ABOUT CA TRU SINGING

Address

Dong Da Distric, Ha Noi, VN.

Mobile

0933.150.888

Email

vodecam@gmail.com

CA TRU SINGING
A Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Culture Heritage

In October, 2009, Vietnamese ceremonial singing, or Ca trù, was officially recognized by UNESCO as a world intangible cultural heritage in need of preservation. Ca tru is one of the most uniquely Vietnamese genres of folk music in the Vietnamese treasury of traditional music. Its origin and history remain controversial today.

Scholars trace its origins back to a type of female singing known as hat a dao, which was widely performed as an expression of worship during the Ly dynasty (1010-1225). As time goes by, it gradually became popular and eventually changed to alternative name, ca tru (singing for reward).

The 15th century marked Ca trù’s heyday as a musical genre. Depending on the locale, Ca tru singing is referred to as hát ả đào, hát cửa đình, hát cửa quyền, hát cô đầu, hát nhà tơ, hát nhà trò or hát ca công. Ca trù ranks 20th among the world’s most unique vocal methods, after hát ngậm, a vocal method that allows the singer to close their mouth while singing but still involves vocal articulation, which is in contrast to opera singing, where the singer’s mouth must open wider when singing high notes. In the 15th century, Ca trù spread throughout northern Vietnam. Ca tru artists might be called to celebrate a son’s birth, or the signing of a contract. Ca tru singers were outside the caste system, so they could entertain the noblest clients.

ABOUT CA TRU SINGING

CA TRU SINGING
A Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Culture Heritage

In October, 2009, Vietnamese ceremonial singing, or Ca trù, was officially recognized by UNESCO as a world intangible cultural heritage in need of preservation. Ca tru is one of the most uniquely Vietnamese genres of folk music in the Vietnamese treasury of traditional music. Its origin and history remain controversial today.

Scholars trace its origins back to a type of female singing known as hat a dao, which was widely performed as an expression of worship during the Ly dynasty (1010-1225). As time goes by, it gradually became popular and eventually changed to alternative name, ca tru (singing for reward).

The 15th century marked Ca trù’s heyday as a musical genre. Depending on the locale, Ca tru singing is referred to as hát ả đào, hát cửa đình, hát cửa quyền, hát cô đầu, hát nhà tơ, hát nhà trò or hát ca công. Ca trù ranks 20th among the world’s most unique vocal methods, after hát ngậm, a vocal method that allows the singer to close their mouth while singing but still involves vocal articulation, which is in contrast to opera singing, where the singer’s mouth must open wider when singing high notes. In the 15th century, Ca trù spread throughout northern Vietnam. Ca tru artists might be called to celebrate a son’s birth, or the signing of a contract. Ca tru singers were outside the caste system, so they could entertain the noblest clients.

Ca tru, literally translates as “tally card songs.” This refers to the bamboo cards men bought when they visited ca tru inns where this music was most often performed in the past. Men would give the bamboo cards they purchased to the woman of choice after her performance and she would collect money based upon how many cards given.

Scholar-bureaucrats and other members of the elite most enjoyed this genre. They often visited these inns to be entertained by the talented young women, who did not only sing, but with their knowledge of poetry and the arts could strike up a witty conversation along with serving food and drink. Besides these inns, ca tru was also commonly performed in communal houses or private homes.

The most common form of Ca trù involves only three performers: the female vocalist, a lute player and a spectator (who also takes part in the performance). Sometimes dance is also performed at the same time.

The female singer provides the vocals whilst playing her phach- two wooden sticks beaten together on a small bamboo bar, which serves as the percussion. Unlike a normal stick, phach is split into two parts to create the sounds of the clicks and clacks. Phach is considered the singer’s second voice.

The singer or Đào nương, is accompanied by a man who plays the đàn đáy, or 3 string plucked lute made from sycamore wood which is used exclusively for Ca trù. Thanks to the long neck, this musical instrument can provide a gravelly, deep, and mysterious sound.

The final participant is the spectator, who is often a scholar or connoisseur of the art and who strikes a trống chầu, or praise drum, in praise or disapproval of the singer’s performance, usually with every passage of the song. The praise drum is made from buffalo skin and jackfruit wood, mounted on a stick, creating its typical sound.

The way in which artist strikes the drum shows whether he approves or disapproves of the performance, but he always does it according to the beat provided by the vocalists’ phách percussion.

Unlike modern music, Ca trù has its own system of music notation and space, and is applied by the phach. Đào nương or the Ca trù’s singer, needs to learn how to use the phach properly before even learning the vocal method. Another unique feature of Ca tru is that its lyrics are poems, and could fit any type of poem, long or short. In ancient times, officials or poets would invite the Đào nương to come to perform at home and ask the Ca tru band to use their poems for the lyrics. They could also invite friends to enjoy the Dao nuong’s voice and comment on the melody. It takes a beginner 3 to 10 year to master the vocal and phach techniques.

The most difficult part of Ca tru is the singing and using the phach, to accompany the singing, many people can mimic some Ca tru’s tunes but they can’t fake knowledge of how to use phach. The phach is the backbone of the singer.

Ca tru has become more well-known since it was recognized as one of the items of world intangible cultural heritage. Not only the young Vietnamese but also many foreigners are attracted to the unique rhythms and singing method of Ca tru.