Artists perform Xoan singing in Phu Tho province. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The northern province of Phu Tho launched adaily tour from Hanoi to the land of Hung Kings in early April, allowingtourists to explore traditional Xoan singing. The tour is designed to boosttourism and preserve the local intangible heritage, according to a localofficial.
The Hanoi – Phu Tho daily tour bringstourists to the Hung Temple relicsite, Hung Kings Museum, Hung Lo ancient village and Lai Len Temple. Local artists perform Xoan (spring) singing between 2:00 pm and4:00 pm at Hung Lo Communal House each day and at Lai Len Temple on weekends.
The new tour is not only vital for Phu Tho to attract more visitors butalso helps the province preserve its cultural heritage, Xoan singing, which wasput on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in Decemberlast year, said Ha Ke San, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.
Over the last six years, Phu Tho has worked to safeguard the folk musicgenre. It has established several Xoan singing clubs and taught it at schoolsacross the province while training on Xoan singing performance has been alsoprovided for promising singers, San noted.
“We hope senior artists and guild leaders will continue their trainingefforts to improve performing skills so visitors can get a better experiencewith the legacy,” said Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sportsand Tourism Nguyen Dac Thuy.
Xoan singing is practiced in Phu Tho province, often during thefirst two months of the lunar year. Traditionally, singers perform songs insacred spaces such as temples, shrines and communal houses for springfestivals.
There are three formsof xoan singing: worship singing forthe Hung kings and village guardian spirits, ritual singing for good crops,health and luck and festival singing where villagers alternate between male andfemale voices in a form of courtship.
Each Xoan music guild isheaded by a leader, referred to as the “trum”, male instrumentalists are called “kep” and female singers “dao”.
Xoan singing isaccompanied by dancing and musical instruments such as clappers and drums. Themusic has a sparse structure with few ornamental notes and simple rhythms, andXoan is characterised by a modulation between singers and instrumentalists atthe fourth interval. Knowledge for singing, dancing and playing drum andclappers are traditionally transmitted orally by the guild leader.
On the occasion of the HungKings Temple Festival, which is scheduled to take place between April 20 and 25this year, Xoan singing performances will be held between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm every dayat these two venues.
Legendhas it that the Hung Kings ruled Vietnam from 2879 BC until 258 BC and areconsidered the founder of the nation. To honour the Kings, the tenth day of theLunar March, which falls on April 25 this year, serves as the national commemorativeanniversary for them.-VNA
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