When it comes to Southern amateur music, the song “Da co hoai lang” by the late musician Cao Van Lau is probably the most famous song (tourists often enjoy it on Mekong delta tours). Overcoming many ups and downs of life, many historical events, the song still lives in the heart of life. During your trip to the Mekong Delta, if you have the opportunity to stop in Bac Lieu, don’t forget to visit the memorial site of musician Cao Van Lau to hear stories about the song’s birth.
Overview of the Cao Van Lau musician memorial area
The memorial site of the Southern amateur musician Cao Van Lau is located in Bac Lieu Ward. In particular, the memorial site was formerly the musician’s family tomb, later renovated and expanded to host important events while also serving as a place to welcome visitors from afar.
With a total area of over 12,000 m², the Cao Van Lau Musician Memorial Site is considered an interesting tourist destination in Bac Lieu, affirming the position of the Da Co Hoai Lang piece and honoring the talent of musician Cao Van Lau. The Cao Van Lau Musician Memorial Site was designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for inclusion in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012.
Musician Cao Van Lau (or Sau Lau) was born on December 22, 1892, in Cai Cui hamlet, Chi My village, Thuan My Commune, Chau Thanh District, Long An province (currently Thuan My Commune, Tay Ninh Province). Due to difficult circumstances, his family drifted to many places before stopping in Bac Lieu. With guidance from the first steps of the ancient musician Le Tai Khi, his talent as a great musician developed.
Things to do in Cao Van Lau musician memorial area
The memorial area of musician Cao Van Lau includes many works such as the tomb of musician Cao Van Lau and his relatives, the bust of musician Cao Van Lau, the area displaying images and artifacts of the founders of Southern Cai Luong, the area symbolizing the “moon string instrument” – a two-stringed Vietnamese traditional musical instrument, the outdoor stage, etc.
When passing through the main gate, visitors will encounter a majestic bamboo tube monument at the center of the memorial area, behind the fountain. This monument is the “moon string instrument” – the symbol of Southern Amateur Music – associated with the image of musician Cao Van Lau. The “moon string instrument” is stylized from bamboo joints; the concave part creates a mysterious, sacred feeling, evoking nostalgia and remembrance of the deceased. This is also the place where visitors burn incense in memory.
Leading up to the bamboo platform is a Thanh Hoa green stone stair railing carved with the shape of a dragon rising up the steps, combined with cloud patterns to create a lively harmony, because Bac Lieu is considered the cradle of amateur music, the strongest development in the South, this power is likened to a dragon.
Around the bamboo tube monument, 20 songs considered the foundation of the art of “Don ca tai tu” are carved on stone. Behind the instrument’s symbol stands the monument to musician Cao Van Lau, with the song “Da co hoai lang” carved right behind it.
Behind the moon-string instrument symbol is a park featuring symbols of musical instruments in the art of Southern amateur music, such as flutes, zithers, monochords, concave-keyed guitars, etc. The difference with this musical instrument garden is that the instruments are carved entirely from green stone, looking very solid and soulful.
On the left is the memorial exhibition house of the late musician Cao Van Lau; on the right are the service blocks; at the end of the project is the block of houses for performing the type of amateur music arranged on the lotus pond.
If you want to admire valuable documents about the art of amateur music or see images of typical artists and artisans in Ca Mau, the exhibition area is a place that visitors must visit. Here, the stage costumes of many famous artists, the wax reconstructions of Don Ca Tai Tu, or the ancient musical instruments of the artisans are all present.
However, among the above items, one place in the memorial area of the late musician that cannot be ignored is the tomb of the late musician’s family. The tomb is where the late musician’s father, mother, and virtuous wife lie next to each other. Visiting the tomb, the light and sad music, the space seems to make people love and admire the talent and virtue of the late musician Cao Van Lau even more.
The memorial area of musician Cao Van Lau is always a destination many tourists choose whenever they have the opportunity to visit Ca Mau. Not only to express their feelings for the talented musician, but also a way for those who love the art of Don Ca Tai Tu to learn more about the values of the art recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. With this memorial site, Ca Mau is proud to be a land of “geomantic people” that has given birth to and nurtured generations of talented artisans and artists.
Source: collected by An
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