(VOVworld)- A performance of Xam, the music of blind street performers in northern Vietnam in the early 20th century, took place at the Hanoi Opera House last week. The show “Xam and Life” introduced a Hanoi audience to the charm of the Xam genre.

“Xam and life” featured 19 of the most popular Xam songs, divided into classic Xam songs, contemporary Xam songs, and Xam songs combined with modern music. An hour before the show, the Hanoi Opera House was already filling up with people young and old. One older woman said:“ Xam singing is part of my childhood memories of growing up in Hanoi. It is also a feature of the Vietnamese culture. I’m excited about the show. I want to relive my childhood memories”.

Young people in the audience also found Xam singing really moving:“I was moved and inspired by the music. I can feel the music deep in my heart. I like the songs about a young man’s determination to become a talent. I’m also interested in and moved by songs about issues of the country in the past”.

When many folk art genres are dying out, the success of the “Xam and life” show has encouraged Xam artists. Mai Tuyet Hoa, a member of the Organizing Board says the lyrics of Xam singing are not to old to resonate with a modern audience. Hoa says this is a strong point of Xam singing: “The lyrics and music of Xam singing can easily conquer the audience’s hearts. We have to study ancient words in Chinese script to learn the lyrics of Quan Ho or Ca Tru folk singing, but lyrics in Xam are easy and close to life. In Xam singing, we sing like we talk, very simple”.

Xam singing inspires a lot of young composers and artists. Artist Minh Kien combines Xam with beatbox. Kien says beatbox is a type of street art from the US while Xam singing was popular on Vietnamese streets in the old days. Kien says:“I’m inspired by the rhythms of Xam music. They’re very simple. I can learn a very interesting technique from Xam artists. The rhythms reflect the sound and color of Hanoi streets in the old days. This is not the sound of a very big drum but it excites the audience and inspires them to dance. By combining these two arts, I can bring beatbox closer to the audience and make Xam more modern”.

Xam singing is becoming more popular among young listeners and artists but not many Xam performances have been held. Le Minh Hieu is a student at the National Economics University: “It’s the first time I’ve heard Xam. I haven’t listened to this type of music much. There have not been many programs of Xam singing like this. Xam singing is just part of other shows. I only learn about Xam through newspapers, TV and radio”.

Artist Nguyen Quang Long, an organizer of the “Xam and life” program, says it’s not easy to organize a Xam singing program like this.“We organized a program like this in January, 2011. At that time, we hoped we could organize a program before or after Tet every year. But it wasn’t until this year that we are able to realize our dream. That shows how hard it is to organize a program of Xam singing”.

Audience support for Xam singing promises a revival of this folk art genre and motivates Xam artists to preserve and promote this art to the public.