Phu Tho has additional 14 Xoan singing artisans (Source: phutho.gov.vn) Phu Tho (VNA) – Additional 14 people in the northern province ofPhu Tho have been presented with the “Xoan singing artisan” title inrecognition of their contributions to preserving and promoting the value of theUNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage.
Speaking at a ceremony on November 23, Vice Chairman of theprovincial People’s Committee Ho Dai Dung said that the 14 newly-recognisedartisans are prestigious and expert in the musical art.
To date, Phu Tho has 66 Xoan singing artisans recognised bythe State, including 20 Meritorious Artists.
Closely linked to the worship of Hung Kings, Xoan singing isa religious practice rooted in the ancestor worship of the Vietnamese people.It is traditionally performed during the first two months of the lunar calendarin holy places such as temples, sanctuaries and communal houses.
There are three forms of Xoan singing: worship singing forthe Hung kings and village guardian spirits; ritual singing for good crops,health and luck, and festival singing where villagers alternate male and femalevoices in a form of courtship.
The Vietnamese musical tradition was inscribed on the UNESCOList of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2011 dueto declining appreciation of this tradition, notably among young people.
The performing art was transferred to the RepresentativeList of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2017 inrecognition of efforts by the local communities and the national authorities toreinforce the viability of Xoan singing.
Phu Tho now has 34 Xoan singing clubs with 1,557members.-VNA
