Hanoi's Xam Singing - Past and Present

The thematic seminar attracted many lecturers, researchers in linguistics and folklore, and students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

(Photo: Thanh Ha/USSH)

Xẩm is a type of folk music, a genre of folk music from Northern Vietnam, widely disseminated in the lowland and midland provinces of Northern Vietnam with very unique performance forms, deeply rooted in national cultural identity. Xẩm appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in many provinces and cities in the North, but in Hanoi, Xẩm singing became a street art. With folk creativity, Hanoi's Xẩm singing created distinctive melodies such as "Xẩm on the tram," "Xẩm at Dong Xuan Market," etc.

In folk tradition, "xẩm" is also used to refer to street singers who earn a living by singing, so "xẩm" singing can be considered a profession. "Xẩm" singing is also used to serve political purposes, becoming "topicalized" with compositions such as "Eliminating Ignorance" and "Xẩm Enemy Propaganda." The six-eight syllable poems, close to folk songs, by Vietnamese poets are used by "xẩm" artists as their songs. "Xẩm" singing in general, and Hanoi-style "xẩm" singing in particular, is a folk art form with high popular appeal, widespread community dissemination, and high educational value. As a product of the working class, the lyrics are extremely simple and sincere. "Xẩm" songs are not only rich in genre like folk songs, proverbs, and six-eight syllable poems, but also contain profound philosophical insights into life's ethics.

During the exchange, young people listened to artists from the Center for Research, Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Music present many unique Xam melodies, and learned about the use of musical instruments in Xam singing, the meaning and beauty hidden in the lyrics and melodies of Xam... In addition, researchers also shared information about the history of development as well as the meaning and value of this folk music genre in the national cultural life, the relationship and influence of Xam singing on other folk music genres...