Xoan singing and Phu Tho folklore festival opens

The Organizing Board of Hung Kings death anniversary and Hung temple festival 2012 have opened the Xoan singing and Phu Tho folklore festival.  The festival drew the participation of 12 Xoan singing clubs and 14 artistic groups from 13 districts, towns and cities in the northern midland province of Phu Tho. The event aims to honour and popularize Xoan singing which has been recognized as a world intangible heritage needing urgent protection. Over the past time, more and more Xoan singing clubs in the province have been established. Xoan singing is also being taught at schools. The province has passed policies to encourage Xoan singers, and provided training courses on this art to teachers in districts, cities and towns.  During the five-day festival, many performances will be held to serve travellers to the Hung Kings’ death anniversary and Hung temple festival 2012. Xoan singing is a vocal art of villages in the ancestral land of Phu Tho. This genre of singing is usually performed in front of the communal house during the village festivals in the spring. Based on legends and historical, archaeological and social records, researchers say Xoan singing first appeared long ago, from the time when the Hung Kings established the nation.

(Source: CPV)