From April 7th to 11th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with Can Tho City to hold the third National “Đờn ca tài tử” (Vietnam southern amateur music) Festival 2022 in Can Tho. With the theme "Southern Đờn ca tài tử - Conservation and Development", the festival will bring together artists of this traditional music genre from 21 southern provinces and cities to show their skills, contributing to and promoting this music, which was recognized by UNESCO as the representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
A performance of Tran Phong and Thanh Thao at the rehearsal of Binh Duong's program at the third National Đờn ca tài tử Festival in Can Tho City.
Following the success after two festivals held in Bac Lieu (2014) and Binh Duong (2017), the thi rd National Đờn ca tài tử Festival in Can Tho City (2022) promises to bring high meanings and values for the preservation and development of traditional culture of Vietnam. This is an event held every three years, has been maintained since 2014. However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020 Can Tho City was unable to host and delayed until 2022.
Binh Duong is one of 21 southern provinces and cities that will take part in this festival. In preparation for this year's festival, Binh Duong set up, staged a prgram, and has been practicing for weeks. Many artists of Binh Duong are eager and looking forward to introduce local products in this southern heritage festival.
Tran Thanh Son, Director of the Provincial Center for Culture and Arts, said that after one month of staging and practicing, Binh Duong would participate in Đờn ca tài tử activities and contests at the festival. The province will participate in this competition with five performances themed “Tự hào giai điệu phương Nam” (Proud of the Southern Melody). The program was staged by musicians Nguyen Phuoc Trong and Dang Phu Duc, who are two disciples of the late meritorious artist Tu Con, and the artists selected from Đờn ca tài tử Club of the Provincial Center for Culture and Arts and Đờn ca tài tử Club of Dau Tieng District Cultural Center, Sports and Radio.
Le Van Thai, Deputy Director of Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that because this was a national festival, Binh Duong set up a plan to take the initiative from funding to gathering personnel, building program, practicing. In the previous festivals, the province staged programs that were imbued with provincial identity, gathered the participation of many excellent artists and singers, created our own marks. This time, the province is determined to achieve the best possible achievements.
In recent years, Đờn ca tài tử has interested many people in Binh Duong, received favorable conditions, opportunities to meet, exchange knowledge and experience through festivals, contests, performances; training classes of Đờn ca tài tử were organized regularly. In addition, districts, towns and cities in the province regularly organize activities for clubs in and outside the area to exchange and compete at local playgrounds. The activities attracted a large number of participants and spread the unique values of this traditional music genre; thereby introducing and arousing the spirit of continuing the national tradition, preserving and developing the cultural essence among young people today.
At the second National Đờn ca tài tử Festival held from April 8th to 12th, 2017 in Binh Duong, Binh Duong team won 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and the team gold medal.
Reported by Thuc Van – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
