Visiting the memorial site of musician Cao Van Lau, remembering the time when cai luong was crowded with visitors

We had the opportunity to visit the Southern Amateur Music Art Memorial Site and musician Cao Van Lau - author of the famous Da Co Hoai Lang song. Some came for the first time, some came for the second time, but were still engrossed in watching the performance with overwhelming emotions because of the sad, profound melody...

Memorial area of ​​Southern amateur music and musician Cao Van Lau. Photo: VO PHE

Touched by the circumstances of the birth of Da Co Hoai Lang

The memorial area of ​​Southern amateur music and musician Cao Van Lau in Ward 2, Bac Lieu City (Bac Lieu Province) with a total area of ​​over ^12,000m2 , is considered an interesting tourist destination, affirming the position of the song Da Co Hoai Lang and honoring the talent of musician Cao Van Lau.

The memorial area for musician Cao Van Lau includes many structures such as the tomb of the musician and his relatives, a bust of musician Cao Van Lau, an area displaying images and artifacts of the founders of Southern Cai Luong, an area symbolizing the zither, and an outdoor stage.

As soon as you pass through the main gate, you will see the Nguyet Cam Stage, a particularly impressive architectural work with the image of a stylized dan kim in a bamboo tube, honoring the art of Southern amateur music.

The delegation listened to the tour guide tell about the life and career of the late musician Cao Van Lau in a realistic and emotional way.

Musician Cao Van Lau was born on December 22, 1892 in Cay Cui hamlet, Thuan Le village, Thanh Hoi Ha commune, Tan Thanh district, Tan An prefecture (now Thuan My commune, Chau Thanh district, Long An province). As a child, due to difficult circumstances, his family drifted to many places before stopping in Bac Lieu. With the guidance of classical musician Le Tai Khi, Cao Van Lau's talent gradually developed. Thanks to his intelligence and diligence, he quickly mastered the use of musical instruments and soon became a core musician in his teacher's classical music group.

More than 100 years after its release, the immortal love song Da Co Hoai Lang by musician Cao Van Lau still touches millions of Vietnamese hearts because it contains deep love and affection between husband and wife.

At the age of 21, Cao Van Lau married a gentle and virtuous wife, Tran Thi Tan, but after 3 years of living together, they still could not have children. According to the old custom, his parents forced him to return his wife to her parents' house. Although Cao Van Lau loved his wife very much, out of filial piety, he had to sadly accept the separation from his life partner.

Due to the suffering of his tragic fate, he was moved to write the song Da co hoai lang (Late at night listening to the drums missing my husband). After the song Da co hoai lang was released..., a short time later (thanks to his wife's pregnancy) the couple were reunited.

Listening to the tour guide explain this part, many people's eyes filled with tears in the "adversity of separation" with a sobbing heart. Artist Trinh Thi Lien in Hoa Thang commune (Phu Hoa district) confided: When I heard this part, I did not cry but my sobs were choked with emotion with the feeling of "swallows and swallows parting".

Tourists listen to a tour guide explain the life and career of the late musician Cao Van Lau. Photo: VO PHE

Once upon a time, the cai luong stage was lit up.

Musician, People's Artist Cao Huu Nhac, former Director of Sao Bien Folk Song and Dance Theater - a member of the Phu Yen art troupe visiting the Southern Amateur Music and Dance Art Memorial Site and musician Cao Van Lau said: The song Da Co Hoai Lang was born to show the talent of musician Cao Van Lau. The song moved listeners because it was "distilled" from the musician's own tragic love story. The longing resounded: From the husband/ The precious sword was sent on the way/ Going out and waiting for news from him/ Dreaming of the night of five watches... The lyrics resounded with each painful word in the heart. After more than 100 years since its birth, the immortal love song Da Co Hoai Lang by musician Cao Van Lau still touches the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people because it contains deep feelings and marital affection.

Musician and People's Artist Cao Huu Nhac added that during the trip to Bac Lieu, the delegation spent time visiting the memorial site of musician Cao Van Lau, listening to stories about the birth of the song Da Co Hoai Lang. Some people came for the second time and were still engrossed in listening to it again, moved by the sad, profound melody... Many tourists from other places also came to the place that preserves the material and spiritual values ​​of the art of Southern amateur music.

“Bac Lieu is considered the cradle of the most developed amateur music art in the South. Behind the symbol of the zither is the statue of musician Cao Van Lau with his "king" music. Around it are displayed musical instruments for amateur music performances carved from green stone. Songs always resound in the Cao Van Lau art garden. From this cradle, amateur music art as well as reformed opera spread to the Central region. In Phu Yen, at one time, the reformed opera stage was lit up, a spiritual food for many generations of lovers,” shared musician and People's Artist Cao Huu Nhac.

Area serving amateur music. Photo: MANH HOAI NAM

Meritorious Artist Phan Thanh Kinh from Hoa Phong Commune (Tay Hoa District), during a visit to the memorial site of Southern Amateur Music and Musician Cao Van Lau, confided: Visiting the memorial site of the late musician Cao Van Lau reminded me of the 80s of the last century, when Cai Luong in Phu Yen was very popular. In Tay Hoa District, there was the Hoa Binh Cai Luong Troupe, in Dong Hoa Town, there was the Hoa Tan Cai Luong Troupe, in Tuy An District, there was the An Ninh Dong Cai Luong Troupe, and in Dong Xuan District, there was the Xuan Son Nam Cai Luong Troupe. In addition, there was the Van Gia Town Cai Luong Troupe (Khanh Hoa) which performed in the regions of Dong Hoa Town, Tay Hoa District, and all the way to the mountainous district of Dong Xuan.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long in Xuan Quang 3 commune (Dong Xuan district) who once followed the Xuan Son Nam reformed opera troupe recalled: At that time, when going to see reformed opera, people sat on the floor, while those who lived nearby brought mats to occupy the center position. At that time, the countryside was still difficult, some reformed opera enthusiasts did not have money to buy tickets and had to wait for the gate to let them in. Thinking back now, I feel sorry for those who watched reformed opera without the gate.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/van-nghe/202506/tham-khu-luu-niem-nhac-si-cao-van-lau-nho-thoi-cai-luong-dong-khach-5452a42/