Folk music of Vietnam

The Vietnamese traditional music is mostly different and include the following such as hat xam, quan ho, dan ca, hat chau van and ca tru among other types.

The Cheo is a type of usually satirical musical theatre, frequently comprising dance, traditional done by laborers in the northern Vietnam. This is generally done in the outdoors by the semi-amateur touring orchestras, stereotypically in a community square or the courtyard of a public building, though this is rapidly also performed at indoors and professional artists.

source of picture: cityinsight.vn 

The Xam or Hat xam (Xam singing) is a form of Vietnamese traditional music which was renowned in the North area of the Vietnam but is seen today and endangered type of folk music in Vietnam. In the dynastic period, xam was usually done by the blind musicians who wandered from city to city and earned their living by singing in popular area.

Quan ho which is an alternate singing that is renowned in Ha Bac (it is divided now Bac Ninh and Bac giang areas) and throughout Vietman, many differences exist, particularly in the Northern areas. Sunga a cappella, quan ho is improvised and it is utilized in courtship rituals.

Hat chau van or hat van is a spiritual type of music to raise spirits during festivities. This is extremely rhythmic and trance-oriented. Before the year 1986, the Vietnamese government represented hat chau van and other type of religious expression. This has been restored by artists such as Pham Van Ty.

Nhac dan toc cai bien is a current type of Vietnamese traditional music that emerged in the 50s after the establishing of the Hanoi Conservatory of Music in the year 1956. This improvement involved writing the folk music using the western musical notation, while the western rudiments of accord and instrumentation were added. Nhac dan toc cai bien is frequently assessed by purists for its watered-down approach to traditional beats.

Ca tru (also hat a dao) is renowned traditional music which is said to have begun with A Dao, a female singer who charmed the enemy with her sweet voice. Most of the singers remain female and the genre is to been restored since the Communist government loosened its repression in the 80s, this was associated with prostitution.

Ca tru, which itself has many types, it is though have been derived from the imperial palace, finally move dominant into the acts at communal houses for scholars and other members of the rich (it is the kind of Ca tru most extensively recognized). This can be regarded as the geisha-type of entertainment where women, educated in music and poetry, entertained the elite and the influential men.

Ho is found in the southern pattern of the Quan ho. This is improvisation and it is usually sung as dialogue between a man and woman. Popular themes include the love, courtship, the countryside. Ho is famous in Can Tho Vietnam.

Some of the ritual music includes the following such as Nhac le which is a ritual music and the Nhac dam ma which is funeral music.