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Đờn ca tài tử (Chữ Hán:彈歌才子) ornhạc tài tử (樂才子) is a genre ofchamber music in the traditional music of southernVietnam. Its instrumentation resembles that of theca Huế style; additionally, modified versions of the European instruments guitar, violin, andsteel guitar are used.Vọng cổ ("Longing for the Past") is one of the more populartài tử melodies, and was composed in 1919 by songwriter ôngSáu Lầu, ofBạc Liêu Province in southern Vietnam.[1]
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The term comes from theSino-Vietnamese termsnhạc (樂, literally "music") andtài tử (才子, literally "virtuoso"; the original Chinese meaning was "gifted scholar").
The ensemble commonly uses five instruments, often referred to as the “Ngũ Tuyệt” (Five Treasures), which include theđàn tranh (16-string zither),đàn tỳ bà (pear-shaped lute),đàn kìm (moon lute),đàn cò (spike fiddle), andđàn tam (three-string lute). These are often accompanied by the sound of the seven-hole bamboo flute.[2]
In terms of attire, most performers ofĐờn ca tài tử are friends and neighbors, so they typically wear casual clothing during performances.[3] Only when performing at temples, communal houses, or on formal stages do they wear traditional performance costumes.[4][5]
In recent years, to meet the demands of tourism,tài tử music groups have organized into semi-professional clubs. Alongside their main occupations, they perform music upon request.[6]
Some people say the term “tài tử” means “amateur.” In reality, it means “talented,” and implies that these individuals do not pursue music for a living, but rather as a passion or for spontaneous enjoyment. However, this does not mean they lack expertise. On the contrary, to become a truetài tử artist, one must undergo years of dedicated practice.
Musically, the roles of singers and instrumentalists are equal. Inca trù, a traditional form of northern and central Vietnamese singing, the performers are usually women, whereasđờn ca tài tử includes both male and female singers who participate equally.
Đờn ca tài tử uses instruments such as the đàn cò, đàn nguyệt, đàn tranh, thesong lan (a wooden percussion instrument for rhythm), and sometimes thelõm guitar (a modified guitar used in southern Vietnamese music).[7] This form of music is performed not only at festivals and gatherings but also after harvest seasons.[8] It can be played under the shade of a tree, on a boat, or on a bright moonlit night.[9]
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