With thirty years of wholehearted dedication and fervent love for the art of Ca Tru singing, in 2019, artisan Luu Thi Kim Lien (80 years old, Yen Nghia Ward, Ha Dong District) was honored with the title “Meritorious Artisan” in the field of intangible cultural heritage…
Artisan Luu Thi Kim Lien passionately imparts her love for Ca Tru singing to all segments of the population. Photo by: Minh Tram
Born and raised in Ha Dong, outstanding artisan Luu Thi Kim Lien serendipitously found herself drawn to Ca Tru singing – a rather unfamiliar art form in her local milieu. Ms. Luu Thi Kim Lien, formerly a teacher, shared that in 1993, an elder from Yen Nghia village, inspired to establish Ca Tru singing as an art form in the community, happened to hear her mother sing Ca Tru singing. Intrigued, Ms. Luu Thi Kim Lien decided to embark on the journey of learning and mastering this art form.
In the initial learning phase, it took her three years to grasp a few melodies, but with unwavering perseverance, she gradually became the lead vocalist in performances. What began as a personal interest and pursuit of Ca Tru singing transformed into a determination to pass on this art form to younger generations. Fueled by passion and dedication to her craft, overcoming challenges, she tirelessly rehearses with over 20 members of the “Ca Tru singing in Yen Nghia” Club, aiming to keep this traditional art alive and thriving.
Artisan Luu Thi Kim Lien shares that, unlike other art forms such as Cheo or Chau Van, Ca Tru singing is a traditional courtly art with scholarly melodies and profound meanings. In the past, only the aristocracy had the privilege of appreciating this art form. Teaching and learning Ca Tru singing is a challenging endeavor; the instructor must meticulously guide through each musical phrase, every word, pronunciation, and mouth position to ensure the students’ understanding. Learners must possess genuine passion, high determination, and perseverance in training, coupled with the distinctive Ca Tru singing vocal quality.
To delve into Ca Tru singing, one must first grasp the intricacies of the five musical phrases before approaching a specific song. Learning to play the phách (bamboo castanets) involves understanding the ca dan (vocal part) and subsequent training of the hands in phach technique (accompanied by instructional materials). Memorizing the ca dan and mastering the phach technique takes several months. Subsequently, the oral transmission begins, focusing on each word and phrase, incorporating the phach at the appropriate moment, within a specific musical phrase or stanza. The intricacies extend to aspects such as mouth positioning while singing, the placement of the tongue to produce certain sounds, and breath control for the distinct Ca Tru singing vocal style. The process demands the instructor’s unwavering perseverance and precision, while the learners must exhibit determination, diligence, and focus. They must dedicate themselves to listening to the musical accompaniment, practicing the phach, and memorizing the lyrics to present a harmonious and rhythmically precise performance that effectively conveys the essence of the song.
According to artisan Luu Thi Kim Lien, ca tru is an art form that is highly selective of its performers and audience, particularly appealing to the younger generation. Consequently, finding individuals willing to inherit and preserve ca tru proves to be a formidable challenge. Another obstacle is the financial aspect of training and organizing performances, as the club’s activities heavily rely on contributions from its members. This makes it difficult to cover costs and incentivize the younger generation to take up and preserve Ca Tru singing. However, from 1995 until the present, artisan Luu Thi Kim Lien has conducted free lessons for five Ca Tru classes, involving a total of 61 students, many of whom have become renowned figures in this traditional art form.
At 80 years old and with 30 years of experience, artisan Luu Thi Kim Lien has devoted herself passionately to the traditional art and folk culture of Ca Tru. She has participated in 52 performances, featuring hundreds of segments catering to festivals and craft fairs. In 2019, she was honored with the title of “Meritorious Artisan” in the field of intangible cultural heritage at the national level, receiving numerous commendations from the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports.
Le Ha An, born in 2007 from Group 6 in Yen Nghia ward, shares her introduction to Artisan Luu Thi Kim Lien’s Ca Tru club through her grandmother’s stories. From curiosity to exploration, she developed a fondness for this art form and sought permission to join the club. Under Ms. Lien’s enthusiastic and meticulous guidance, despite being a novice, she quickly mastered the basic melodies. She aspires to contribute her small part in preserving this traditional art form.
Dao Tuyet
Miệt mài gìn giữ và bảo tồn môn nghệ thuật đặc sắc của dân tộc (kinhtedothi.vn)