CULTURAL SOUNDS: THE SPIRIT OF VIETNAM

    • CD4
    • QUAN HỌ BẮC NINH IN THE NORTH VIETNAM
    • Quan họ,a special alternate singing between men and women, was once only available in Kinh Bắc region in northern Vietnam. Traditional Quan họ was previously the folk art of forty-nine villages in Kinh Bắc, which is presently Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang provinces.Quan họ singing has been associated with twining occasions in the past. Quan họ is often sung between two groups, called bọn Quan họ, who are living in two different villages and wanting to strike up friendship with each other. During annual festivals or their free time, the Quan họ people sing to satisfy their demand for exchanging art. They sing throughout the day and night. The twining relationship between the Quan họ performers as artistic and intimate friends has continued from forefathers to descendants; thus, they are never allowed to marry each other. Quan họ is one of the few musical forms that has alternate singing between men and women and lyrical love-exchange lyrics but has no the function of love-exchange in daily life as other love-exchange folksongs.
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Nevertheless, Quan họ is sung not only by twinning Quan họ people but also by others from other places. People can sing Quan họ at many locations; for example, they can perform it at houses at night on normal days, at temples on festivals, on hills, in the forest, along the street, at ponds, or on boat.In Quan họ singing, the male group is called liền anh, and the female group is called liền chị. Traditional Quan họ is pair singing without accompaniment. One of the pair is in charge of singing, leading the tune while the other sings as a secondary part. These two people have to be selected and trained to be in perfect harmony at the same timbre. In addition to pair singing, there is group singing, which is performed on congratulatoory and worshipping occasions. The male group sings in response to the female one. Four typical singing techniques of Quan họ are resonant, ringing, restrained, and staccato.
SOUND LIST
1 Mời nước (treating a cup of tea)
Performers: Nguyễn Long Biên, Nguyễn Văn Bản Time of audio-recording: 1996
03'09" PLAY
2 Mời trầu(Treating betel leaves and areca nuts)
Performers: Nguyễn Thị Sang, Nguyễn Thị Thềm Time of audio-recording: 1996
01'59" PLAY
3 Đôi bên bác mẹ cùng già (two mothers become old)
Performers: Lê Cẩn, Xuân Trường Time of audio-recording: 1996
02'16" PLAY
4 Anh Hai yểu điệu dịu dàng (Mr. Hai graceful and tender)
Performers:Nguyễn Thị Đại, Nguyễn Thị Sáu Time of audio-recording: 1996
03'43" PLAY
5 Thuyền thúng (the basket boat)
Performers:Lê Cẩn, Xuân Trường Time of audio-recording: 1996
02'24" PLAY
6 Ngồi tựa mạn thuyền (sitting against the boat side)
Performers:Nguyễn Thị Đại, Nguyễn Thị Sáu Time of audio-recording: 1996
03'29" PLAY
7 Ông tơ hồng (matchmaker)
Performers:Nguyễn Công Dứa, Nguyễn Công Lụt Time of audio-recording: 1996
04'35" PLAY
8 Giăng già (old moon)
Performers:Minh Phức, Lệ Ngải Time of audio-recording: 1996
06'15" PLAY
9 Lòng vẫn đợi chờ (still waiting)
Performers:Lệ Ngải, Minh Phức Time of audio-recording: 1996
04'49" PLAY
10 Bâng khuâng nhớ cảnh nhớ người (dazed with the feeling of missing a person and scenery)
Performers: Lê Cẩn, Xuân Trường Time of audio-recording: 1996
05'06" PLAY
11 Nguyệt gác mái đình (the moon lightens the community house)
Performers:Lệ Ngải, Minh Phức Time of audio-recording: 1996
04'33" PLAY
12 Năm cung năm giọng (five tunes, five melodies)
Performers:Nguyễn Thị Đại, Nguyễn Thị Sáu Time of audio-recording: 1996
04'56" PLAY
13 Đôi quang đòn gánh (yoke)
Performers:Nguyễn Thị Đại, Nguyễn Thị Sáu Time of audio-recording: 1996
03'13" PLAY
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