Experts call for urgent conservation of Phu Tho’s folk songs

Music experts have called on administrations at all levels to take part in promoting “Xoan” songs among all classes of people to conserve this fading folk music of the midland province of Phu Tho.
Prof. Yves from France, Prof. Sheen Pea Cheol from the Republic of Korea and Prof. Busakon Binson from Thailand recommended Xoan songs be included into school curriculum as an important step to conserve this folk music as only a few young people said they have had an idea about it.
They were among 32 domestic and international music experts present at an international workshop on Xoan songs held in its cradle of Phu Tho province on June 16 in preparation of documents to be submitted to UNESCO for consideration of its candidacy as the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
Some experts said along with efforts to promote this folk music among the young generations, the administration should honour old artists who keep singing Xoan songs and give them financial assistance.
They also urged for the use of modern techniques in analysing the music and holding music festivals, with Xoan songs included in their programmes, in various parts of the country.
Dr Panikos Giorgondes from the Cyprus island recommended the model of promoting music in the internet as a world trend.
He said it would help people all over the world to learn about Xoan songs.
A folklore researcher named Nguyen Khac Xuong introduced a new concept of Xoan songs as a “cultural area” for its broad influence.
“Xoan songs have crossed the Lo and Thao rivers to various parts of the north. Xoan songs have created a huge wave of influence that none of folk songs from the Da and Hong rivers in the north to the Ma river in the central region can do. As a result, Xoan songs have laid a ground of folk songs for its own and made up a cultural area called “A cultural area of Xoan songs”, he explained.
Based on all this ground, Xuong joined provincial People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Doan Khanh and other experts at the workshop, calling on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to recognise Xoan songs of Phu Tho province as a world intangible cultural heritage for urgent conservation.