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Vi and Giam



Vi and Giam songs are sung by a wide range of people in Nghe An and Ha Tinh Provinces of north-central Vietnam. People sing them without instrumental accompaniment when they cultivate rice on the field, row a boat, make conical hats, or lull children to sleep. The lyrics of the songs have the specific dialect and linguistic idioms of the region, and the singer uses a distinctive voice.

Singing offers people a chance to relieve sorrow in their lives, to express sentiment between men and women, and to exchange feelings of love between unmarried boys and girls. Most of the songs focus on key values and virtues, including respect for parents, loyalty, care and devotion, and a passion for the maintenance of village customs and traditions.

The songs also contribute to educating traditional moral values such as filial piety with a parent and a husband and wife, as well as behavior among a family and community, calling for oppression and injustice in society. According to various scholars, researchers, collectors, and musicians, Vi-Giam folk songs developed greatly during the 17th and 18th centuries and became popular in the Nghe An and Ha Tinh communities, attracting different social classes to the performance of songs.

Participating can contribute to community cohesion as singing songs ensures equal rights, and mutual respect between communities, associations, and individuals, contributing to a sustainable society. Folk songs are 'open' spaces for all who love singing, irrespective of age, gender, occupation, or religion.

Nowadays Vi and Giam are commonly sung and performed in community cultural events and theatres. Master practitioners transmit, preserve, and promote the songs to local communities and schools through local performances and folk singing festivals.

Vi and Giam folk songs have a strong connection with the lifestyles and customs of the Nghe Tinh people. They have a powerful vitality in contemporary life and have been passed down from generation to generation reflecting truthfully changes in social life at the same time. Despite the ups and downs of history, Vi - Giam folk songs maintain their strength and appeal in modern society. The folk genre is still respected and promoted by local people in Nghe An and Ha Tinh.


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