Interesting cross between 2 Vietnamese Genres

[DavidNguyen]

So I was searching on youtube for Ca Tru music, and I found a video that combines Ca Tru with Hat Van. It has the Phach clappers and singing of Ca Tru music, but it uses a Dan Nguyet instead of a Dan Day, and the Trong Chau praise drummer also uses a woodblock and small gong, like the the Drummer in Hat Van usually uses. So with the use of a Dan Nguyen and Hat Van percussion, but with Ca Tru singing style and a Ca Tru style melody, it's very likely this is a cross over between the genres. 
Link to Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO4Y97M-uWA

[edcat7]

Nice: wonderful array of instruments very similar to Chinese instruments. The zhongruan like instrument sounds more like a sanxian, the Vietnamese erhu looks and sounds identical to it's Chinese cousin.

Do all musicians sit on the floor? It must do your back in.

[DavidNguyen]

Feb 26, 2015 2:34:40 GMT edcat7 said:

Nice: wonderful array of instruments very similar to Chinese instruments. The zhongruan like instrument sounds more like a sanxian, the Vietnamese erhu looks and sounds identical to it's Chinese cousin.

Do all musicians sit on the floor? It must do your back in.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, they do sit on the floor. And the Vietnamese version of the Erhu actually has many versions that sound different. The version in the video is the Nhi Ho, which is a direct copy of the Erhu. The Dan Nhi (Also called Dan Co) is another commonly seen version that looks the same, but sounds more similar to the Cambodian Tro. And the Ruan like instrument is called a Dan Nguyet. It's actually a modification of the Chinese Yueqin, made to have a larger range and easier note bending. The Dan Nguyet is commonly seen in Hat Van music. Normally, in Ca Tru, you'll see a unique Vietnamese lute called Dan Day.

[davidmdahl]

Interesting and lovely performance. It does sound more Hat Van to me than Ca Tru. Probably as you say though, fusions of the styles must be common. I played around with Xam Hue Tinh, which is a Xam song apparently in the repertory of Ca Tru.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-LJvGKFnSw

Are you familiar with the film, Me Thao thoi vang bong? It is a depressing story, but there is some absolutely gorgeous music at the very end:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Sw36VIW2U

To my ears it starts out in Ca Tru, and then ends with Hat Van. The dan nguyet is possessed by the spirit of the singer's dead husband. It does not turn out well for the dan nguyet player.

Best wishes,

David

[DavidNguyen]

Feb 26, 2015 17:15:43 GMT davidmdahl said:

Interesting and lovely performance. It does sound more Hat Van to me than Ca Tru. Probably as you say though, fusions of the styles must be common. I played around with Xam Hue Tinh, which is a Xam song apparently in the repertory of Ca Tru.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-LJvGKFnSw

Are you familiar with the film, Me Thao thoi vang bong? It is a depressing story, but there is some absolutely gorgeous music at the very end:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Sw36VIW2U

To my ears it starts out in Ca Tru, and then ends with Hat Van. The dan nguyet is possessed by the spirit of the singer's dead husband. It does not turn out well for the dan nguyet player.

Best wishes,

David

Thanks for the reply. I saw your video of Xam Hue Tinh. You're really talented. And the song from the movie, it kind of does sound like Ca Tru at first. I wonder if Ca Tru had influence from Hat Van. It's probably very likely since both styles were used in Deity worshiping ceremonies.