(BGO) - As an ancient rural village in Hoang Ninh commune (now Nenh township) of Viet Yen district, Hoang Mai was once famous in and outside the province for its Cheo (Vietnamese traditional opera) troupes. No one remembers when the Hoang Mai Cheo troupe was established, people only know that since the French colonial period, the art of Cheo was brought to this village - which was often known as the land of Quan ho - and then love for Cheo has been passed down through generations to this day.
From Cheo performances at the communal house’s yard or the cooperative’s yard, the "farmer artists" have stepped onto the big stage, making the traditional art of Cheo more sparkling.
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A performance by Hoang Mai Cheo Club. |
Through the administrative boundary adjustments, Hoang Ninh commune was merged to become Nenh township, Hoang Mai village is divided into three residential areas including Hoang Mai 1, Hoang Mai 2 and Hoang Mai 3 of the township. However, the old Hoang Mai Cheo Troupe still works together under the name Hoang Mai Cheo Club.
The club has 32 members, the youngest of whom is also in his 40s. He is Nguyen Dinh Hong, Chairman of the township Farmers' Union. The oldest member of the club is Do Thi Khoa, 82, former head of the Hoang Mai Cheo Troupe - who has just been conferred the title of People's Artist by the President.
Viet Yen is known as the land of the ancient Kinh Bac, famous for its ancient Quan ho (love duet) folk songs on the northern bank of Cau River. In the midst of the land of Quan ho, farmers with the soul of an artist have nurtured a famous Cheo troupe. Around 1945-1954, Hoang Mai Cheo Club was then a street art troupe.
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Meritorious Artist Than Thi Nen. |
In the period 1970-1973, it became the art troupe of the cooperative and then the non-professional art troupe of the province, gathering people who loved performing arts and were passionate about the nation's traditional folk songs. Now, Hoang Mai is the only Cheo club besides more than 90 Quan ho clubs in the whole district. Nguyen Huu Cu, 66, head of Hoang Mai 1 village and Chairman of Hoang Mai Cheo Club, said that all members can sing and perform fluently many Quan ho melodies and modern songs. However, their passion and strength are still singing and performing Cheo.
The war passed, the country entered a transitional period with many difficulties. People focused on production and economic development to rebuild the country. Hoang Mai Cheo Troupe also had a period of silence, with no more bustling nights of Cheo singing as before.
In recent years, the club has received the attention and support of the Party Committees, authorities, and cultural sectors of the province and district, with many training courses.
Among the members of Hoang Mai Cheo Club, there are the core figures that create the reputation of Hoang Mai Cheo Troupe such as People's Artist Do Thi Khoa, 82, who has "eaten and slept with Cheo" since she was an 8-year-old girl. Every year, she teaches 20 to 30 people with the desire to preserve Cheo melodies.
To make each Cheo melody, role and play successful, helping the public to absorb the beauty of the traditional art, the role of musicians in the club is indispensable. They are Doan Van Ninh, who plays the flute; Nguyen Dinh Dac and Nguyen Van Quyet, playing the zither, gourd lute, drum, and erhu.
It is rare in a village where a non-professional art club has up to four artisans honored for their tireless contributions to preserving, practicing, spreading and transmitting the precious intangible cultural heritage of the nation. These are People's Artist Do Thi Khoa; Meritorious Artists Than Thi Nen, Vu Van Hoang and Than Manh Thap. Of them, Thap was posthumously awarded the title.
