Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented in will be presented in
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
with subtitles in Arabic,
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian, Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Persian, Portuguese, Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Slovenian, Russian, Slovenian,
Spanish and Thai.
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 today’s program,
we’re pleased to introduce
some of the folk songs
and musical genres
representative
of southern Âu Lạc.
In today’s program,
we’re pleased to present
some folk songs and
musical genres typical
of southern Âu Lạc.
Among the songs
that fully convey
the homey and
carefree characteristics
of simple rural life
in the abounding
rice fields of the southern
region is the song
“My Daddy My Mommy.”
It was written
in the 1950s by
composer Văn Lương
of Tân Bửu village,
Long An province.
A song that is known
by heart by the majority
of Aulacese people,
from young to old,
it was sung by
Supreme Master Ching Hai
and our
Association members
during an international
outdoor gathering in
South Korea on May 14,
1998.
We now invite you
to enjoy the cheerful tune
of a southern Aulacese
folk song with
all the love from
Supreme Master Ching Hai.
My mommy goes
plowing at dawn
My daddy goes
plowing at dawn
My mommy is a farmer
My daddy is a farmer too
We all live
on a vast wide field
On those nights
when the moon is round
Thousands of trees
rustle in the breeze
We come and gather
for fun
We come and gather
for fun
Under the shimmering
ivory moon
Going to the countryside
to visit his beloved,
an urban young man
has a chance to walk
on a bamboo bridge
and bask
in the wind-wafted scent
of ripened rice.
Merging with
the rhythm of nature,
he feels carefree and
ever more deeply loving
towards the people
and his motherland.
“At dawn
amid birds’ singing,
Sáu visits my home village.”
“Along the blue canal,
I stroll with you
to get to know
the paddies and fields.”
We now invite you
to enjoy the southern
Aulacese folk song
“Sáu Visits
the Countryside,”
presented by singers
Đông Quân and Thy Nhung.
O Sáu! Have you
waited long for me?
Not that long!
Come! Go with me,
but you must
walk carefully.
It’s in my nature
to be careful.
There! See that?
(Ouch!) I told you.
At dawn
amid birds’ singing,
Sáu visits my home village.
Along the blue canal,
I stroll with you
to get to know
the paddies and fields.
I’ve walked the swaying
monkey bridge.
The bamboo bridge...
What about
the bamboo bridge?
The bamboo bridge...
What about
the bamboo bridge?
The swaying
bamboo bridge is so hard
to walk on, my sweet!
Let’s hurry;
the rural river
is welcoming you.
What dream garden
is better than a love hut
nestled among
green coconut trees?
We haven’t
walked together
for a very long time.
I feel...
How do you feel?
I feel...
How do you feel?
I feel our hearts
are buoyantly happy.
O, how elated!
Fragrant Lady rice
is sweeter
when we are together.
It’s a fun ferry ride,
my love!
Beloved Sáu!
Yes, sweetie?
How I love you!
You didn’t mind
swimming rivers
and crossing
mountain passes.
Let us bid farewell.
Reluctantly
seeing you off,
I feel lingering affection.
My parents will soon
bring a betrothal gift
of betel quids.
Boats and canoes will
crowd to greet the bride.
We’ll join in a
happy marriage for life.
Beloved Sáu! (Yes?)
Let me ask you this.
Have you ever visited
the countryside?
Not even once. (Never?)
Only now visiting
your village do I see
for the first time
the vast rice fields as
beautiful as in a painting.
And it’s beautiful like...
like you.
You’re... teasing me!
What teasing?
Don’t you see?
At yonder, egrets soar
over rice fields.
And there are
coconut trees,
the river and ferries too.
O, it’s home indeed,
isn’t it?
Sáu, the city would
never have wooden
or monkey bridges
like in my village, right?
That’s right!
Just wading in the mud
is lots of fun already,
not to mention
the harvesting
and thrashing of rice.
Then there’s rice pounding
in the front yard
where I can look at...
You’re teasing me!
Life here is very charming.
I probably will come
live in the countryside.
It’s more fun here,
sweetie. (Really?)
Yes.
At dawn
amid birds’ singing,
Sáu visits my home village.
Along the blue canal,
I stroll with you
to get to know
the paddies and fields.
