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As soon as the Quang Trung Museum was put into operation, a martial arts music troupe was formed with the aim at preserving and promoting the values of Tay Son wardrum and the quintessence of Tay Son traditional martial arts. The troupe has reaped many achievements and made a great impression on a majority of audience over 30 years.
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The Tay Son martial arts music troupe often performs 500 shows each year. Photo H.T |
The wardrum set is comprised of 12 drums at various sizes and tones. The orchestra of the wardrum playing is also composed of some additional musical instruments such as chau drum – a big drum placed on a 3-legged cask which is performed by the audience to give their comments on the performances as an encouragement for the artists to perform better, gongs, sona – a double reed wind instrument with a flaring metal bell, bamboo tocsins, cymbals.
The combination of the harmonious instruments produces a resounding effect. Female drummer Nguyen Thi Thuan, who joined the troupe at its very first early days, has improved her skills since then and mastered the performance of wardrums.
She is so excellent that she is now able to perform the hiding intangible quintessence of Tay Son wardrums, partly promoting unique cultural character of the land of martial arts. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is considering giving her the “People’s artisan” title as the recognition of her devotion to the performing art of wardrum.
“Domestic and foreign musical experts who study about Tay Son wardrum all agree that they can really enjoy with their own eyes and their own ears the performance with the incomparable skills of the drummer at nowhere rather than at Quang Trung museum,” said the instrumentalist Nguyen Xuan Ho, leader of Tay Son martial arts music troupe.
To preserve the unique traditional cultural heritage, Quang Trung Museum invited the meritorious artist Dao Duy Kien to write the musical theory for the Tay Son wardrum basing on the traditional music.
The theory is used as teaching material for next generations of drummers. The troupe is training 2 young female performers – Phan Thi Mai and Duong Thi Huong now. The museum submitted a file to Binh Dinh Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to claim its copyright of popularizing the art of Tay Son wardrum last year.
The instrumentalists of the troupe play the orchestra of wardrums as their main solo performance or as background music for Tay Son-styled martial arts performances. The museum invited famous martial arts masters to teach the troupe’s artists the best techniques of Tay Son-styled martial arts.
The troupe also made their efforts to collect and preserve the traditional martial arts techniques which are at high risks of being lost. Meanwhile, they opened martial arts training classes at the Quang Trung Museum for students, aiming to establish a crowding force of collaborators.
Despite its small staff, the troupe often performs more than 500 shows annually, serving high-ranking delegates, domestic and foreign visitors.
The troupe also participated in various festivals in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, Hue, Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Phu Tho and Gia Lai, let alone a tour around Myanmar at the invitation of the country.
The troupe was honored by the Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation and Binh Dinh Province People’s Committee for its excellent achievements in the cause of culture, sports and tourism.
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