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A nationwide project on ca tru ceremonial singing has been
organised by the Institute of Musicology at a cost of VND3.5 billion
(US$167,500) and may be developed into a national programme.
The project will be carried out in 2012 and focus on researching, teaching and
recording this unique type of music.
The institute will begin two research programmes, Popular Ceremonial Singing
Melodies and Collection on Past and Present Ceremonial Singing, and commence
four one-month beginner classes in Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ha Tinh and HCM City to
improve the singing and performance ability of young artists. The initiative
will also host two ca tru festivals in the port city of Hai Phong for clubs in
the northern region and in the central province of Ha Tinh for groups in the
central region.
The institute will submit plans to extend the programme from 2012-2020, which
will include restoring a temple to singer Tran Thi Lan in the northern province
of Thai Binh, a traditional arts conference in Ha Noi heard on Thursday.
According to institute director Le Van Toan, the number of people taking part in
ca tru clubs has increased from 150 in 2009 to 500 this year.
Toan said many old songs had been passed to younger generations while old
instruments and other memorabilia had been collected in many provinces, he said.
However province representatives and cultural agencies have expressed concern.
"How could people who do not understand the art know whether artists have the
exact manner when singing ca tru or not? Completing the inventory is easy, but
doing it perfectly is difficult," said Bui Thi Phan, an offical from Hung Yen
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Deputy director of the Cultural Heritage Department Le Thi Minh Ly said the main
concern about preserving the art is that enthusiasm without professional
knowledge could alter the heritage of the art form.
A representative from Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said
although there were many clubs in the city, their standards were not high
enough.
Vietnamese Folklorists Association chairman To Ngoc Thanh thought bringing the
art into the school syllabus would be a better way to attract young people and
thus ensure the future of the unique tradition.
One point the all representatives agreed on was that ca tru has not moved
forward in the last two years other than receiving UNESCO recognition.
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