I’ve walked the swaying
monkey bridge.
The bamboo bridge...
What about
the bamboo bridge?
The bamboo bridge...
What about
the bamboo bridge?
The swaying
bamboo bridge is so hard
to walk on, my sweet!
Let’s hurry;
the rural river
is welcoming you.
What dream garden
is better than a love hut
nestled among
green coconut trees?
We haven’t
walked together
for a very long time.
I feel...
How do you feel?
I feel...
How do you feel?
I feel our hearts
are buoyantly happy.
O, how elated!
Fragrant Lady rice
is sweeter
when we are together.
It’s a fun ferry ride,
my love!
Beloved Sáu!
Yes, sweetie?
How I love you! Really?
You didn’t mind
swimming rivers
and crossing
mountain passes.
Let us bid farewell.
Reluctantly
seeing you off,
I feel lingering affection.
My parents will soon
bring a betrothal gift
of betel quids.
Boats and canoes will
crowd to greet the bride.
We’ll join in a
happy marriage for life.
On moonlit nights
on the vast Hậu River,
the wistful call
of the water rail
kindles a yearning
for one’s beloved.
“River sparkling
with a golden hue
Returning here,
I miss the moon of yore
Did you make a promise
such that wave after
wave rises and tumbles?”
We now invite you
to enjoy the southern
Aulacese folk song,
“Call of the Water Rail
on Moonlit Nights,”
music and lyrics
by composer
Vũ Đức Sao Biển,
with vocal performance
by Đông Đào.
Crossing the long river
at late night
I suddenly hear the call
of a water rail
under the moonlight
O bird crying out
for her flock
Sounding like
a song of longing.
Every dream of
a reunion wakes in vain
A distressful cry
amid the night
Yearning for a lost mate
Yearning for a lost mate
O Flower! Where are you?
Where are the fragrant,
youthful tresses?
River sparkling
with a golden hue
Returning here,
I miss the moon of yore
Did you make a promise
such that wave after
wave rises and tumbles?
Love came once
to never return
Yet I grieve for it all my life
Crossing the Hậu River
at late night,
I suddenly hear
the water rails crying out
for each other
Birds are calling
at the river source
At river end yet
I feel a throbbing pain
My love has left me
Why call out in regret?
O forlorn mate!
O forlorn mate!
O Flower! Where are you?
Where are the fragrant,
youthful tresses?
River sparkling
with a golden hue
Returning here,
I miss the moon of yore
Did you make a promise
such that wave after
wave rises and tumbles?
Love came once
to never return
Yet I grieve for it all my life
Crossing the Hậu River
at late night,
I suddenly hear
the water rails
crying out for each other
Birds are calling
at the river source
At river end yet
I feel a throbbing pain
My love has left me
Why call out in regret?
O forlorn mate!
O forlorn mate!
O forlorn mate!
O forlorn mate!
O forlorn mate!
O forlorn mate!
In Aulacese (Vietnamese)
traditional folk music,
lý is a singing genre
that is mostly based
on folk poetry in the form
of six-eight couplets.
The rhythm varies
between fast and slow
in a recital style,
so lý singing genre has
hundreds of different tunes.
Through simple lyrics,
lý songs often describe
images and feelings
as experienced in life.
Enhanced
by tender melodies,
lý is very accessible and
therefore quite popular.
Borrowing from anecdotes
of everyday life,
with witty analogies
a young man
expresses his affection
to his sweetheart.
“When Toad comes,
lady Tree-frog ignores,
walking away.
Toad laments alone,
heartbroken.
How could Tree-frog
not pity him?”
Please enjoy the folk song
“A Toad’s Story”
of the southern Aulacese
lý genre, presented by
Đông Quân.
Toad and lady Tree-frog
are long acquainted.
One day,
Toad proposes to her
Tree-frog shakes her head,
refusing
Shaking her head,
refusing
A Frog sitting behind her
lets out a froggy sound,
saying:
“Consent to marry him,
for Pete’s sake!
Who’s waiting for you
that you keep expecting?
You only make Toad
feel unhappy.”
When Toad comes,
lady Tree-frog ignores,
walking away.
Toad laments alone,
heartbroken.
How could Tree-frog
not pity him,
nor feel any affection
for him?
