Ca tru, a Vietnamese musical genre that flourished in the first half of the 20th century, has been accorded UNESCO recognition as a ‘world cultural heritage.’

Vietnam’s ca tru dossier was one of 15 considered by UNESCO this week for recognition as a ‘world cultural heritage’ at its annual meeting on heritage preservation, this year in Abu Dhabi. Twelve nominations were approved. In addition to ca tru, the newly chosen ‘cultural heritages’ include Vietnam’s Quan Ho folk singing tradition.

UNESCO’s recognition of the centuries-old musical form is the culmination of a four year campaign which united Vietnamese and foreign scholars and received enthusiastic Government backing.

Of 15 submissions from 9 countries sent to UNESCO, 12 were recognised.

Vietnam submitted its petition on behalf of ca tru to UNESCO in March 2009. Once the UN agency had verified the documents, it sent researchers to verify that the ca tru tradition is in fact sustained by communities in Vietnam. These experts from the International Traditional Music Council confirmed commitment by 22 ca tru music clubs to protect their art.

To date Vietnam has had four such “intangibles” recognised by UNESCO. They are the Hue city royal court music, the gong area Central Highlands, the Quan Ho folk songs and now the Ca Tru traditional songs.

Ca tru singing grew out of folk festivals in the countryside of northern Vietnam where dao nuong, female artists would sing. The troupe comprised two or three singers with a male accompanist. The women would take turns to sing songs based on well-known poems.

By the late 19^th century, the style had become popular at high class cabarets and wine shops in Hanoi. The girls who performed in these places acquired a reputation for style and easy virtue – though their lives were hard. After the Vietnamese revolution succeeded in driving the French from the capital, however, the ca tru venues were closed and the singers “rehabilitated”.

Now, as times changes, ca tru singing is once more regarded as a pure and classical art form.

PV