Festival celebrates 15 years of UNESCO-recognised Quan ho singing

More than 700 singers from 24 Quan ho (love duet) singing villages in the northern province of Bac Ninh on November 15 gathered at the first-ever Quan ho village festival, an event held to mark the 15th anniversary of the UNESCO’s recognition of the folk singing as an intangible cultural heritage element of humanity.

They honoured the heritage through traditional unaccompanied duets, solo performances, and group singing.

The festival aimed at evaluating the villages’ contributions to preserving the folk songs over the recent past while creating an opportunity for local singers to meet and exchange experiences in practicing the heritage in the community.

According to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Xuan Trung, Quan ho has evolved beyond its traditional village boundaries to become a vibrant force in the community's spiritual and economic life.

The art form has transformed from village performances to diverse stages, reaching audiences both domestically and internationally.

Originally, Quan ho singing was only found on the southern bank of the Cau river in Bac Ninh province. However, due to its significant influence, it spread to neighbouring areas on the northern bank of the Cau river in Bac Giang province. The Cau river is also known as the Quan ho river.

There are opinions suggesting that Quan ho dates back to the 11th century, while others believe it originated in the 17th century. All of them emphasise the significant value of the intangible cultural heritage of Quan ho. This art form is considered the core of the culture of the Kinh Bac region, with a history of thousands of years of civilisation.

Compared to other forms of folk art such as "hat xoan", "hat gheo", "hat ca tru", "hat vi dam", "tuong", and "cai luong", Quan ho singing has existed the longest, with a lifespan of thousands of years.

Quan ho is a form of folk singing characterised by a duet format. The male singers, known as "lien anh", wear traditional attire of folded scarves and "the", shirts, while the female singers, known as "lien chi", don elegant dresses and round hats made from palm leaves with long silk straps. They sing together in pairs, delivering simple and soulful verses in a traditional style that does not require musical accompaniment yet remains melodious.

Most Quan ho songs follow the verse form of "luc bat" or its variations, and there are also songs in prose form. Up to now, at least 300 melodies of Quan ho have been notated, consisting of verses and poems, primarily in the "luc bat" form, passed down by Quan ho artists to collectors.

Quan ho was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage element of humanity in 2009.

Every year, as spring arrives, people from Quan ho villages in the Kinh Bac region, including both Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, return to their hometowns to join various local festivals, such as temple and pagoda ones. These festivals are incredibly unique because they have been closely associated with the tradition of Quan ho singing for generations./.