Trung Dong village, Van Trung commune (Viet Yen district) is one of the ancient Quan ho villages in the northern province of Bac Giang which is considered as a “village of Quan ho artisans” with 4 Meritorious Artisans honored in the first period in 2015.

Artisan Hoac Cong Cho.

Particularly Hoac Cong Cho (born in 1936) is awarded the title of the People’s Artisan and called “master of the artisans”.

Born in the Quan ho’s cradle in the northern bank of Cau river, the 7 year old boy followed his mother to watch the duet love performances in the communal house. The sweet Quan ho melodies at that time gradually absorbed into his soul.

Singing the love duet folk songs from early childhood, Hoac Cong Cho becomes a well known male singer in the region thanks to his perfect performing technique, inspiring and sonorous voice.

In 1962, Cho set up Trung Dong Quan ho singing team to awake the passion for Quan ho singing among the locals, perform for the lovers of this folk melodies and preserve the cultural value of the traditional art form. It was till 2017 he was in charge of “rowing” the singing team with full enthusiasm though the previous singing team has been much developed and turned into Quan ho singing club.

Apart from performing Quan ho and organizing the club’s activities, artisan Cho is always interested in researching, writing and collecting the ancient love duet songs of Trung Dong village.

The performing method in Trung Dong village is different from other localities that indicates the rustic simplicity and closeness, he said. Meanwhile, the local Quan ho singing strictly requires the singers to combine the melodies and performance.

Cho has visited Bac Ninh province to search for master to widen and receive the knowledge and new melodies of Quan ho from other province for many times. After that, he shares and teaches all the knowledge about Quan ho as well as singing technique to the people with the same passion, especially the young generation.

It is the reason why he has taken regular performances and exchanges in many villages in the district such as Tho Ha (Van Ha commune), Trai Doi (Minh Duc commune), Noi Ninh, Huu Nghi (Ninh Son commune) …for more than half of century.

Artisan Hoac Cong Cho guides members of Trung Dong Quan ho singing club.

Now, he has guided the technique to sing the ancient Trung Dong Quan ho songs to almost all members of Trung Dong Quan ho singing club (nearly 40 people) such as Vu Thi Huong, Hoac Thi Kiem.

83 years old with over 70 years signing the love duet folk songs, artisan Hoac Cong Cho has enrich the leading knowledge, basic technique and Quan ho culture in Bac Giang province. He is able to remember and preserve more than 100 ancient Quan ho melodies that could be find no where but Trung Dong village.

Hoac Cong Cho was honored as the People’s Artisan in March 2019 by the President. The old age makes his voice weaker but can not stop him following his passion for Quan ho.

The artisan always bears in mind that he is so lucky to be born in a cradle of the sweet ancient Quan ho melodies, thus all generations must be responsible for preserving and passing to the future.

Teaching Cheo and Quan ho folk singing

(BGO) – The Center of Culture, Information and Sports of Bac Giang city joined hand with the Center of Culture and Cinema in Bac Giang province and the People’s Committee in Hoang Van Thu ward to organize the course to teach Cheo (traditional opera) and Quan ho (Love duet) singing to the grass root art talents in 2019.

Quan ho folk art troupe makes performance tour in Europe

A Quan ho (Love duet singing) art troupe of the northern province of Bac Ninh held a performance in Prague, the Czech Republic, on June 11 as part of its performance tour of four European countries – the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and France. 

Teaching Cheo and Quan ho folk singing to the art talents

(BGO) – The Center of Culture and Cinema in the northern province of Bac Giang cooperated with the Center of Culture and Information in Tan Yen district on May 8 kicked off the course to teach Cheo (traditional opera) and Quan ho (Love duet) singing to more than 70 art talents in Phuc Hoa commune (Tan Yen district).

Opening Bo Da pagoda festival and celebrating 10 year anniversary of Quan ho folk song recognized by UNESCO

(BGO) – The People’s Committee in Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province on March 21 opened Bo Da pagoda festival and celebrated 10 year anniversary of Quan ho folk song recognized by UNESCO as  the World Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Teaching Cheo and Quan ho folk singing

(BGO) – On  March 19, the Center of Culture and Cinema in Bac Giang province joined hand with the Center of Culture, Information and  Sports in Bac Giang city to organize a training course to teach Cheo and Quan ho folk singing in Phan Son hamlet, Dong Son commune.

Quoc Truong