Unit 3: Music - Reading

Ca Tru was also called “Hat A Dao” or “Hat Noi”. Originally, attractive young female singers entertained men in a relaxed environment, sometimes serving drinks and snacks. Men might have visited a “Hat A Dao” inn with friends to celebrate a successful business deal or the birth of a son. Ca Tru flourished in the 15th century in northern Vietnam when it was popular with the royal palace and a favourite hobby of aristocrats and scholars. Later, it was performed in communal houses, inns, and private homes, and gained its high popularity. These performances were mostly for men. When men entered a Ca Tru inn, they purchased bamboo tally cards. In Chinese Vietnamese, “tru” means “card”, and “ca” means “song” in Vietnamese, so the name Ca Tru means tally card songs. The tallies were given to the singers in appreciation for the performance. After the performance each singer received payment in proportion to the number of cards received. Ca Tru requires at least three performers. The singer is always a woman and plays the “phach”, an instrument made of wood or bamboo that is beaten with two wooden sticks. A musician accompanies the singer on the “dan day”, a long-necked lute with three silk strings and 10 frets. There is also a drummer or “trong chau”. The drummer shows his approval of the singer or the songs depending on how he hits the drum. If he likes a song, he might hit the side of the drum twice. The “dan day” player must follow the rhythm of the “phach”. His instrument, the “dan day”, is only used in Ca Tru and is now made almost exclusively for sale to tourists.