| Description |
Ca Tru art/ Ca Tru. Ca Tru has many different names such as hat a dao, hat cua dinh, hat cua quyen, hat co dau, hat nha to, hat nha tro and hat ca cong..., is a type of art with a strong "chamber" character, with a smooth and high-level coordination between poetry, music and sometimes dance and performance.
Currently, Ca Tru art is present in 14 provinces and cities in Vietnam including: Hanoi, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Ho Chi Minh City.
Mao Dien commune's ca tru club currently has 9 members, gathered and introduced from people who know how to practice ca tru in other communes. Key members participating in practicing ca tru include: Ms. Ninh Thi Chinh (born in 1956, Club President); Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hai (born in 1964); Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuyen (born in 1965); Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngát (born in 1977); Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thu (born in 1967); Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi (born in 1957).
Ca Tru is a long-standing, unique art form with special significance in the Vietnamese music treasure. In the past, Ca Tru was tightly organized into guilds and guild teachers, managed by guild leaders and quan giap. Participating in a Ca Tru performance, there were at least 3 singers: "dao nuong" or "ca nuong" - singing in spoken style and beating clappers to keep the rhythm; a "kep dan" - playing a stone instrument and a "quan vien" - playing the Chau drum.
Ca Tru began to flourish in the 15th century and has had ups and downs throughout history, even at times facing the risk of being forgotten and lost. After 15 years, since UNESCO recognized Ca Tru as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Protection (in 2009), Ca Tru art in Hai Duong province in particular has initially overcome the risk of loss. However, Ca Tru still faces many difficulties and challenges to affirm its strong vitality. Preserving the art of Ca Tru is very difficult due to the nature of the profession, which is kept secret according to the traditional oral tradition of the ancient artisans. In Hai Duong province (now Hai Phong city), up to now, the traditional art of Ca Tru has not attracted the attention of young people. Maintaining teaching and performing at Ca Tru clubs also has difficulties and limitations.
The project proposes to implement measures to protect and promote the heritage of Ca Tru art through a case study of "Ca Tru Club of Mao Dien commune, Hai Phong city" for the following reasons:
(1) The Ca Tru Club of Cam Giang district was established in 2003 with 20 members, but up to now, most of the seniors have passed away, many old and weak people cannot follow.
(2) After 21 years, the club currently has 9 people participating in learning to sing, play, practice, perform and teach the art of Ca Tru. In particular, the club director has only practiced less than 10 ca tru songs, the players and the drum officials have not yet mastered them. Other members aged 50 to 60 are also learning to sing 1 to 2 songs. The next generation, the youngest member of the club, born in 1977, has also passed middle age, and has not yet found young talents, especially students in the district who are passionate about learning to sing ca tru. The Cam Giang district ca tru club is still facing the risk of fading away and being lost. |
