Quan ho artisans serve ancient songs via mobile
Singing quan ho through mobile phones has become a service in the northern province of Bac Ninh, the home of quan ho (love duet). Many elderly quan ho singers equip themselves with mobile phones to serve customers.
Visiting Gieng, which is called the cradle of ancient quan ho in Bac Ninh, one sees that most old quan ho singers have mobile phones. According to locals, when Mrs. Nhi, one of several remaining quan ho artisans who can sing ancient quan ho songs, returned home from an overseas performance tour, performing ancient quan ho via mobile phone service appeared.
Tran Van Quyen, Chairman of the Hoa Dinh Quan Ho Club in Bac Ninh, said this service appears to be based on the need of overseas Vietnamese, travelers and those who are keen on quan ho. His club has 15 members, all of them quan ho craftsmen over 70 years old. They joined the club to preserve ancient quan ho melodies and transfer them to the next generation.
According to Quyen, listeners only need to call club members’ mobile phones in order to enjoy ancient quan ho songs and then pay as they wish to the club’s bank account.
Dang Van Tuc, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh Province, said the service is a useful way to market Bac Ninh quan ho. “We want to turn Bac Ninh quan ho into an Unesco intangible cultural heritage. To develop this service, we plan to provide each quan ho craftsman with a mobile phone,” he said.
