Musicians, researchers, managers and performers of Bai Choi – a folksinging popular in Central Vietnam, have worked together on means andways to preserve and enrich the values of the genre.
A seminar on the topic was co-hosted by the Vietnam National Academicof Music and the Department of Social, Sports and Tourism Binh Dinhprovince - the cradle of Bai Choi, on September 27.
Participants discussed thoroughly the history and current status of BaiChoi singing which was listed as a national intangible cultural heritagein late August, 2014 and is seeking the UNESCO’s recognition as anintangible cultural heritage in 2016.
The event was amove to facilitate the making of a national dossier in search for therecognition, with studies to be launched across 11 provinces and citiesin the central region, ranging from Quang Binh to Binh Tuan, theorganizers said.
The Vietnam National Academy ofMusic and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Dinhhave been tasked with the preparation of the application dossier, whichis to be submitted prior to March 31, 2015.
Uniqueto the coastal central region, bai choi is often seen at local springfestivals and resembles a game, using playing cards and village huts.
The stage for bai choiperformances encompasses nine cottages, each containing five or six‘players’. One of the cottages, the central house, contains a troupe ofmusicians and instruments. A deck of playing cards is split in half,with one stack distributed amongst the players, and the other placed inthe central house. The cards are stuck onto bamboo poles and erectedoutside the cottages.
The gamesinger delivers a flag to each cottage, all the while singing bai choi,and then draws a card from the central house. Whoever holds the cardclosest in value to the game singer’s card wins.
The bai choi songs are about festivals, daily life and work, and are accompanied by musical instruments.
The game and songs were developed by Mandarin Dao Duy Tu (1572-1634)to help locals protect their crops, according to Hoang Chuong, Directorof the Centre for Preservation and Promotion of National Culture.
Vietnam is currently home to eight UNESCOintangible heritages, namely Hue's royal court music, the space of Gongculture in the Central Highlands, Quan ho (love duet) singing, the Giongfestival, Ca Tru ceremonial singing, Xoan singing, Worshipping the HungKings, and Don ca tai tu (amateur singing).-VNA
A seminar on the topic was co-hosted by the Vietnam National Academicof Music and the Department of Social, Sports and Tourism Binh Dinhprovince - the cradle of Bai Choi, on September 27.
Participants discussed thoroughly the history and current status of BaiChoi singing which was listed as a national intangible cultural heritagein late August, 2014 and is seeking the UNESCO’s recognition as anintangible cultural heritage in 2016.
The event was amove to facilitate the making of a national dossier in search for therecognition, with studies to be launched across 11 provinces and citiesin the central region, ranging from Quang Binh to Binh Tuan, theorganizers said.
The Vietnam National Academy ofMusic and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Dinhhave been tasked with the preparation of the application dossier, whichis to be submitted prior to March 31, 2015.
Uniqueto the coastal central region, bai choi is often seen at local springfestivals and resembles a game, using playing cards and village huts.
The stage for bai choiperformances encompasses nine cottages, each containing five or six‘players’. One of the cottages, the central house, contains a troupe ofmusicians and instruments. A deck of playing cards is split in half,with one stack distributed amongst the players, and the other placed inthe central house. The cards are stuck onto bamboo poles and erectedoutside the cottages.
The gamesinger delivers a flag to each cottage, all the while singing bai choi,and then draws a card from the central house. Whoever holds the cardclosest in value to the game singer’s card wins.
The bai choi songs are about festivals, daily life and work, and are accompanied by musical instruments.
The game and songs were developed by Mandarin Dao Duy Tu (1572-1634)to help locals protect their crops, according to Hoang Chuong, Directorof the Centre for Preservation and Promotion of National Culture.
Vietnam is currently home to eight UNESCOintangible heritages, namely Hue's royal court music, the space of Gongculture in the Central Highlands, Quan ho (love duet) singing, the Giongfestival, Ca Tru ceremonial singing, Xoan singing, Worshipping the HungKings, and Don ca tai tu (amateur singing).-VNA
