Close to 250 troupes join Chau Van singing festival
17/10/2014 03:40
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The festival, in its second edition, aims to provide an opportunity for artists to perform the traditional ritual singing in a formal setting while increasing the community's awareness of the Mother Goddess wordshipping belief, Loi added.
The first round of performances runs from October 15 until November 17 in seven temples throughout Hanoi, while the best performances will be selected for a final show on November 28-29.
A number of seminars will also be held during the festival to discuss ways to preserve the values of Chau Van singing in today's modern society.
Chau Van singing, which is recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, first emerged during the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400) and presumably originated in the northern province of Nam Dinh.
The highly rhythmic form of singing often accompanies "hau dong" (mediumship) during rituals to honour the Mother Goddess and connect to other gods. It is mostly performed at temples and pagodas.
The music and poetry performed in the folk art are blended with a variety of rhythms, tempos and pitches.
The genre also adopts folk songs from the uplands and highlands of the three regions of the country.
The main musical instrument used in the genre is Dan Nguyet, a moon-shaped lute.
Relevant agencies are working on the necessary documents to apply to UNESCO for recognition of the traditional singing genre as an Intangible Culture Heritage of Humanity.
Source: VNA
