Cheo singing is a traditional Vietnamese theater art that strongly developed in the North and North Central region with a strong national identity. Cheo has both high content and artistic value and has been submitted to UNESCO for registration as an intangible cultural heritage in 2021.
Introduction about Cheo singing
Since ancient times Cheo has been regarded as a form of festival theater that is frequently performed during festivals or special occasions. Cheo has a multivoiced, multi-meaning language that is full of metaphors and lyrical stories.
Cheo, in contrast to other art forms, has several distinctive qualities that are unmatched by any other kind of art. To comprehend and experience all the goodness and beauty of Cheo plays, audiences should come and watch them live at Cheo shows and performances. What makes this art form rich and unique is that the artists use their individual performing styles to tell ancient legends and tales. Cheo song’s melodies and lyrics frequently have a folk character and are extremely close to the people’s language and way of life. Along with being folk, Cheo also possesses strong aesthetic qualities with aspects of story, drama, convention, and stylization.
Types of Cheo and Cheo melodies
The art of Cheo singing has been grown for more than a thousand years, beginning in the 10th century. There are four primary types: Cheo San Dinh, Cheo Cai Luong, Cheo Chai He, and Modern Cheo.
With a history of thousands of years, it is claimed that there are more than 200 different Cheo tunes. These tunes primarily draw inspiration from literature, poetry, and folk songs. The majority of Cheo songs originate from classical Cheo plays and are subsequently performed in various ways to convey various moods. The melodies of Cheo singing frequently accurately capture the characters’ emotional sentiments.
Factors that create the success of a Cheo play
Cheo is a traditional folk art form, hence the most crucial factors are needed for a successful performance. The first is a clear and distinct plot that develops in accordance with a special method of thinking called Cheo thinking. Cheo scripts can be directly adapted or constructed from historical plots without significantly altering the core. The second crucial factor is how well the singers in Cheo, referred to as Cheo artists, perform. “Đào” and “Kép” are two examples of sites that refer to the Cheo figures by name. There are a few other supporting factors as well, such as the Cheo director, fine arts, and dancing.
Conclusion
The practice of Cheo singing has a long history and is deeply ingrained in Vietnamese society. They are more than just works of art; they are a mirror reflecting the diversity of our country’s identities from many different perspectives, such as optimism, kindness, patriotism, love for the people, and desire for a prosperous life., national pride, or indomitable resilience to fight foreign invaders to defend the country’s territorial sovereignty.
