At the event, representatives from the Department of Cultural Heritage (the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) highlighted the achievements of Bac Giang province in preserving and promoting Quan ho and Ca tru.

Expanding Quan ho cultural space

Quan ho singers in Noi Ninh village, Ninh Son commune (Viet Yen district).

After 10 years of being recognised, Quan ho folk songs are still practised continuously in the community as well as in festivals, traditional ceremonies, competitions, shows and cultural events at home and abroad, thus spreading strongly. The Quan ho teaching is often done in both forms: in the community (artisans voluntarily teach the folk songs to the next generation) and in the school.

Authorities of localities with the heritage have been taking measures to prevent the traditional practice of Quan ho folk songs for commercial purposes. They have regularly carried out the inventory to grasp the status of the heritage, thereby taking appropriate protection measures.

Agencies, organisations and individuals have actively researched, collected and restored traditional forms of Quan ho singing and some typical customs of Quan ho culture ... After two times, the President has awarded the title "People’s Artisan" to one artisan and the title "Meritorious Artisan" to 15 artisans of Bac Giang.

Along with the above solutions, Bac Giang province has promoted the heritage through many art programmes such as the Quan ho singing festival; and organised an area displaying Quan ho folk songs at the provincial Museum.

The community has also voluntarily engaged in preserving, protecting and teaching the cultural heritage of Quan ho in the locality and had exchange performances with other localities.

The vitality of Ca tru

For Ca tru, many protection measures have been implemented in accordance with the realities and current status of the heritage such as opening classes; facilitating the practising, performing and teaching of the heritage; organising festivals; building mechanisms and policies to honor artisans; inventorying, identifying and promoting the heritage...

Ca tru performance at the conference "Preserving and promoting Quan ho and Ca tru in Bac Giang province".

Besides, there are the active participation of the community, individuals in practising the heritage, as well as the effective operation and responsibility of individuals, groups, management agencies at all levels and associations.

The heritage has been practised more often. The national Ca tru festival has been held every three years and every time Bac Giang artisans have won prizes. Provincial-level festivals have also been organised. Ca tru performances have been increasingly appearing at local cultural events.

The community, social organisations and authorities have organised many classes to teach young people in the manner that older artisans teach directly in the community or in professional art schools. Among the learners, many young people have basic knowledge about music as they are trained in professional training establishments, so they can quickly acquire and practice Ca tru fluently.

Ca tru today is more involved in new events and cultural spaces instead of just being performed at the front of the communal house door as before. Performances serving visitors have been formed gradually, attracting a large audience. The traditional elements have been step by step restored and maintained. Researchers, experts and artisans have studied, explored and restored traditional skills and techniques to teach the younger generations.

Looking at the National Action Programme on protecting Quan ho folk songs and Ca tru that Vietnam committed to UNESCO, it can be seen that with the efforts and engagement of the authorities and the community, Bac Giang province has joined hands with other localities to fully and effectively realise all the contents with the aim of sustainably conserving these two types of traditional art.

Bac Giang to celebrate 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition of Quan ho and Ca tru singing

(BGO) – On August 22, Vice Chairman of the Bac Giang provincial People’s Committee Le Anh Duong, Head of the Organization Board for the 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition of Quan ho (love duet singing) and Ca tru (ceremonial singing) as the intangible culture heritage of humanity as well as the second ceremony to bestow title of People’s Artist and Meritorious artist in the field of intangible cultural heritage in 2019 chaired a meeting to finalize the instruction and implementation.

Bac Giang mobilizes resources to preserve, expand cultural atmosphere of Quan Ho and Ca Tru

(BGO)- The Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism (DCST) of Bac Giang province held a conference on 20 August themed “Preserving and promoting Quan Ho (love duet singing) and Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) in Bac Giang province” at the provincial Convention Center. This activity is included in the sequence of events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Quan Ho and Ca Tru recognised by UNESCO as the intangible cultural heritages of humanity. 

Ca tru singing in Phuong Hoang land

(BGO) - "Ca tru (ceremonial singing) is very difficult, only those who love it and perseveres can follow this career. However, our club now gathers nearly 30 members”, Dang Thi Chan, former head of the Ca tru Club of Yen Dung district, Bac Giang province, excitedly told us.

Festival fuels hope for young and talented Ca Tru practitioners

The curtain came down on the 2018 National Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) Festival in Ha Tinh province. The four-day festival attracted nearly 300 artists and instrumentalists from 13 cities and provinces across the country. With an increased number of young artisans, the festival has fuelled the hope for a younger and talented generation of Ca Tru practitioners.

National Ca Tru Festival opens in Ha Tinh

More than 300 artists and instrumentalists from 13 cities and provinces are gathering at the National Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) Festival that kicked off on November 1 night in the central province of Ha Tinh. 

Tung Chi