Festival salutes unique artform

A festival dedicating to then - the traditional singing of the Tay and Nung ethnic people - took place on August 24 in the northern province of Bac Kan.
More than 300 artists are scheduled to perform during the three-day event, which takes place at the provincial cultural house.
However, according to the deputy director of the Bac Kan Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Dao Duy Duc, there are only four then singing old artisans still alive in the province, considered the cradle of then singing.
“While the old artisans are the ones who are able to sing the old melodies perfectly, the young artists are fascinated in innovations on the melodies,” he said.
During the past year, the province has paid greater attention to preserving this unique art form. One step was to form a group of then singing artists in Pac Ngoi Village – a Tay ethnic cultural village in Nam Mau District.
“These artists not only contribute to the preservation of this art form but also introduce the genre to foreign visitors,” said Duc. “Although I was born and grew up in this region, I am still fascinated by then melodies and the pure sound of the tinh instrument, which is the essential instrument to accompany then singers.”
During the opening ceremony, audiences had a chance to enjoy a special performance by four different generations of a single family as well as the performances of artists from different province
Another highlight was the performance of veteran artist Nong Thi Sam from Lang Son Province. The 68-years old, who started singing as a young girl, performed the song Ba Day Chau Hat Then (Grandma Teaches Her Grandson to Sing Then Melodies) in, appropriately enough, a duet with her grandson Chu Van Minh.
In addition to the performances, the festival will feature an exhibition of tinh instruments and costumes of then singers, and workshops will allow artists to share their experiences.