Chu Lâm Anh

Museum of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanity, Vietnam National University, Vietnam

Quan họ folk song is a traditional folk-art form, and at the same time a type of intangible cultural heritage which is popular in the cultural sub-region of Kinh Bắc in the cultural space of the Red River Delta (Northern Vietnam). Since being listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009, quan họ has become increasingly popular and developed. Quan họ with familiar lyrics and music is used by many communities not only in the north of Vietnam, but also in many communities throughout the country for various purposes and events. Quan họ has undergone many changes in performance space and time, and especially in the way it is performed. Traditionally, it is performed as a challenge-and-response singing/exchange song between bọn nam (group of males) and bọn nữ (group of females) but more recently it has become group performance (male and female), some of the performances are contributed accompanying dance; from performing in the rural space without accompaniment to performing on stage with accompaniment. In my presentation, I will focus on the changes in quan họ performance that has occurred at specific times from before 1945 to the present and highlight the impacts of these changes on the preservation of a traditional form of music and performance, and the use of this living intangible heritage in today's society.