According to a survey’s preliminary results, ‘Then’ singing can be found in 12 provinces across the country, especially in the mountainous northern provinces, such as Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Can and Lang Son. In addition, ‘Then’ singing is also present in many provinces in the Northern Delta region such as Luc Ngan and Yen The districts of Bac Giang province. It is interesting that as the Tay and Nung ethnic people migrated to the Central Highlands, especially Dak Lak, they brought ‘Then’ singing to the land. Listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the ‘Then’ Singing Practice has been submitted to UNESCO to recognise it as a global intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Tuyen Quang was selected as the province to compile a dossier on ‘Then’ singing in order to seek UNESCO recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
‘Then’ singing and the “dan tinh” (gourd lute) have become a familiar image associated with religious activities and folk performances of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic people in Vietnam. Over recent years, researching, collecting and learning ‘Then’ singing remains personal but has not been a national or international project.
According to Prof. Dr. To Ngoc Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnamese Folk Arts Association, ‘Then’ singing is a highly valuable treasure on the literature and art of the Vietnamese forefathers. The practice of ‘Then’ deserves to be nominated for recognition by UNESCO, especially as the artists who mastered the cultural heritage are few and far between. Thus, the number of young artists pursuing the art is growing.
In general, the Vietnamese public know of ‘Then’ singing and the “dan tinh” (gourd lute). The practice of ‘Then’ singing is a type of cultural ritual, including music, dances, singing and poetry. Musician Dang Hoanh Loan affirmed that ‘Then’ is a special ritual of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic people in Vietnam. The ritual is a heritage that integrates many forms such as music, literature, history, and philosophy, he added.
According to preliminary research, there are 1,000 lines of verses in the ancient script, reflecting the sentiment and beliefs of many ethnic groups in Vietnam. In the ‘Then’ epic, there are many typical dances such as Sluông chau or Pay tang. It is known that, from the 50s of the last century, the Institute of Music has recorded tapes and materials on ‘Then’ singing with the participation of many music researchers and senior artisans. With such premises, the national dossier on ‘Then’ singing promises to be honored by UNESCO in the near future.
