The person “collecting” the folk songs of Muong ethnic people

6/10/2020 - 4:01:25 PM

(HBO) - Formerly being a Secretary of the District’s Party Committee, however, he is more well-known among the people in Lac Son district as the person collecting the ancient folk songs of Muong ethnic people which are in danger of disappearing in the flow of culture and life.

Mr. Bui Van Nom (the external from the right) and his associates when contacting, studying and collecting Mo songs, the old folk songs of Muong ethnic people in Van Son commune (Lac Son).

Following the distinguished culture researcher and artisan, Mr. Bui Huy Vong, we visited Mr. Bui Van Nom, the former Secretary of Lac Son District’s Party Committee. There are full of books about history and culture he has been collecting over the years on his desk. The sound of the rhythms of Rang Thuong singing, love song singing (responsive singing) is peaceful, melodious and gentle from the small speakers mounted on the column. Mr. Bui Huy Vong says these are old songs. It is one of the peaks of Muong folk language expressed in a rustic but extremely deep and emotional voice by the elderly artists of Muong Vang region. Thanks to Mr. Nom, Lac Son district has been collecting and preserving many traditional folk songs of Muong ethnic people.

The treasure of folk tunes and ancient music that Bui Van Nom has worked so hard to gather, and the folk researchers and artisans collecting them during the past years can be considered to be "massive”. The folk songs, love songs, or Thuong Dang and Bo Met singing are all stored in the form of recordings and video recordings. These are all ancient lyrics, only the elderly people know and know how to sing them, and now they are in danger of disappearing. It is worth saying that "without the effort of Mr. Bui Van Nom, it is likely that a lot of folk songs would have completely disappeared and could not be found. Because many people have followed their ancestors to Muong Ma already. Those are extremely valuable documents,” the folklore researcher and artist, Mr. Bui Huy Vong said.

Talking with us, Mr. Bui Van Nom also says that currently the collection team has gathered, collected and saved hundreds of audio and video recordings with a duration of about 70 hours of responsive singing, in which there are songs that last from morning till night. Along with that, there are hundreds of high quality audio and video recordings of over 100 hours of folk artists’ performance. In addition, there are hundreds of old songs with lyrics and languages bearing a literary image.

3.6 Billion VND Allocated to Preserve Traditional Cultural Values of Ethnic Minorities in Lạc Sơn District

As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."

Mobilizing the power to preserve and promote the cultural heritage values

After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.