Hanoi Xam singing - past and present

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

(Photo: Thanh Ha/USSH)

Xam is a type of folk song, a genre of folk music of Northern Vietnam, widely circulated in the provinces of the Northern Delta and the Northern Midlands with very unique forms of performance, imbued with national cultural identity. Xam appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in many provinces and cities in the North, but in Hanoi, Xam singing became a street art. With folk creativity, Ha Thanh Xam singing created different melodies such as "Xam train", "Xam cho Dong Xuan" ...

In folklore, Xam is also used to refer to people who sing Xam, who sing on the streets for a living, so Xam singing can also be considered a profession. Xam singing is also used to serve political work, and is "updated" with compositions such as "Eliminating the Ignorance", "Xam Dich Van"... Six-eight poems close to folk songs of Vietnamese poets are used by Xam singing artists to make Xam songs. Xam singing in general and Ha Thanh Xam singing in particular is a type of folk art with high mass character, widespread community propaganda and high educational value. As a product of the working people, the lyrics are very simple and sincere, Xam singing lyrics are not only rich in genres such as folk songs, proverbs, six-eight poems, but also contain profound philosophies about life's morality.

At the meeting, young people listened to artists from the Center for Research, Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Music perform many unique Xam melodies, were explained about the use of musical instruments in Xam singing, the meaning and beauty hidden in the lyrics and melodies of Xam singing... In addition, researchers also shared a lot of information about the development history as well as the meaning and value of this folk music genre in the cultural life of the nation, the connection and influence of Xam singing on other folk music genres...