ca trù

Friendly

The Vietnamese word "ca trù" refers to a unique and traditional art form that combines poetry and music. It has a rich history, having been preserved for over 1,000 years, and is characterized by its academic and artistic nature.

Definition and History

"Ca trù" originated around the 11th century during the Lý dynasty and was initially used in royal and religious ceremonies. It was known as "hát khuôn" at that time. Over the years, it evolved to be performed at various gatherings like banquets and weddings, and it became more widely recognized as "hát hàng hoạ." The performances typically feature a singer accompanied by a long-necked lute-like instrument and bamboo castanets, with a drummer from the audience who engages with the performance by responding to the singer's expressions.

Usage Instructions

When discussing "ca trù," you can describe it as a blend of music and poetry that requires both skill and appreciation. It is essential to understand that "ca trù" is not just about the music; it's also about the interaction between the performer and the audience.

Example

• Casual Context: "Have you ever watched a ca trù performance? It’s a beautiful blend of singing and poetry, and the interaction with the audience makes it very special."
• Formal Context: "The art of ca trù represents an invaluable part of Vietnamese culture, showcasing the intricate relationship between music and poetic expression."

Advanced Usage

In more advanced discussions, you can explore the various types of "ca trù," such as: - Hát nhà trò: Singing or dancing while performing entertaining tricks. - Hát thưởng: Singing to receive rewards from kings or officials. - Hát ả đào: Named after a famous songstress, showcasing the connection between performers and their historical significance.

Variants and Synonyms

While "ca trù" is specific, you might encounter similar traditional forms like: - Chèo: Another form of Vietnamese folk opera, often more theatrical. - Quan họ: A type of folk singing from Bắc Ninh province.

Different Meanings

In some contexts, "ca trù" can refer to the act of performing or reciting music and poetry, highlighting its dual nature as both art and practice.

Cultural Significance

"Ca trù" is considered a valuable cultural heritage of Vietnam, and many poets and musicians have contributed to its repertoire. Notable figures in its history include poets like Chu Mạnh Trinh and Nguyễn Công Trứ.

Modern Revival

Despite facing decline during the French colonial period, "ca trù" has seen a resurgence in recent years, with efforts to revive this art form and share it with broader audiences, both domestically and internationally.

