Sowing the sound of the ancient zither in the land of martial arts

Fate with the land of Martial Arts

Born in 1980 in Bac Lieu (now Ca Mau province) - where Southern amateur music (recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in 2013) has become deeply rooted in the spiritual life of the people - Nguyen Thi Hoa Diem was captivated by the sound of the guzheng. This is an ancient Chinese instrument with a clear, melodious sound like the soul's narrative.

“Before that, I had studied the Vietnamese zither for a few months but stopped due to work. Later, I met Ms. Lien Tran - a zither teacher in Ho Chi Minh City. The first time I heard the sound of the zither, I was fascinated. From then on, I studied and became attached to the zither as if it were a predestined relationship,” Ms. Diem recounted.

After 7 years of studying the zither, Ms. Diem used to teach at several music classes in Ho Chi Minh City. 5 years ago, during a visit to Binh Dinh (now Gia Lai province) to visit a friend, she was captivated by the scenery and people there, so she decided to stay in An Nhon (old) to begin her journey of spreading the strange sound of the instrument in the land of Vo.

At first, the class teaching the guzheng in An Nhon surprised many people, because the guzheng is a Chinese musical instrument, while the Vo land is famous for the art of hát bội, bài chòi, and traditional ceremonial music. Ms. Diem confided: “At first, no one attended the class because this musical instrument was still unfamiliar to many people. But I believe that if I persevere, I will find like-minded people.”

The first class opened in An Nhon with only 2-3 students. Through quiet but joyful lessons, gradually, more and more people who love traditional music came to learn.

“The Vietnamese zither and the Chinese zither are both traditional instruments of each nation, each with its own unique characteristics. I teach the instrument using an inspirational method, guiding students to feel the beauty of the zither, learn music theory, and familiarize themselves with each string and key before practicing techniques. From there, I help students, even beginners, to be able to play the zither after a short time,” said Ms. Diem.

The sound of the ancient zither in the heart of the coastal city

In mid-July, Ms. Diem opened another class teaching guzheng in Quy Nhon with 7 students, mostly female students, office workers, and freelancers. The classroom space at 22 Pham Ho (Quy Nhon Nam Ward, Gia Lai Province) looks simple, with just a few guzheng instruments mounted on stands, a small board and a music theory clipboard, but it always resounds with cheerful laughter and the melodious, clear sound of the instruments every Friday morning.

Ms. Le Thi Kim Yen (in Phu Cat commune), who works freelance and attends a traditional folk music class in Quy Nhon, said: “I heard about traditional folk music online and was attracted to it. When I learned that Ms. Diem opened a class, I signed up right away. Each class is a way for my soul to relax.”

Working in an office and studying the guzheng for more than a month, Ms. Ngo Thi Huong (in Quy Nhon ward) confided: “The pressure of work often makes my mind tense. But when I sit next to the guzheng, plucking a few notes on each key, I feel my mind is at ease, and my worries seem to disappear.”

Not only teaching the instrument, Ms. Diem also tells students about the history of the zither, about Eastern culture, and explores the beauty of tranquility in life. In each lesson, she explains each note, the technique of plucking the strings, then lets students feel the music themselves, sometimes playing along with a section of the song, both to practice their fingers and to nurture their emotions to sublimate each note.

Ms. Diem confided: “Gu Tranh is not only a musical instrument, but also a means for people to find peace in their hearts. The class is also a place to connect, for everyone to find elegance in the midst of a busy life.”

Currently, Ms. Diem also connects with some pagodas to organize small performances, introducing ancient paintings as a beautiful oriental culture in the hospitable land of Vo.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, the sound of the ancient zither resounds from the small classroom of teacher Hoa Diem as if telling someone to stop, listen and live slowly. From the southernmost river region of the Fatherland, Ms. Diem brought the ancient zither sound, silently sowing gentle sounds into the souls of the people of Vo land like a quiet harmony...

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/geo-tieng-dan-co-tranh-tren-dat-vo-post563149.html