Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented in
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
with subtitles in Arabic,
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Thai
and Spanish.
Âu Lạc (Vietnam)
is a nation with
a long-standing
traditional culture.
Aulacese musical
heritage is bountiful;
since ancient times,
many soul-stirring musical instruments
have been created with
diverse sounds like those
of the copper drum,
gong, lithophone,
bamboo xylophone,
cymbals, and panpipe.
In 2003, Elegant Music,
a style of Huế royal court
music, was recognized
by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
as an intangible cultural
heritage of the world.
Âu Lạc’s music represents
the unique features of
each region, for example,
Quan Họ folksongs
in the north,
Huế tunes in the central,
and modern folk opera
in the south.
In addition, there are many
other forms of music,
including hò,
lý, ceremonial songs,
Aulacese classical theatre,
chèo traditional opera,
hồ quảng opera,
and so on.
Indeed, the essence of music is imbued
in the hearts of people
in this beautiful country,
and has been cultivated
until this day.
In a gathering
with a small group of
our Association members
some years past,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
was inspired to
spontaneously compose
and sing in the xẩm style
a poem she had written in
her late 20s in Germany.
The poem was originally
written in English which
the poet herself
translated into Aulacese
(Vietnamese).
We now invite you
to enjoy an excerpt
of the xẩm singing
“We Don't Live More
Than One Hundred Years!”
composed and sung
by Supreme Master
Ching Hai.
SORRY darling
if I could wait no more,
I am not a nun,
and never want to be so.
You don’t wish
to share your life,
So let me go on my way!
I know you think I am crazy,
But what difference
will that be?
I live my life as I please
No matter what others think.
Everyone has
different things!
Quan Họ is an Aulacese
ancient folk song genre
which is very popular
in the delta region
of northern Âu Lạc.
This singing style
expresses
sweet sentiments;
it is rich in tunes and
closely associated with
activities taking place
at the courtyard
in the temple
or communal house,
by the banyan tree
or river pier.
Quan Họ’s content often
portrays the importance
of kindness and loyalty
in all relations in the
family and community.
When in love, it matters
not how much hardship
lovers must go through,
they remain devoted
to each other.
“Having tied an earthly bond,
we’d tread up hill
and down dale,
all for devotion and love.”
We now invite you
to enjoy the song
“If You Go Downstream,”
a Quan Họ folk tune
from Bắc Ninh,
northern Âu Lạc,
performed by Thúy Hường.
Having tied an earthly bond,
we’d tread up hill
and down dale,
all for devotion and love.
If you go downstream,
may I send a few words?
Please ask Hai to board
a boat and sail eastward.
Minding not the hardships
I tread up hill,
then down dale.
O Hai!
Minding not the hardships
I tread up hill,
then down dale.
Treading up hill
and down dale,
I wouldn’t mind at all.
If we love each other,
knock on the door.
Knock on the door
and greet, O Ba!
If we love each other,
knock on the door.
Knock on the door
and greet.
I’m a young woman,
a charming maiden.
If we love each other,
it matters not if we
don a hat or an umbrella.
O Tư,
if we love each other,
it matters not if we
don a hat or an umbrella.
If we aren’t meant
for each other,
I’ll accept my fate
uncomplainingly.
But if we love each other,
it matters not
if we wear stone or gold.
O Năm,
if we love each other,
it matters not
if we wear stone or gold.
Butterflies make a flower
garden more colorful;
flowers give butterflies
more joy.
Love for one another
and for nature
weave the melodies
of peace and happiness.
“Here’s a fragrant flower
A playful butterfly
wanders about”
We now invite you to
enjoy “Fragrant Flower,
Playful Butterfly,”
a folk tune from
northern Âu Lạc,
with vocal performance
by Minh Lý.
Here’s a fragrant flower
A playful butterfly
wanders about
A playful butterfly
wanders about
looking for love
looking for love
A butterfly hovers about
A butterfly wanders
and flies around
We’re in love
you offer your shirt
you offer your shirt
as a token of affection
as a token of affection
Our shirts,
we offer each other
Our shirts,
we offer each other
The water is emerald clear
A fish dives happily
A fish swims happily
looking for love
looking for love
A fish dives and swims
A fish swims
and swims about
A fish dives and swims
A fish swims
and swims about
“Don’t doubt me
just because
I have many friends.