Academic

1. Ca Trù - an original art performance of academic character - has been preserved for the past 10 centuries.To appreciate Ca Trù is to appreciate poetry and music. Ca Trù appeared officially under Nhà Hậu Lý (11th century). First, it served royal and religious rituals and was called Hát Khuôn. Later, it was used in banquets, weddings, friendly meetings... and called Hát Hàng Hoạ Ca Trù had bamboo castanets as principal+instrument. By beating time on tomtoms, spectators accompanied and praised the singer. Ca Trù was also called Hát Nhà Trò (singing or dancing while pulling funny tricks), Hát Thưởng (Singing to be rewarded by king or mandarins), Hát Cửa Quyền (singing in royal palaces), Hát Cửa Đình (singing for religious rituals), Hát ả đào (name of a famous songstress in the Lý times).... Under the French domination, Ca Trù declined. Nowadays, it is restored as a type of original popular art
2. What is a Ca Trù declamation? Originally, Ca Trù was like chèo singing and served at ceremonies and festivals in the northern delta. When these ceremonies and festivals were no longer held, Ca Trù became a type of chamber music serving as intellectual food for those who would like to enjoy music and poetry
3. Music and poetry are the basis of Ca Trù and decide which ensemble of principal instruments, musicians and subordinate instruments should provide the accompaniment. Ca Trù has many melodies that are sung differently, but the chief is singing-reciting: A singer and a musician playing a long-necked lute-like instrument. Also taking part is a member of the audience who expresses his appreciation and response by beating a drum. A rather special description fits the songstress of former days: "Fine clothes, velvet turban, delicate bobtailed hair, a moon-shaped face, knife-sharp eyes, refined manners, with sweet words, mild as flowers, transparent as snow, her beauty and charm are second only to Kim Vân Kiều's..." To perform as expected, the+singer must practise very hard and know many tunes. A male musician accompanies the singer. He too practises hard so as to be in perfect harmony with the singer. The music accompaniment consists of a "phách" - a bamboo instrument beaten with two wooden sticks - and "trống chầu" - a drum beaten by a member of the audience in appreciation or comment. Of course, this member of the audience is very experienced at beating the drum - a single beat, three or five successive beats and nine beats at the climax to be "in tune" with the lute. A timely response by the drummer encourages the singer who knows that she has met someone who both understands and appreciates her talent. These three instruments: The lute, the "phách" and the "trống chầu" are inseparable. Being a subordinate+instrument, the drum is essential as a bridge between the performer and audience. The harmonious combination of the lute, the "phách" and the+human voice makes it a perfect performance as praised in these lines by Vũ Hoàng Chương: Sweet phach, passionate lute mild smoke cushion. The sad voice lingers on in the middle of night. To enjoy Ca Trù is to enjoy both music and singing. The art of Ca Trù is both high and original. Its sound range originates from that of the lullaby in the Red River delta. Ca Trù - with water puppetry - is+indigenous to Vietnam. It is a valuable legacy for Vietnamese culture
4. Many talented poets like Chu Mạnh Trinh, Nguyễn Công Trứ, Tú Xương, Dương Khuê and Tản Đà composed excellent tunes, extraordinarily pure and high-falutin to charm the audience.+At the beginning of the 20th century, before the 1945, there were many places where Ca Trù was performed: Khâm Thiên, Bồ Đề, Lộ Khê (Hanoi); Quan Ba Mau, Quỳnh Cư (Hải Phòng) and throughout Bắc Ninh, Hải Dương and Nam Định provinces. But then, Ca Trù became Cô Đầu - performed by a sing-song girl or type of geisha. The art of Ca Trù was forgotten because it was thought to be a product of the ruling+class; the singers whores and the audience no more than hedonists. Singers abandoned their careers because of this bias and inhabitants of the Khâm Thiên area even left their homes because of it. Before 1976, musician Nguyễn Xuân Khoát was the only Vietnamese musicologist to study Ca Trù. Ca Trù artists are still rare now, but attention is being given their art. Lộ Khê village, Phu Do (in Hà Nội) is considered the cradle of Ca Trù and on the 6th of the 4th lunar month and the 13th of the tenth lunar month each year, members of the Ca Trù circle hold initiator-worshipping celebrations Artists young and old sing the Ca Trù, always beginning with two pieces: Non Mai and Hồng Hạnh.+The artist who deserves most praise for the revival and world-wide spread of Ca Trù is Doctor-Professor Trần Văn Khệ He has recorded Ca Trù, Quan Họ and chèo songs and declamations and sent them to France for the UNESCO Musical Committee to study. As a result, many recordings of Ca Trù and Quan Họ songs have been made. The support of eminent artist Quách Thị Hồ has made the recordings a great success. All the original features of Ca Trù are prominent, and Hồ was evaluated by the Musical+Committee and awarded with an honorary commendation with these lines: "We thank you for your contribution to the keeping of an original, traditional art legacy of Vietnam and an exceptional delicacy of mankind". Since then, Vietnam has sent a delegation to an Asian tribute held in the People's Democratic Republic of Korea where Ho^`'s recordings were among the most honoured. A Ca Trù club has been established in Hà Nội, a place for all of Vietnam's excellent Ca Trù artists. It not only revives an old+musical form but attracts foreign musicologists: American, English, German and Japanese. American researcher Mirada Krenzen has written a persuasive study, Vietnam's Traditional Music Process. It was presented at a seminar to discuss Vietnam's traditional music in Hà Nội in 1994. Krenzen possesses a deep knowledge of Ca Trù and has gained the admiration of Vietnamese musicologists. She wrote: "Ca Trù seems to have a magic power, a fermented substance to charm the listeners. Once I understood Ca Trù, I understood the Vietnamese people better". It is possible that Ca Trù is a patch of the Vietnamese soul that Krenzen has understood? ()