and Temple Yards

%!I. Qua C&u Gib Bay
" The Wind on the Blidge"
People all over Saigon sang this song, and 1 heard it in about 1966 when I lived there. It wm such
a lovely song that I learned it, then later taught it to my students. I also enjoy the sentiment expressed
by the wort&, that when we are in love, we do not any longer care what our parenu think ...we can be
"liars" when we love, to cover up for the generous gestures we make to the loved one. In this care.
the singer has given away his shirt, his pyramid or cone-shaped hat, and a ring to his beloved. If all
has to be kept a secret, because the parents might say it is too direct, or not proper to give these things
m gif~r. Parenrs will say that we have to obey rules and propriely, but when in love we don't care!
Ha Bac province is the cradle of Vietnamese culture. The first capital city of Vietnam was located
there in thefirst century. Many poem were written by dignitaries of the court, and the wordr were very
polished and refined. Some found their way into quan ho songs.
"Qua C ~ U Gib Bay" is one of the best known of a genre of songs that involve
antiphonal group singing. Called h6t quan ho or quan ho of Ha Bac (formerly Bac Ninh)
Province near Hanoi, this is one of the most important and respected folk traditions in
Vietnam. Quan ho singing typically takes place during spring and autumn festivals centered
around the agrarian themes of planting and harvesting. During these festivals groups of young
people gather in a house, on a hill, by a lake, in a rice field, or in the Buddhist temple yard.
Over the course of several days, girls may sing songs answered by the boys who may sing
the same song with opposing, responding or parallel meanings given to partially improvised
verses. All work on their poems in advance, but still sing them rather spontaneously at competitions
scheduled during the festivals. Quan ho participants dress in their finest and most
traditional costumes representing their villages, and throughout the days of preparation and
lively competition seize the opportunity to build friendships with singers from near and far.
"Qua C~LI Gib Bay" is well known because it is a popular piece for live stage
performances as well as recorded and broadcast versions. Each song presentation varies
depending upon the context of the performance. The antiphonal (call-and-response) style,
however, remains intact. The singers identify by turns a different piece of wearing apparel
that has been blown away by the wind (shoes, scarf, gloves, shirt, hat, ring etc.).
Transcripriun: Thanh-Tuyen Ton-Nu
I. YEu nhau cdi go 9 a cho nhau. V& nhi d6i rhg clia d6i
(Ee-ew nya-oo ker- ee ao ee ah tsaw nya- 00 Vay nyah zoh- ee zang tsahzoh- ee
Chorus:
a a a qua g a 9 a qua
mae ah ee ah Zang ah ee ah kwa kah-wZang ah ee ah kwa kaao Ting
tinh tinhgi6 hay ~inh tinh thh gii, bay.
ting ting zaw - - - bay-ee Ting ting ting xaw - - - bay-ee)