportsDepartment in Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, has signedan agreement to coordinate with the city’s Education and Training Department toadd Ca Hue (Hue folk singing) to the academic curriculum in local schools.
The art of Ca Hue will be included as a schoolsubject. Students will take part in excursions and extra classes at museums onthe art form, and also attend art shows and camps on song composition.
The two agencies will encourage school children to uselibraries, as well as organise free reading weeks and mobile libraries sothat they can access information at school.
This month, the Art and Culture School of the Thua Thien-HueCulture and Sports Department will host a training class on Ca Hue for 30teachers from secondary schools in Hue city. Experienced singers will alsoteach during the class.
Inthree months, teachers will be trained on general knowledge of music, culture,history; learn how to sing folk melodies; and exchange with singers.
“Teaching Hue folk singing at school will helpyoung people understand the art form and traditional music in general,enhancing their awareness of and improving possibilities in protecting anddeveloping the folk art,” said Dang Phuoc My, deputy director of Thua Thien-HueEducation and Training Department.
“The teaching programme will also promote culture, art andsport activities at schools, help enhance pupils’ physical health and providethem with useful entertainment,” My said.
Before Hue folk singing, schools in the province introducedfolk games like skipping rope, Mandarin square capturing, shuttle cockkicking and duet singing into the curriculum.
The education and training department has also hostedcontests on history for local students.
Ca Hue is a variation of Hue royal court music and isconsidered a type of chamber music that originated from performances in theroyal and mandarin houses during the imperial era.
The art form is said to bear similarities to traditionalVietnamese music such as Don ca tai tu (southern folk music)and Ca tru (ceremonial singing performed in the north). The music isplayed on traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, while the musicians andvocalists all wear the national long dress, the Ao dai.
Ca Hue was listed as a national intangible heritage by theMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.-VNA
VNA