Although
I have many friends,
I’m still waiting
for a good one.”
“Having Charm Still,”
a Quan Họ folk song
from northern Âu Lạc,
will be presented today
by Mai Phương
and Duy Thuận.
Please enjoy.
When you still have charm,
many wait upon you,
but when the charm
is gone,
you walk alone.
Are you available?
I’m still available.
I’m not yet betrothed.
And I have no one.
O joyous festival…
When you have charm,
you sit under the pine tree.
But when the charm
is gone,
you sit by the rose bush
picking flowers.
If you love me,
please come by my house,
so my parents
can know about you,
and our wedding date
can be chosen.
O joyous festival…
When you still have charm,
many wait upon you,
but when the charm
is gone,
you walk alone.
Are you available?
I’m still available.
I’m not yet betrothed.
And I have no one.
O joyous festival…
When you still have charm,
you sell
blossoming flowers.
But when the charm
is gone,
you sit and wait
under the banyan tree.
Don’t doubt me
just because
I have many friends.
Although
I have many friends,
I’m still waiting
for a good one.
O joyous festival…
Supreme Master Ching Hai
has lovingly
sent gifts to the artists
contributing to
the Aulacese
folk music program
on Supreme Master
Television.
Following are the sharing
of thoughts and words
of thanks to Master.
Singer Mai Phương,
who performed
the Quan Họ song
“Having Charm Still”:
I didn’t expect that
someone from very faraway
and very noble like
Master Ching Hai
would think of me.
I’m very happy,
very touched
and very surprised
when Master has that
deep affection for me.
That is the
greatest affinity
between Master and me.
I thank Master Ching Hai
very much and
will always keep Master
in my heart.
I’m Mai Phương.
Now, I’d like to dedicate
an ancient Quan Họ song
entitled
“Making Acquaintance Lý.”
It is a very affectionate
song, very much like
my getting to know
Master Ching Hai today.
A hundred rivers
arrive at one bank.
If I love you not,
why would I be here?
O beloved!
If I love you not,
why would I be here?
We’re bound together
without string.
You and I
drain not our glasses,
why are we inebriated?
O beloved!
You and I
drain not our glasses,
why are we inebriated?
Here we meet each other,
please enjoy your tea
and betels,
and tie our love thread.
O beloved!
Please enjoy your tea
and betels,
and tie our love thread.
I’m very afraid
to tie our love thread.
I’m afraid that your love
has yet to blossom
but already set to fade.
O beloved!
I’m afraid that your love
is quick to blossom,
yet soon to fade.
Who knows
the humor of the heart?
Devoted to our marriage,
we’re determined
to stay in love.
O beloved!
Devoted to our marriage,
we’re determined
to stay in love.
It’s the first time
I learned of
Master Ching Hai.
I’m truly touched by
what Master has done
for the world.
I very much appreciate
and revere Master.
I hope that in my life,
I will meet Master
in person at least once,
and sing for Master.
I’d like to wish Master
good health and success.
I’m very grateful to Master.
Singer Minh Lý,
who performed the song
“Fragrant Flower,
Playful Butterfly”:
I’d like to send
Supreme Master Ching Hai
my most
respectful greetings.
Although
I haven’t yet met
Supreme Master Ching Hai,
I truly have great respect
for a lady who is
so generous and
compassionate.
Seeing Master’s
humanitarian works,
I feel so touched.
If all the Aulacese,
if everyone in the world,
thinks a little
like Master does,
then this life will be
much more beautiful.
Her compassion is too great,
it’s indescribable.
Deep within,
I esteem Master so much.
Nothing is happier than
being able to sing
for the viewers of
Supreme Master Television.
I can say that
it is my greatest honor,
and perhaps is a great
impression unforgettable
in my artistic career.
May Supreme Master
Ching Hai
always be in good health.
My sincere gratitude
to Master.
Singer Thúy Hường,
who has participated
before in Aulacese
folk music programs
on Supreme Master
Television, also received
gifts and well-wishes
from
Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Thank you for watching
today’s program on
northern Aulacese
folk music genres.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television for other
folk music programs
in future broadcasts;
coming up next
is Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
So long for now.