First traditional music festival to be held in Bac Lieu

Ilustration photo

Don Ca Tai Tu is a genre of traditional chamber music in the South of Viet Nam, literally the “music of amateurs.”

Emerged in at the end of 19^th century, this kind of music is becoming much loved by Southerners and deeply rooted in the culture and spirits of the local residents.

The music is performed not only at parties, but also in the post-harvest time. It is played in the shade of trees or on boats, on a bright moonlit night. It can not be found on modern stages or in cultural or tourism festivals.

Prof. Dr Tran Van Khe stressed that “Don Ca Tai Tu” is the ‘soul of the South’s culture’. It will never be lost into oblivion or disappear.

The most important thing is that “Don ca tai tu” must be preserved and developed and prevented from being mutated into new forms. To do that, suitable playgrounds for “Don ca tai tu” must be created, instead of just several festivals or competitions, he added.

Being aware of the importance of the music form, some researchers of the domestic and foreign music have tried to collect and summarized some forms of the arts.

Viet Nam has completed and submitted a national dossier on the music to UNESCO for its recognition as a mankind intangible cultural heritage./.

By Huong Giang