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For a long time, the Then songs of the Tay ethnic people
living in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes of Sapa town (Lao
Cai) have become the "soul" of life for those born and
raised here. The exploration, creation, preservation and
teaching of the Then dance of the Tay people have always
been given special attention by the people and authorities
at all levels in Sa Pa town in the journey of preserving and
promoting the unique traditional values of the ethnic groups
to develop the socio-economy and tourism services in Sa Pa
town. Sapa tours
The training course on teaching the art of Then Tay singing
in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes is of interest to Sa Pa town
and is organized annually with the participation of
artisans, students who are Tay ethnic people living in the
area and especially teenagers and children who come to learn
and be taught Tay ethnic culture.
At the training courses, outstanding artists and many
participating students talked together about the meaning of
traditional Then songs, and shared about preserving the
nation's fine traditions through Then songs.
The family of artisan Lu Van Vien living in Muong Bo 2
village, Muong Bo commune has preserved and passed down to
their descendants, along with two art troupes of Muong Bo
commune consisting of 30 members, the traditional Then and
xoe singing melodies of the Tay ethnic group living in Muong
Bo commune, Sapa.
Musical instruments such as drums, Dan Tinh, bells... are
preserved, cherished and displayed in the most solemn places
by the artisans' families. In the spacious yard, Then
singing and Xoe dance are performed, along with the desire
to preserve and develop the national cultural values left by
our ancestors. Artisan Lu Van Vien, Muong Bo 2 village,
Muong Bo commune said: "We have been attached to Then
singing since we were very young. Then singing is the life
of every Tay ethnic person and I want to teach it to my
children so that the good traditions of my people will not
be lost."
Then singing and Xoe dancing are indispensable cultural
features in the festivals of the Tay ethnic people living in
Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes of Sapa. In addition to the
spiritual element of praying for good harvests and
blessings, Then singing is also for entertainment,
expressing feelings, expressing love, praising the homeland
and village, and labor production. In the life of the Tay
people, Then singing often appears in important events such
as: praying for peace, praying for good harvests... Then
singers on holidays and Tet represent the community to
communicate with the gods, praying for good harvests, a
prosperous and happy life.
With the changing life like today, in addition to the
spiritual element, Then singing and Xoe dancing are also
staged, brought into activities serving political events,
tourism, serving the people, becoming a mass art movement of
Muong Bo commune, Ban Ho commune. The content of Then songs
is given new lyrics by artisans to praise the life of labor
and production, building new rural areas, praise the changes
of the homeland and the country. Generations of Tay people
have been taught Then singing by their grandmothers and
mothers, and from there continue to guide and pass it on to
their children and grandchildren.
With easy-to-remember and emotional lyrics, the Tay ethnic
children have naturally absorbed them, making them more
proud and loving of their traditional culture through Then
songs imbued with love for their homeland.
Dao Khanh Hung, 10 years old in, Muong Bo 1 village said:
“Since I was little, I have heard my grandparents and
parents teach me about Then singing of the Tay ethnic group,
which is often performed in festivals with very beautiful
lyrics. My friends and I also want to learn Then singing,
play DanTinh and the teachers at school always teach us to
preserve traditional culture”.
In recent times, the training courses on Then Tay singing
art in Muong Bo and Ban Ho communes of Sapa have aimed to
effectively implement Project 06 "Preserving and promoting
the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities
associated with tourism development" under the National
Target Program on socio-economic development of ethnic
minority and mountainous areas. The training course aims to
foster and provide additional knowledge and skills to
preserve cultural heritages, honor and inherit traditional
cultural values; preserve and maintain the values of
intangible cultural heritages of the nation, linking the
task of economic development with the cultural development
of the town.
In order to preserve and teach Then Tay singing - an
intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO in Sapa,
Ms. Hoang Thi Vuong, Head of the Department of Culture and
Information of Sapa town said: "Through the training course,
we have contributed to restoring, preserving and promoting
the traditional cultural values of the Tay ethnic group, in
which the art of Then Tay singing plays an extremely
important role in the spiritual life of the Tay ethnic group
living in Sapa".
Then singing and Xoe dancing are the pride and timeless
heritage of the Tay ethnic community in Muong Bo commune.
Listening to Then singing and xoe dancing helps us feel the
national soul, see the image of our homeland, return to our
birthplace and upbringing, and gain more strength to rise up
in life.
Source:
https://privatesapatours.com/news/the-art-of-then-singing-of-the-tay-ethnic-group-in-sapa.php |
