TTLA: The tradition of Quan Ho folk singing (in Kinh Bac region) then and now.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen    

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: August 11, 1978

4. Place of birth: Hai Phong

5. Decision on doctoral student admission No. 3676/QD-SDH, dated October 28, 2009, by the Director of Hanoi National University.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:The tradition of Quan Ho folk singing (in Kinh Bac region), past and present.

8. Major: Ethnology Code: 62.22.70.01

9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Luong- Instructions 1,Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Sy Giao- Instructions 2

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis

The study's results yielded the following key findings:   

1. Quan Ho is not just a form of courtship singing between men and women, but above all, it is a comprehensive cultural activity linked to a series of local customs such as forming alliances and groups according to certain principles. Performers believe that Quan Ho singing is not only a form of entertainment but also carries the meaning of wishing for happiness, fertility, and development of the community. The space for Quan Ho singing includes singing in worship, singing at night, singing at festivals, and a fairly common but unconventional form of singing (i.e., impromptu or random singing) called Quan Ho with head covering or group singing.

3. Traditional Quan Ho singing, also known as Quan Ho with established customs, has strict regulations, from organization, hierarchical relationships, behavior, costumes, and food to singing techniques and the way techniques and etiquette are passed on to younger generations.

4. The new Quan Ho singing style that emerged after 1945 has been theatricalized and commercialized, while Quan Ho clubs have received leadership from the local government. Traditional Quan Ho melodies are now combined with modern vocal techniques, and the new style coexists with the old Quan Ho style still preserved in the two Quan Ho villages of Dien and Biu. It can be seen that since 1945, two forms of Quan Ho singing have coexisted, and the public has become more familiar with the new Quan Ho thanks to media and theatrical performances.

5. Preserving traditional Quan Ho or modern Quan Ho is a matter of ongoing debate. Quan Ho performers in different villages also have differing opinions. The older generation wants to maintain and popularize traditional Quan Ho, while the younger generation only knows how to sing modern Quan Ho with musical accompaniment. In reality, Quan Ho, like any other intangible cultural phenomenon, changes over time. No single "original" form of Quan Ho can endure through time. People in Quan Ho villages believe that preserving and developing Quan Ho is necessary, not only focusing on the ancient melodies but also emphasizing the maintenance of performance styles and the role of the community, as these are the core elements and the environment in which Quan Ho culture originates.

11. Practical applications:

Searching for scientific implications for Quan Ho folk culture preservation policy.

This makes a significant contribution by outlining an approach to engaging in the current discussion about Quan Ho folk singing in particular and intangible cultural heritage in general.

12. Future research directions:

Cultural heritage and cultural heritage preservation in modern life.

13. Published works related to the dissertation

1. Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen (2014)("Quan Ho folk songs of Bac Ninh: Different approaches", Journal of Folklore(5), pp.23-33.

2. Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen (2014), “Characteristics and aesthetic values ​​in traditional Quan Ho costumes”,Journal of Museum and Anthropology(3), pp. 56-67.

3. Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen (2014), “Approaching the Quan Ho folk singing tradition of Kinh Bac region from the perspective of cultural anthropology theory”, Journal of Human Resources in Social Sciences(11), pp. 30-39.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: August 11, 1978 4. Place of birth: Hai Phong city

5. Admission decision number: 3676/QD- SĐH Dated: October 28, 2009 by President of Hanoi National University

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: Quan Ho Practice (Kinh Bac region) Now and Then

8. Major: Ethnography 9. Code: 62.22.70.01

10. Supervisors: Associate Professor: Hoang Luong, Associate Professor: Le Sy Giao

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

1. Quan ho is not simply a type of singing exchange songs but first and foremost is the totality of cultural practices closely connected with local customs and traditions such asket cha, ket bonbasing on certain rules and belief of the real meaning of the quan ho singing for the development of the community. This concept is widely perceived in villages in Kinh Bac region and in the two research villages of Diem and Biu.

2. There are several types of quan ho singing: worship singing, gathering singing, and singing at lantern, and cover- head singing which is rather popular but not under any method category.

3. Traditional quan ho singing or the method category has strict rules, from the organization, hierarchy, behavior, costumes, food to ways of singing, ways of teaching methods and behaviors for youngsters.

4. New quan ho created after 1945 has been staged and commercialized where traditional quan ho tunes are accompanied by instrumentally music while the real synthetic quan ho has been preserved in the two villages of Diem and Biu. As can be seen, since after 1945 both two existing types of quan ho have been widely known among the public thanks to communication and staging.

5. Preserving new or old concerns is still a controversial issue. Quan ho practioners theyseves have different ideas. The old generation wants to continue and popularizelonelyquan ho while the youngsters find new quan ho accompanied by music easier. In reality, concerns regarding specific or any intangible cultural heritage will change with time. No original matter is timeless. Local people believe great preserving and developing quan ho are of importance, and not only quan ho tunes but also methods and the roles of the community should be highly considered since they are the core and the environment in which quan ho culture was born.

12. Practical applicability: Look for scientific suggestions for the preservation of quan ho folk songs.

It has also played an important part in pointing out the correct methods of approaching present discourses on quan ho in particular and intangible cultures in general

13. Future research directions:

Cultural heritage and preservation of cultural heritage in the modern society

14. Theses related publications:

1. Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen (2014)),“Quan Ho Folk Song: Some Approaches”,Folk Culture Review(5), pp.23-33.

2. Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen (2014)),“Characteristics and Aesthetic Values ​​of the TraditionalQuan HoCostumesMuseum & Anthropology Review(3), pp.56-67.

3. Dinh Thi Thanh Huyen (2014)),“Northern quan ho cultural practice from a cultural anthropological perspective”,Viet Nam Journal of Social Science Manpower(11), pp.30-39.