Chí Tâm: a lifetime with traditional Vietnamese music
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Chí Tâm began attending traditional Vietnamese music performances in Trà Ôn, a rural area, when he was seven or eight years old, after his father took him to local performances.
His father recognised his early passion and encouraged him to listen and learn. Chí Tâm initially learned songs from the radio, then began to teach himself to read the lyrics, and eventually received instruction from famous musicians in Trà Ôn like Mười Kiên and Mười Ngoạn.
These teachers guided him in the complex repertoire of đờn ca tài tử, a type of chamber music. Chí Tâm’s early experiences included travelling with music groups from Trà Ôn to Cần Thơ, a city in Vietnam, for performances and gatherings. He continued to pursue đờn ca tài tử throughout his career as a renowned cải lương (reformed opera) singer, even researching the differences between the two forms.
After moving to France and then the United States, Chí Tâm organised performances for Vietnamese communities abroad and educated audiences about traditional music. Now over 70 years old, Chí Tâm still participates in đờn ca tài tử events when he returns to Vietnam and serves as a judge on competitions like Tài tử miệt vườn (Garden Musician), Chuông vàng vọng cổ (Golden Bell), and Bông lúa vàng (Golden Rice Stalk).
He views these judging roles as a way to relive his childhood passion and honour the teachers who helped him develop his skills, skills that later helped him achieve fame in cải lương.
