In 2016, the Trong Quan singing club of Phuc Lam Village received a decisive decision from the People’s Committee of Phuc Tien Commune to be officially established, providing additional support for the preservation and promotion of Phuc Lam’s Trong Quan singing. Ms. Kieu Thi Mach was elected as the club’s chairwoman and has held the position since then.
In Phuc Tien Commune, Phu Xuyen District, the family of Mrs. Kieu Thi Mach is well-known for its rich tradition of singing, cherishing, and preserving the traditional folk culture of the homeland. Notably, this family has three meritorious artisans in Trong Quan singing: Kieu Thi Chai, her daughter Kieu Thi Mach, and her son-in-law Dao Anh Chen. At over 90 years old, Kieu Thi Chai remains agile, and nimble, and delivers beautiful performances. The talented couple Kieu Thi Mach, now in their 70s, continues the family legacy.
Meritorious artisan Kieu Thi Chai and her daughter Kieu Thi Mach
Meritorious artisan couple Kieu Thi Sach – Dao Anh Chen
Phuc Lam is an ancient village, not far from the Red River, Luong River, and Nhue River. The geographical location has allowed Phuc Lam to develop its Trong Quan singing tradition for hundreds of years. Under the clear moonlight, men and women in the village often organize Trong Quan singing sessions to dispel weariness after hours of hard work. At that time, every hamlet in the village had its own Trong Quan singing team. Many young men and women met during these Trong Quan singing nights and forged romantic relationships, like the marriage of artisan couple Kieu Thi Mach and Dao Anh Chen.
For a period, Trong Quan singing in Phuc Lam Village faced a decline, and many forgot the traditional tunes of hometown Trong Quan singing. Mrs. Kieu Thi Mach, then actively participating in various social activities such as being the Secretary of the Youth Union, an official in the Commune People’s Committee, and a member of the Fatherland Front Committee of the hamlet and commune, saw the risk of losing this cultural heritage. Witnessing this, Mrs. Mach, along with her mother and a few others, was deeply concerned and joined forces to find ways to restore the precious heritage of the locality. Mrs. Mach visited families with members who had participated in Trong Quan singing in the past to inquire, take notes, and document the lyrics and performance techniques of Trong Quan singing.
What sets Trong Quan singing in Phuc Lam apart from other regions is the incorporation of the word “thoi” in its lyrics. The singing is always lively and synchronized with the drum beats. Both the ceremonial and community Trong Quan singing are integral to the fabric of Phuc Lam village. The distinctive feature of Phuc Lam’s Trong Quan singing lies in its drums. The drums are crafted by digging a circular pit in the ground, creating a resonant chamber. Below, the drumhead is constructed using a thin wooden board. Additionally, the drum is placed in a pit with shells to produce diverse sounds. A thin string made of aged rattan is stretched across the drumhead, passing through a lever situated in the drum’s center and tied at both ends to bamboo stakes driven into the ground. The performer uses a wooden beater to strike the string, creating a rich and deep sound, and enhancing the rhythmic singing. Notably, the drums used in Phuc Lam today are the creative work of the meritorious artisan Kieu Thi Mach.
In 2016, the Trong Quan singing club of Phuc Lam village received a resolution from the People’s Committee of Phuc Tien Commune, providing additional support for the preservation and promotion of Phuc Lam’s Trong Quan singing. Mrs. Kieu Thi Mach was elected as the club’s chairwoman and has held the position since then. Over the years, the club has operated based on the voluntary spirit, self-awareness, self-sufficiency, and passion for the traditional art of its members. Without fees, salaries, or rewards, the “farmer-artists” of Phuc Lam village wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to each Trong Quan singing performance, passing on the flame and passion to everyone. The club currently has 29 members, including three generations of seniors, middle-aged individuals, and young members. The oldest member is 92 years old, while the youngest is only 12. The club boasts six meritorious artisans, with three of them belonging to the family of the meritorious Kieu Thi Mach.
As the chairwoman of the Trong Quan singing club in Phuc Lam, Mrs. Kieu Thi Mach has done an excellent job preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the homeland. Together with the club, she has performed in various places, especially during festivals, anniversaries, or village fairs. The club has participated in competitions organized by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, securing numerous awards, including the Special Prize in 2017 and the First and Second Prizes in 2019. In addition, the meritorious artisan Kieu Thi Mach has successfully passed on her passion to the local children through teaching classes. She has successfully imparted the skills to dozens of children, and currently, she and the club are teaching 30 grandchildren, aged between 8 and 13, with many even younger ones attending to watch the performances.
Meritorious artisan Kieu Thi Mach has also passed on her passion for Trong Quan singing to her children and grandchildren. All four of her children are skilled drum singers, especially her two daughters and granddaughter Dao Ngoc Minh Chau. As a family tradition, whenever the family gathers, they organize Trong Quan singing sessions, sharing their passion with each other. Importantly, the meritorious artisan Kieu Thi Mach also has the ability to compose new drum songs based on traditional drum beats, such as the song “Marrying a Carpenter.”
An evening gathering of the Trong Quan singing Club in Phuc Lam
Visiting Phuc Lam and witnessing the passion of Mrs. Kieu Thi Mach and the members of the Trong Quan singing Club during an evening activity at the residence of the club’s chairwoman is truly remarkable. It sheds light on the invaluable dedication and meticulous preservation of their homeland’s precious heritage. The heartfelt dedication and meticulous preservation of the cultural heritage by the meritorious artisan Kieu Thi Mach and the club members have received support from various levels of government, including the commune, district, folk arts association, and the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. This support has enabled Mrs. Kieu Thi Mach and the club to share their love for cultural heritage with the wider community.
In recognition of her ceaseless efforts and contributions to preserving the precious heritage, Mrs. Kieu Thi Mach was honored with the title of Meritorious Artisan by the State in 2022. In 2023, she was further honored with the title of Good Person, Good Deeds by the People’s Committee of Hanoi. The Trong Quan singing Club in Phuc Lam has also received numerous awards for its contributions to the preservation and promotion of the local traditional heritage.