Twenty-five years after it was set up, a Quan ho or love-duet singing club in the northern province of Bac Ninh has become a familiar venue for local people of generations to practice, helping preserve the folk singing recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
In 1992, The Duệ Đông Club was established in an effort to help Quan ho lovers have a playground.
It has now become a venue for veteran artisans to teach love-duet songs to club members.
It was not easy for the class organisers during the first days of operation as young children are not patient enough to learn how to sing. However, lesson plans were made, just requiring learners to learn by heart the lyrics and pitches at first, then paying attention to rhythms later.
Different from other clubs, 40-member Due Dong Club gathers love-duet lovers of all ages, with the oldest of 99 and the youngest of five years old.
After nearly eight years of being recognised by UNESCO as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, Bac Ninh love-duet singing has been widely popularised with over 30 clubs in the locality. They are contributing to enhancing the vitality of the folk singing in the community.-VNA