A Frog sitting in a cave
lets out a croak, saying:
“Oh, marry Toad,
for Pete’s sake,
and please love him.”
When Toad comes,
lady Tree-frog ignores,
walking away.
Toad laments alone,
heartbroken.
How could Tree-frog
not pity him,
nor feel any affection
for him?
A Frog sitting in a cave
lets out a croak, saying:
“Oh, marry Toad,
for Pete’s sake,
and please love him.”
Toad and lady Tree-frog
are long acquainted.
One day,
Toad proposes to her
Tree-frog shakes her head,
refusing
Shaking her head,
refusing
A Frog sitting behind her
lets out a froggy sound,
saying:
“Consent to marry him,
for Pete’s sake!
Who’s waiting for you
that you keep expecting?
You only make Toad
feel unhappy.”
Who’s waiting for you
that you keep expecting?
You only make Toad
feel unhappy.
Who’s waiting for you
that you keep expecting?
You only make Toad
feel unhappy.
Who’s waiting for you
that you keep expecting?
You only make Toad
feel unhappy.
Who’s waiting for you
that you keep expecting?
You only make Toad
feel unhappy.
Who’s waiting for you
that you keep expecting?
You only make Toad
feel unhappy.
Who’s waiting for you
that you keep expecting?
You only make Toad
feel unhappy.
Supreme Master Ching Hai
lovingly sent gifts
to the artists
in the Aulacese
traditional folk music
on Supreme Master
Television.
They shared their
thoughts and expressed
their gratitude towards
Master’s caring concern.
Singer Đông Đào who
performed the song
“Call of the Water Rail
on Moonlit Nights”:
My respectful greetings
to Supreme Master
Ching Hai
and Supreme Master
Television staff.
I would like to thank
Supreme Master Ching Hai
for sending me
these books as gifts.
I thank Supreme Master
Television very much
for giving me
the opportunity
to convey the love
for my country Âu Lạc.
I hope that friends
in all the continents
will have some profound
insights about the gentle,
simple and kind people
of Âu Lạc.
Among the books
I received from
Supreme Master Ching Hai,
I love very much the book
“The Dogs in My Life,”
because in my own life,
a couple of times I’d had
very adorable pet dogs.
The first time,
it was an abandoned dog.
I took him home
to care for him,
and he grew up
to be very healthy.
Once I think he was
injured and ran home.
I cared for him and
took him to the hospital
for treatment.
But unfortunately,
3 days later,
he disappeared forever.
I knew that he was
probably stolen.
So I was very sad.
I felt great love for him
and I missed him very much.
Perhaps it’s because
I missed him so much,
that one rainy night,
I thought I heard
some noise as if
it were my dog returning
and calling at the door.
I ran out to open the door
but found no one there.
Perhaps it was due to
my missing him that
I had such an illusion.
A long time after that,
one day I saw some
very cute small dogs
and I bought one home.
After I had been with him
for a short while,
he got into an accident.
I carried him
to the hospital,
and the doctor said that
he wouldn’t survive.
But I tried to care for him
to overcome
his difficulties.
I just talk about
minor things here;
his attitude and behavior
are very much like that
of us humans, and he was
very responsible.
Even when he was
very ill like that,
if he wanted
to go to the bathroom,
he would crawl
very strenuously
to the bathroom.
He wouldn’t just do it
in the living room
or the bedroom.
Such a sense of
awareness from a dog
has left a deep
impression in me.
So now when I see that
Supreme Master
Ching Hai
has dogs like that,
I admire Master very much.
On this occasion,
I would like to
thank Master for your
magnanimous heart.
I hope that Master
will continue with
your work and endeavors
so that the animals
may be blessed
with stable dwellings.
My respectful and loving
greetings to viewers
watching
Supreme Master Television,
broadcasting
around the world.
Singers Đông Quân
and Thy Nhung, who
contributed previously
in traditional folk music
on Supreme Master
Television,
also received gifts
and fond wishes from
Supreme Master
Ching Hai.
Thank you for watching
today’s program about
traditional folk music
from southern Âu Lạc.
Please tune in
to Supreme Master
Television for more
Aulacese folk music
in future broadcasts.
Coming up is
Vegetarianism
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
So long for now.